That is crazy. Sorry your grandfather had to deal with that.
The last thing I would worry about is an occasional fisherman walking through my stream. If it looks untouched it probably is. I live on a river. The land on the riverbank is mine with a road between the house and river. The old deed says we own to the middle of the river. We have photographers and fisherman stop in. Todays fisherman last about 10 minutes before they leave out of boredom. Rarely do they leave any trash . I rather like that people enjoy my property.The flip Side of my oceanfront town is little alcoves can keep you from access to the ocean. That goads me that people can "own the ocean." I guess you can walk the beach to high tide. I have heard the these residents are rude and miserable to anyone doing so.
My bank said they couldn't finance it because of the floodplain. Apparently 2.2 acres aren't enough room for a house... They would only fiance front parcel not the bank. Told seller and they took a cash offer. Sigh...
Think you avoided a heart ache.
On to the next prospect...
My feeling as well.
Most of the fisherman who came through followed the bank. Of those that parked & walked the pathway to the river, he knew most of them. It was the complete strangers who drove in which bothered him. I believe his problems stemmed from the fact that his land was listed as forest crop; and the county insisted that in that status, he could not post his land. Grandfather felt that the county was pressuring him to change the land to "recreational", which was a higher tax rate - and he may have been right. He owned 280 acres, so any tax increase would have been substantial.
All we are required here in Alabama is to allow access to a limited section of the bank I’m not sure just how much. Also in my county you have to be nuts to walk on someone’s property without permission. Even if it isn’t posted. This is especially true on my road since there are a lot of drug houses.The biggest problems with waterways are possible wetland restrictions (as covered by @Ridgerunner ), flood plains, and use restrictions (such as minimum offsets). Additional problems can occur if the waterway is considered to be navigable... and surprisingly small creeks can be classified as "navigable". Part of my Grand Father's difficulties were that the stream adjoining his property was navigable. The county told him that he had to allow fisherman right-of-way river access to those walking the river bank. But because his driveway was the only road access to that part of the river (and perhaps because the county plowed partway in) he also had to allow access through his property. That meant he had to allow strangers to enter his private drive, park on his property, and maintain a pathway for them to the river. It was basically a government-sanctioned open door to trespassers.
All that being said...
It sounds like the property you are looking at has a lot of potential, @margali , and you have already done a considerable amount of research. I look forward to updates.
