At the Aug. 21 meeting of the Russian River Recreation and Parks District, board members faced a wave of frustration from Vacation Beach residents over a neighbor who they say has been blocking access to the Russian River. The heated discussion centered around a fence erected by Mark and Rita O’Flynn, longtime residents and environmental stewards, which some neighbors claim has effectively privatized a portion of the riverbank historically open to the public. The district has standing in the river access dispute because it is responsible for managing public lands and ensuring public access to these areas under California law. The Public Resources Code Section 5780 grants recreation and parks districts the authority to maintain parks, trails, and natural resources, including access to navigable waters like the Russian River. The board is legally obligated to investigate and address any obstructions that infringe on public rights, such as access guaranteed by the Public Trust Doctrine and prescriptive easements, making it the appropriate body to resolve such issues.