The case began in 1995, when John Andrejewski, against whom the fishing club brought the complaint, fished in a section of the Lehigh River upstream of F.E. Walter Dam, Luzerne County, that the club had restricted for its private use. The case centered on the river's navigability, using historic documentation, modern usage and past court opinions on the Lehigh River and on the nature of navigability and public rights to use these water highways. The Court of Common Pleas in Luzerne County found the Lehigh River to be a public navigable waterway, in total. The Lehigh Falls Fishing Club appealed that decision to the state Superior Court, which upheld the lower court's decision. This case was not about the Lehigh River.
Private property is a sacred thing, but so is public property.
I do not believe any of the participants in this case are against the rights of private ownership, just the attempt to take private ownership of our public resources. Besides anglers, and waterfowlers, the boating community should similarly be enthused about this decision. It's proof positive of the benefits sportsmen provide to others who may not hunt, trap or fish, and it's an excellent example of why every outdoor enthusiast should belong to a statewide conservation organization like ours. A special Lehigh River fund-raiser for the Legal Fund is being planned, and information on that opportunity will be forthcoming. Onufrak thanks the many individuals, companies, and organizations that provided significant financial support for this effort.