RE: [Paddlewise] Public beaches - was Saturation Point

I've watched this thread with a bit of interest and thought I should comment
on the history of private beaches here in the Pacific Northwest. Until the
late 1950's virtually all of the beaches on the saltwater and on some of the
major rivers were public, but the state offered them for sale from that
point until the mid to late 1970's. There are some interesting books on the
topic and also several guidebooks that can come in handy when you're looking
for legal landing spots (I don't remember the names - and what's really bad
is that they're in one of my piles of maps and charts in this very room -
but I know you can find them at NWOC or REI).

Happy paddling - Saul

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of R. Walker
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 5:26 AM
To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Saturation Point


> I didn't read earlier threads on this but it seems it involves access to
> beaches. is such restriction general in the US?

Each state is different.  You have to remember, unlike British style
parlimentary government, the US is made up of 50 very unique, and mostly
sovereign governments.  Most all laws, criminal and civil, are state laws.
Land ownership is one of these.   So in one state you might be able to own
all the beach all the way down to the low tide mark; where in another state,
the beach is a public right of way as open for public use as any highway.


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