Re: [Paddlewise] Public Beaches (was: "Commado" Camping)

From: Fred T, CA Kayaker <cakayak_at_mindspring.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 21:14:55 -0700
In S. Florida the Condo Commando's try to restrict THEIR beach.  The 
taxpayer spends big bucks pumping sand back on the things to keep the 
condo's from falling in the Atlantic.  I say let them go.  Have you every 
driven A1A from Miami north and enjoyed the unrestricted view of the 
ocean.   I have been harassed by some of these irate Condo Commando's who 
believed they owned the beach from their property to the water.  If I am 
not mistaken when adjoining a "navigable waterway" the access extends to 
the Mean High Water Level or 100 year flood level.  That is public right of 
way.

The fourth of July weekend found us visiting my sister in the N. LA area 
off of Old Topanga Canyon Road.  I decided to paddle South of Leo Carillo 
at the north end of Malibu you will find a small access area to the beach 
between nice beach homes.  When you get to the beach you find a sign that 
says:  "This beach was surveyed:  6/1/00.  From this sign 20 feet towards 
the ocean is private property."  Sorry Ms. Nelson this is paraphrased, but 
I am sure it is accurate!  The sign was getting wet prior to high tide.

On page 15 of "California Coastal Access Guide" it states that:
Article 10, Section 4 of the California constitution guarantees the 
public's right to access to the state's navigable waters.
The State of California owns the tide and submerged lands seaward of what 
is called the "mean high tide line"
Mean High Tide Line is calculated by using the mean of normal tides over 
approximately 19 years.
"visitors have the right to walk on a wet beach"

I may not be able to afford their homes, but I can and will use "OUR" 
beaches!  Quote that Ms. Nelson!  And I would like to be able to camp on 
them as well!

Fred Thomas
California Kayaker



At 10:17 PM 7/10/2000 -0700, ralph diaz wrote:
>It's all a tough call no matter how you look at it.  Unlike in
>Washington where you report the beach is public, other states have had
>to really fight for this.
> > Melissa
> >
> > Get Yahoo! Mail ­ Free email you can access from anywhere!
> > http://mail.yahoo.com/
>
>--
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Received on Mon Jul 10 2000 - 21:15:15 PDT

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