Determining if boat ramp is for public use??? (2 PHOTOS)

[wareaglecamo]

I mainly put my boat in at COE or State Park ramps.  I would very much like to use other smaller ramps from time-to-time but always feel uncertain as to whether it is allowable.  I have included 2 photos of a small ramp on the Raridan Branch of TRL . . . near the hwy 86 bridge and the Eagle Rock area.  The photos show the ramp and an adjacent flat, unpaved area where there is enough room to park a vehicle w/trailer without blocking someone else from using the ramp.  How do you determine if you are allowed to use the ramp and park on the grounds?  Also, as shown in the photo, access to the ramp involves driving through a subdivision.  Was the ramp built by the subdivision? . . . is it maintained by the community? . . . I simply have not spent time attempting to find out the answers and have always opted to use what I know to be public ramps to avoid any potential problems.

 

[Sam]

Others here can correct me if I'm wrong, but it's my understanding that there are no private ramps on Tablerock.  That is, it's a C.O.E. lake and every ramp is on public offset land, going into public water.  As a practical matter though, I don't want to get into a situation where there'd be a conflict and an argument with someone.  I go fishing to have fun, not to fight.

Also, the ramp you're looking at seems awfully tight with that house.  If the road leading down to the ramp is a public (maybe named?) road, well, OK then.  It looks like maybe it's a private driveway though, going right between a guy's house and workshop or maybe boat garage.  If that's the case, even though you might technically have a right to use the ramp, you wouldn't have the right to use the private drive to cross private property and get to it.  Just my opinion.

If I really wanted to use that ramp, I'd just knock on the door of that house and ask - then go by what the homeowner says.  Whatever the answer is, I think doing that could avoid some problems.

[Dutch]

Call the Corps and ask the question from a Ranger.  We had this discussion about Table Rock a few years ago and Jeremy Rasnick of the COE said PUBLIC.

[elite203]

All boat ramps are public access because they are built on public land, but if it is in a neighborhood they have to pay a "lease" to the corp. The neighborhood has to pay to maintain and or repair anything but cannot technically turn anyone away from using it. You may not be welcome but you arent breaking any rules. So if they have a donation box throw a few bucks in there to help with fresh gravel or trash clean up. 

[Devan S.]

Like others have said the ramp is on COE property you could use it. The real question is are you parking your vehicle after you unload on public COE or private?

[Champ188]

Would seem like a lot of hoops to jump thru when the Eagle Rock COE ramp is only about a mile away.

[bobby b.]

Devan is correct.  There is a similar situation up on the James between Bridgeport and Galena.  In the Spring there is noy enough parking for everyone on the Corp land and I've been told that the HOA can and have towed people that park on private property.  Also the HOA has a courtesy dock that they lock up.

 

 

[denjac]

I would say if you have to drive through private property to get to them they are off limits.

[MOPanfisher]

Correctly stated that the ramps are open to the public, what often happens though is that there is no parking space or if you park there you compromise everyone elses ability to be able to turn around and launch, which is not looked kindly upon.  Parking on Private property can get you towed. 

[holleybob]

I have launched at this location many times. It is in a neighborhood and passes right next to a house. The launch and road to get to it belong to the COE. The only issue as mentioned before is parking. I happen to have a friend that has a home and a dock withing walking distance so I have always launched, parked the boat at his dock, then walk back to the truck and drive it over to his place for parking. It's kind of a pain when its just me but I have a small boat and I like to launch where I fish if possible.