If you read through the link I provided ~ here it is again

  http://www.nationalrivers.org/us-law-who-owns.htm

you will see that it is quite clear that the Public has the right to  
the use

of rivers for transportation purposes ~ it is your right, it is up to  
you as

to how far you wish to pursue that right

        Here is a link specific to Virginia&DC

http://www.nationalrivers.org/states/va-law.htm

        I do understand what you are saying, though, I would not choose

to confront the guy with the DoubleBarrel but I would sure not be  
against

making the Law go have a Heart2Heart with him to let him know he has

no legal right to keep boaters off the river or off a portage around a  
falls.

On 14 Sep , 2012, at 11:07 AM, Mark Dearing wrote:

> tell that to the law here in virginia or to the old guy standing on  
> the
> side of the creek with the double barrel shotgun , normally right at  
> fools
> fall  a good 15 ft drop.  maybe with Virginia being a commonwealth   
> state it
> is different  later mark d
>
>
> In a message dated 9/14/2012 12:35:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET writes:
>
> This from AmericanRivers.org
>
> 4) Who owns America�s  rivers?
>
> You do! Rivers that are physically navigable by canoe, kayak,  and  
> raft
> are in the public domain, up to the high water mark. Access  to the
> rivers may be over private land, so you have to find a public  access
> point, but once you�re on that river you�re home free. So get  out
> there Americans, and enjoy your rivers!
>
> This is more in depth from NationOrganizationForRivers ~  NORS
>
> http://www.nationalrivers.org/us-law-who-owns.htm
>
> http://www.nationalrivers.org/us-law-menu.htm
>
> ORR ~ DeanB
>
>
>
> On 14 Sep , 2012, at 7:24 AM, Mark Dearing  wrote:
>
>> Hello Jim  think that is bad try being in Virginia  where they can
>> close a
>> class 5 whitewater creek  using a Kings grant ( if a single person
>> owns   both
>> sides he can claim the whole creek),which is what has happened  to
>> johns
>> creek .  This creek is one of the  best,drops 165 ft a mile for 4.5
>> miles,  35
>> named  rapids,  bambi meets godzilla being one. he did this after the
>> AWA
>> had bought property and built a parking lot and change  house.  damn
>> shame
>> later  mark  d
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 9/14/2012 9:04:30 A.M. Eastern  Daylight Time,
>> jim.felder@GMAIL.COM writes:
>>
>> I  hope  this is OK with the moderators.
>>
>> I have an online  petition going to try  to make the US Army Corps of
>> Engineers  reverse their decision to close the  locks on the Alabama
>> rivers to
>> recreational traffic. The link is
>>
> <http://www.change.org/petitions/alabama-scenic-river-trail-push-back-against-closing-alabama-river-locks-to-recreational-
>> traffic>
>>
>> Sent  from my diesel Westy in  Chickasabogue  Alabama