More than 70 percent of this planet is currently covered by water. Between global warming and privatization, the remaining 30 percent is quickly disappearing from public view. So, it's only natural to expect conflict as more and more people compete for less and less real estate.

On Saturday, the Chron ran an article about the pitched battle over property rights and public access going on between some landowners in Marin and displaced, disgruntled recreationists.

Apparently private citizens David Mease and Catherine Salah bought some property in Marin county with the intention of building a house and a winery. Happens all the time, so what's the problem. Well, the Barnabe Mountain fire road (also known as the Dixon Ridge fire road), a route historically used by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers to move between San Geronimo and the Pacific Ocean, snakes across a small portion of Mease and Salah's land. In addition, a driveway on the Mease/Salah property has been used in the past as an easement to access the Barnabe.