HB 144-REPORT ON FISHING STREAM ACCESS  2:46:46 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 144, "An Act requiring the Department of Natural Resources annually to deliver to the legislature and the governor a report on fishing stream access." 2:47:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE LES GARA, Alaska State Legislature, stated that the importance of public access to fishing streams is important to Alaska's citizens ranging from dipnetting to subsistence fishing. Easements are granted in some instances but not in all cases. As the state continues to be developed HB 144 provides a mechanism to encourage the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to identify areas of public access that are in jeopardy of loss. He characterized this bill as a prod to the DNR. It asks the department what it did last year and what it plans to do next year to maintain or enhance important public access areas. He pointed out that separate from this bill would be the process to acquire easements. He reiterated that this bill would prod the department to remember that part of their statutory mandate is to plan and enhance public access to fishing streams for Alaska's citizens. The bill is supported by the major sport fishing groups, including the Outdoor Council, the Alaska Fly Fishers, Women's Flyfishing, and the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. 2:49:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER, regarding the mandate to supply access, asked whether the mandate currently exists or if it is being added. 2:49:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARA explained a requirement exists for land disposed after the mid-1970s to allow access to and along a stream. However, land disposed before that time or in other ways is not subject to those rules. He listed Montana Creek and Willow Creek in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the Anchor River and Deep Creek on the Kenai Peninsula, and perhaps the Salcha River in Fairbanks as important streams to the people living near them but may not have provisions to maintain access during development. 2:50:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON referred to line 9, of HB 144, which read, "...detailing the department's efforts during the previous year to maintain or enhance access to and along fishing streams." She inquired as to what "maintain" means. REPRESENTATIVE GARA answered that maintained means whether an access had been sold. 2:51:25 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON referred to page 1, line 8, of HB 144 to the language "report." He inquired as to whether the sponsor would oppose deleting "a report" and insert, "and post on the department's Internet website, an electronic report." REPRESENTATIVE GARA answered that he would not object and suggested an e-mail notification be sent to all legislators. He understood the need to save paper. CO-CHAIR SEATON related his understanding that electronic reporting would be acceptable to the bill's sponsor. 2:52:07 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON opened public testimony on HB 144. 2:52:19 PM RICKY GEASE, Executive Director, Kenai River Sportfishing Association, stated that the Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization. One of the program areas entails habitat protection and angler access to fishing streams across Alaska. He offered his belief that HB 144 was really a simple bill and requires that the DNR report. The KRSA fully supports this bill. He further stated that the sport fishing community supports the bill. 2:53:12 PM ROBERT CHURCHILL, Member, Anchorage Fish and Game Advisory Committee, stated that he has served on the Anchorage Fish and Game Advisory Committee as well as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He previously served a term on the Board of Game and as President of the Alaska Fly Fishers on several occasions. He has had contact with many Alaskans. He expressed concern to maintain public access, which has become more and more restricted in the Lower 48. He reviewed some previous research done by the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) in 1999. He stated that the industry was a $540 million industry when the population was 630,000. Since then the population has grown to 710,000, or a 15 percent increase. He indicated that public access is important in all forums, whether it is subsistence, sport fish, or photographers. He reiterated that public access is a critical concern. He concluded that every organization that he has contacted has been extremely excited about this bill as it would reduce user conflict. He pointed out that streams are more and more crowded. He encouraged passage of the bill. As Mr. Fogels has testified this can be done without cost to the state, he said. 2:55:45 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 144. 2:55:59 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON made a motion to adopt a Conceptual Amendment 1, labeled 27-LS0220\B1, Kane, 3/29/11, which read as follows Page 1, line 8: Delete "a report" Insert ", and post on the department's Internet website, an electronic report" He explained that this amendment is a conceptual amendment to ensure that the legislators and governors receive the report electronically, as well as it being posted to the website. There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ expressed her support for HB 144. 2:57:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report HB 144, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, the CSHB 144(RES) was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.