Lee Creek Cleanup - Angry Landowner

[Half Ton]

Dear Cleanup Crew,

We have a landowner in Crawford County who says he owns the river and is tired of people "trespassing" on his property.

He wrote me a letter in response to the landowner invite letter that I sent out to all of the landowners from 220 bridge to Natural Dam.

He tole me that I forgot to ask his permission for cleanup volunteers to trespass on his property and said that the creek cleans itself out twice a year anyway.

Well, I responded to his letter and told him that while I can't agree with your views - and by the way - you are the only landowner who has shared that view I won't argue with you about that view...but I will accept/respect it and asked for his permission for volunteers to float through his property along the creek.

He said no. So, with that response I must tell all of you who may float down through there from 220 to natural dam to not float that stretch because there is an angry landowner who does not want anyone to float through his creek on his property.

I ask for volunteers to stay away from this section as there is limited access and not much of a way to float through there, skip this guys property, and then resume the float.

As one organizer of many and with the sponsorship of the Stream Team, the cleanup must respect the wishes of property owners and not seek to infuriate them.

Therefore, I am telling all about the 1 angry landowner who does not want people out floating through the property and river that he "owns".

There may not be water to float that section and if so it won't be a problem. But, if there is water please keep my advisory in mind and don't push this guy. Who knows what he will do.

Please PM or give me a call if you have any questions 479-444-1755.

Thanks, John Pennington

[prophet]

i assume he is below the FS/ACC takeout? my old FS map shows some private land just below the 220 bridge but have never heard of any problems there.

he's probably not going to like boats floating over his house if they ever build the lake either

[Victor Caballeros]

he's probably not going to like boats floating over his house if they ever build the lake either[/quote]

I think I would be more grateful about it. People cleaning my back yard and trying to save my home for free,......Instead let my house be a good place for catfish.

[Half Ton]

Yeah, he is below the ACC takeout. I'm not sure where though. He has a 220 mailing address. So, I figure his house isn't even along the creek. Since I don't work in Crawford Co. I can't access their property records and my co-worker (michelle - will be at natural dam check out) that can id that property is out of pocket.

I will PM you his name and you can check with Geo about his particular location.

I would check with Geo myself, but don't know his phone number and I'm not sure how often he looks at the MB or his PMs.

[bstew]

Yeah, he is below the ACC takeout. I'm not sure where though. He has a 220 mailing address. So, I figure his house isn't even along the creek. Since I don't work in Crawford Co. I can't access their property records and my co-worker (michelle - will be at natural dam check out) that can id that property is out of pocket.

I will PM you his name and you can check with Geo about his particular location.

I would check with Geo myself, but don't know his phone number and I'm not sure how often he looks at the MB or his PMs.

Try the following website http://www.actdatascout.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Half Ton]

Ok, with the help of real-time landowner intel, the angry landowner has been isolated to the area below the ACC takeout and between cove creek.

The best way to avoid conflict and still clean the creek on this day would be to put in at cove creek and head down to Natural Dam.

It may be possible to put on at Cove City Ford and go down to natural dam, but we are not 100% that the angry landowners property is not between cove city and cove creek.

A different float on a different day can take care of the part of the creek that is not going to get cleaned on the 12th - that way the landowner won't be tipped off as to boaters floating on the creek that runs through his property.

Thanks to all for the advice and help !

[prophet]

got a shuttle on Lee from a local with land just below the ACC takeout today. very nice guy but didn't get his name

[Half Ton]

I would say that 97.5 % of those landowners are nice people.

This one landowner though has made it pretty clear how he feels about the cleanup, boaters, and property rights.

He reminds me a lot of the low water troll on the mulberry.

[iYak]

Looking forward to the cleanup tomorrow. I'll bring boats just in case.

Thanks for all the hard work to Half Ton and others in getting all this orchestrated.

[Half Ton]

Thanks for coming out and bringing the family with you Rob ! I am also glad - and a little awed- by the fact that y'all won the cabin at White Rock Resort again.

What are those odds ?

By the way, we have a weight from Waste Management for the trash picked up at the Natural Dam Area - 1.3 tons :shock:

Way to go RV Chapter