Yeah, the river is public property, but the banks..it depends. The Arkansas River is very popular for rafters and kayakers and provides a large cash flow for the companies that operate there. The banks of the river are a mix of private and public ownership. Of the later, there is the BLM and the Forest Service, plus the occassional state land (one section per township, either section 16 or 36, which can be leased for mining or grazing, at public auction, proceeds going to education, hence known as "school sections.") Of the private lands, this has been rather complicated of late. The way it is now, the private land owner owns the land to the water line, and can charge anyone who sets foot on the bank with trespassing, even rafters during an emergency.

It's quite complicated. I'd have to pull out my land maps of the area to see if the project is on public or private ground. Anyway, the art project will be anchored on the banks and suspended above the river, so it is the ownership of the banks that is important in this art project. Then there is the railroad which runs through the canyon, whose right-of-way controls a wide swath on the northern side. The Department of Wildlife is also intersested as this is an important area for the bighorn sheep, deer, and other critters. The department of transportation also has a say. Traffic can be a nightmare in the canyon on the best of days (it is a two lane highway with lots of curves and few passing lanes or pullouts for parking. Add several thousand new visitors and there is a big problem.

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