Public Access

"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.” – Baba Dioum, 1968

ShoreRivers believes that access to rivers and streams fuels environmental stewardship. Your Riverkeepers are advocating for better access to all our waterways and defending against attempts to close public access areas.

At ShoreRivers, access is:

• Physical: access to our waterways via public landings and beaches.

• Informational: access to information about potential health risks, beach closures, and access points. Access to the ShoreRivers bacteria monitoring program, pumpout boat, and No Discharge Zones.

• Regulatory: local laws and regulations support public access to waterways.

On the rural and sparsely populated Eastern Shore, access to rivers is often limited to people who can afford to live on the waterfront or have reliable transportation to public waterfront areas. Our rivers are a public treasure and access to them is valuable but not equitable. We must prioritize inclusive access to our waterways and to nature.