To: Bill Barron, Lake County Commissioner
Reopen the Swan River Public Access
Victory! The creator of this petition declared the campaign a success. You can still sign the petition to show support.
We are requesting that Bill Barron, the current Lake County Commissioner, reopen the public access at the Rainbow Dr. location of the Swan River. Many residents use this access responsibly and there are limited areas along the river where the public can now go to enjoy the beauty of the Swan.
Why is this important?
UPDATE! The Lake County Commissioner's office has decided to allow the access to be open from Saturday mornings at 7am to around sunset on Sunday evenings. They see this as a temporary solution while they decide about the future of the site- whether that be permanent closure or expansion of the current location. They are also considering some other options, like an additional parking area near the current access.
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My husband and I float the Swan many times throughout the Spring and Summer- as many local residents do. We love being able to hook up the raft to go and float this beautiful river that is located so close to our home. We noticed recently that the access has been temporarily closed and are respectfully asking the county to reopen this area for public use.
We have always used this area responsibly (parking in defined areas, packing out trash, etc.) and I have personally never seen any bad behavior from other users. Unfortunately, a few incidents have caused some of the private landowners to call for this closure. There are also some safety concerns with the overflow of parking. It is our understanding that the landowners were able to have Bill Barron close and lock the gate. After a call to the commissioner's office, we were told that it would remain closed for the summer until a solution could be found.
Because of this closure and the limited areas available for public put in, I am afraid that we will no longer be able to enjoy this section of the river. We hope that a solution can be found- for all parties - but we are asking that they please not take it away indefinitely. For those of you who love the lower Swan as much as we do, and use it responsibly, please sign this petition and either CALL or EMAIL Bill Barron to let him know how you feel!
Lake County Commissioner
Bill Barron
(406) 883-7204
[email protected]
___________________________________________________________
My husband and I float the Swan many times throughout the Spring and Summer- as many local residents do. We love being able to hook up the raft to go and float this beautiful river that is located so close to our home. We noticed recently that the access has been temporarily closed and are respectfully asking the county to reopen this area for public use.
We have always used this area responsibly (parking in defined areas, packing out trash, etc.) and I have personally never seen any bad behavior from other users. Unfortunately, a few incidents have caused some of the private landowners to call for this closure. There are also some safety concerns with the overflow of parking. It is our understanding that the landowners were able to have Bill Barron close and lock the gate. After a call to the commissioner's office, we were told that it would remain closed for the summer until a solution could be found.
Because of this closure and the limited areas available for public put in, I am afraid that we will no longer be able to enjoy this section of the river. We hope that a solution can be found- for all parties - but we are asking that they please not take it away indefinitely. For those of you who love the lower Swan as much as we do, and use it responsibly, please sign this petition and either CALL or EMAIL Bill Barron to let him know how you feel!
Lake County Commissioner
Bill Barron
(406) 883-7204
[email protected]