Paddling on Public Lands at Risk

Close your eyes and visualize your favorite stretch of river. There’s a good chance it’s on public land. Forty three percent of paddling in the United States is on public lands. These shared lands form the backbone of our access to wild rivers, they are our American inheritance, and they are under attack. Last year congress passed a resolution that paved the way for our forests, wilderness areas and parks to be put up for sale.

Now across the west, state legislatures are introducing similar bills that aim to dispose of our shared public lands to state governments. When a state owns land, it no longer belongs to the public. It can be sold off, developed, exploited, or turned into private real estate. States have no obligation to involve the public in these decisions.  Last year, 35 bills were introduced to seize and sell off public lands in 11 western states, but when enough people who love the outdoors speak out – like we did when Wyoming moved to introduce two bills to sell off the state’s public land – we can stop these proposals.

The only way to keep our public lands in public hands is for the American people to speak up. If enough of us rally together, we can put an end to these proposals and protect the incredible landscapes and waterways that we love.  This public land heist not only threatens hundreds of millions of acres of national forests, rangelands, wildlife refuges, parks, wilderness areas, and historic sites, but it also threatens the fundamental American notion that our public lands belong to everyone.

TAKE ACTION!

American Whitewater is fighting to protect our rivers on public lands and need your help. Please sign this petition to send a clear signal that America’s public lands, and the rivers that flow through them are not for sale.

We will take your comments and signatures to state and federal lawmakers, bringing the voice of the people with us, to fight these public land bills and protect the rivers we love.

For more info go to our partner campaign page Protect Our Public Land.