Project Overview
Navigating Utah River Access is a research-based training project that will create a free, statewide online course to clarify Utah’s river access laws while respecting both private property rights and public use of rivers. Utah's rivers are at the center of ongoing legal and policy discussions concerning public access, private property rights, and recreational use. Recent court decisions and legislative proposals have brought renewed attention to the complex legal frameworks that govern river access across the state.
This training is designed to be legally grounded, politically neutral, and practical for people who must work across disagreements on access and ownership by providing balanced education on Utah’s river access laws and practical tools for conflict resolution.
Project Goals
This training course aims to:
- Increase legal literacy among Utah's land use professionals and stakeholders concerning river and stream access laws
- Provide clear understanding of Utah's Public Waters Access Act, trespass statutes, easement law, and related regulations
- Equip participants with practical tools to interpret, draft, and apply these laws in local policy contexts
- Explore dispute resolution frameworks and collaborative approaches to managing public access while respecting private property rights
We recognize that Utah's rivers hold deep significance for diverse communities—landowners who steward riparian corridors, anglers and recreationists who cherish public access, local governments tasked with balanced decision-making, and all Utahns who benefit from healthy watersheds. By fostering greater understanding of the legal frameworks that govern river access, we hope to support decisions that respect both private property rights and public access interests within the bounds of Utah law.
Training Will Include:
1) Three Live Webinars
Interactive sessions featuring expert instruction and discussions with legal practitioners, planning officials, natural resource managers, and stakeholders representing diverse perspectives.
- Webinar 1: Utah Stream Access Law and Legal Foundations
- Topics: Public Waters Access Act, navigability standards, Public Trust Doctrine
- Webinar 2: Trespass, Private Property Rights, and Land Use Conflic
- Topics: Easements, incidental contact, real-world conflict case studies, quiet title actions
- Webinar 3: Local Government Tools for Access and Dispute Resolution
- Topics: Policy tools, zoning considerations, collaborative resolution approaches
2) Short Instructional Videos
A series of online videos offering scenario-based legal instruction and diverse stakeholder commentary. These videos will clarify legal definitions, illustrate typical conflict situations, and offer best practices for local decision-making.
3) Comprehensive Course Workbook
A professionally designed, downloadable guidebook featuring:
- Summaries of applicable statutes and regulations
- Illustrative case law examples
- Step-by-step checklists for local officials
- Discussion prompts and reflection questions
- Best-practice guidance for policy development and conflict resolution
Public Dissemination
All course materials – such as session recordings, slide presentations and handouts – will also be distributed to participants, and will be freely available online via the Institute's YouTube channel and the Land Use Academy of Utah's website.
Who This Training Serves
This course is designed for:
- Planning and zoning staff
- City and county attorneys
- Planning commissioners and local elected officials
- State and federal resource managers
- Landowners and property rights advocates
- Recreation advocates and outdoor enthusiasts
- Anyone seeking to better understand Utah's river access laws
While participation will be open statewide, special outreach will target regions with high recreational river use and ongoing access concerns, including northern Utah (Weber and Ogden Rivers), central Utah (Provo River), and southeastern Utah (San Juan River corridor).
Project Timeline
October 2025 - April 2026
- Course development: October 2025 - January 2026
- Live webinars: February - March 2026
- Video production and editing: Throughout project period
- Public dissemination at Wasatch Fly Tying & Fishing Expo: April 2026
- Ongoing online availability: Indefinitely through YouTube and the Land Use Academy of Utah
Project Leadership
This training course will be led by Dr. Jordan W. Smith and Dr. Chase C. Lamborn of Utah State University's Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.
- Dr. Jordan W. Smith is a nationally recognized expert in land use policy, outdoor recreation planning, and stakeholder engagement, with over a decade of experience delivering trainings and workshops to state and local government agencies across Utah.
- Dr. Chase C. Lamborn is an applied researcher in fisheries management whose work regularly intersects with land use decisions affecting public water access and aquatic habitat.
Partnership & Funding
This project is developed and hosted by the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University in partnership with the Utah Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman and supported through the Land Use Training Fund.
The training will be free of charge to all participants, and all materials will remain publicly accessible following project completion.
Questions?
For more information about this training project, please contact:
Jordan W. Smith
Utah State University
jordan.smith@usu.edu
(435) 830-6294