Thumbs down

Disappointed in (an item listed in The Durango Telegraph’s “Thumbs Up” last week) on the river wading lawsuit.

A number of years ago, an agreement was made between river users and property owners. Simply, the state owns the water and the residents own the banks and bottom that the water runs over and through. Feel free to float through my property, just don’t stop. For almost 30 years, I’ve put up with river users using my property as an open air toilet, dog park and picnic grounds. When politely reminded of the law, users have flipped me off, cursed me and called me names that even the Telegraph wouldn’t print!

Finally, the Animas River has never been a navigable river and there is no public access from Bakers Bridge to Trimble Lane. In other words, the only access is to trespass on private property.

– Dennis Pierce, Durango