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Board raises public-access questions for Long South Branch property
Summary
Board members discussed a recently acquired property on Long South Branch that lacks a usable boat launch and noted historical navigation law and state access rules complicate establishing public access.
Board members raised concerns about public access to a newly acquired property on Long South Branch where a boat launch has been lost. One member described the site as “one of the last … where it's pretty natural” but noted that public access is limited and that state agencies may not provide a launch.
Dom Schwartz described the legal backdrop for navigation questions, saying, “The law pertaining to navigation goes back, like, 200 years, you know, whether or not you could put a flat boat down the river or not,” and members discussed whether the state’s definition of navigability would allow establishing public launch access. The Chair asked to explore whether state public-access staff could attend the Sept. 23 summit or meet privately to advise the board on access options.
