Re: [Paddlewise] San Juan Islands DNR closures

--- Robert Livingston & Pam Martin <bearboat2_at_home.com> wrote:
> On 9/9/01 11:06 AM, "Mike McNally" <mmcnally3_at_PRODIGY.NET> wrote:
> 
> > Isn't there a law about public boating access to beachs?  Doesn't
> extend
> > to overnight does it?
> 
> Varies state to state and Canada is yet different.
> 
> In Washington State, the Reagan-like thinking at the turn of the last
> century led to a decision to sell the beaches to private parties as a
> way of
> raising money and lowering taxes. When Washington became a state the
> beaches
> were in public hands. Of course it was a one time deal, like cutting
> old
> growth timber, but it raised money. And it screwed over the public
> forever
> in the future because they gave up their rights to the beaches for a
> few
> dollars. (Sort of feel like an American Indian). A few beaches were
> not
> bought and remain in the public's domain. Belatedly, the decision was
> made
> not to sell anymore. Surrounding land owners tend to make it
> difficult to
> find and access these few spots. (Tear down signs etc)


The information is pretty readily available, however.  The state
publishes a book, _Washington Public Shore Guide_, I think is the
title, which is pretty useful.  Published in 1986, but hopefully
nothing has changed since then regarding state ownership.  I also
picked up a map several years ago which was a combination topo and road
map of the San Juans with the public beaches labled and their extent
marked  (the state book is not so good about showing the endpoints of
the public beach).  Don't have it on me to check the name of the
publisher, but I could check at home.

The main problem is that few of these have upland access for use as a
put-in, or camping space. 

I make a note of the beaches that might be useful on my chart, so if I
need to land I can hopefully choose a legal site.  The few times I've
done this, no one has ever confronted me, but if they did, my plan is
to pull out my phone and say  "this is state beach #221A, so if you
have any problem, I'll be happy to call the cops."


=====
Mike Wagenbach
Seattle

"Watch out, those monkeys bite!"

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