Public Waters Access Act Amendments

HB 386 amends Utah's Public Waters Access Act to clarify recreational access rights on private property near public waterways. It establishes that public recreational access (for activities like fishing and floating) can be created through 10 consecutive years of continuous, open, and unobstructed public use starting after 1982, requiring proof of "adverse" use. The bill clarifies that stream beds are presumed private property unless proven otherwise through evidence of navigability or government ownership. It also excludes impounded wetlands, private hunting areas, and manmade irrigation features from public access rights. These changes primarily affect landowners and recreational users of Utah's rivers, lakes, and streams.