Re: [Paddlewise] Boat launch fees apply to kayakers too?

At 11:45 AM 10/9/00 -0700, elias.ross_at_software.com wrote:
>I went out last weekend with my wife to Lake Goodwin.  We only had a few
>hours before dark to go, so I thought it might be okay to at least get
>out on Saturday.  Lake Goodwin is part of Wenberg State Park, near Kayak
>Point State Park.  I have never, ever paid a launch fee prior to this
>occasion, even when using boat launch docks.  The ranger insisted that I
>had to pay to launch a kayak, even though I was sure that hand-carry
>boats have no such fee applicable.  He asked me quite angrily why I
>didn't think I had to pay, while "everyone else does."

Actually, you're rather lucky, in only getting nailed once. We've had an
outbreak of fee launches in Michigan the last few years. I have to pay a
$20.00 per year fee to use the state park where I do the majority of my
paddling -- actually, it's a vehicle pass, the launch is free. (I got
caught a week ago when I had to take my wife's car with no annual permit
sticker and I got nailed for an extra four bucks.

But that's not what grinds. Another lake has a DNR boat launch -- not DNR
parks division, but DNR rec division -- and they want ***another*** 24
bucks a year to use that. That one really grinds, since that boat launch
was originally township property, paid for out of local property tax
dollars, and donated to the state. It was free for many years, but now they
have the gall to charge. At least they don't charge when the flunky isn't
there to collect the money, and since he never shows up until 10 or 11 in
the mornings on weekends, I just paddle early and avoid him.

I know this sounds cheap and sour grapes of me -- and if the money
collected actually went back into the maintenance of the parks or the boat
launches, I might not mind too much. The governor of this state and his
toady legislature have pretty much bled the DNR dry in the past few years,
and maintenance and improvement funds are few and far between. But no, the
money goes back into the general fund, and I presume directly to the
pockets of the governor's buddies.

>I guess I had a weak moment.  I ought to have had him find the exact
>law.  The notices made no such distinction, though obviously I was not
>using a trailer nor was I taking up any more space with my vehicle than
>the rest of the visitors.  I basically decided $5 wasn't much to part
>with, since I had no desire to make someone angry even angrier and waste
>time that could be spent in the water.

Like I said, I really don't begrudge the season pass at the state park --
after all, I get my money's worth out of it. 20 bucks a year for maybe
fifty trips, that's a pretty good return on investment, especially to
paddle on a lake with no jetskis or water skiiers. But I'd a damn sight
more rather the money actually went into the park, and I'd be willing to
pay more if it did. 

-- Wes

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