Thread: Launch Fees

that KU doesn't own the water ... what I meant to say was the land below the water line, which "contains" the water, and the water level. They're a business, and their business is generating power and flood control ... not launch access, & fishing rights. They could probably care less if anyone even uses the lake.

The land is private, even if the water is public property ... and they are granting you access, they're just charging you for it, as they are a business and not simply a land owner. Failure to pay the launch fees is viewed as theft, and access across private lands ... even to get to "public" water ... is viewed as trespassing. May/may not be right ... but, it is how it is.

I'm sure there are laws on the books, that allow these things ... otherwise they wouldn't have gotten away with it for over 40yrs. Everything is more expensive, these days, and consumers are forced to pay for their use. I'm not any more happy about it than any of the rest of you.

As for KDFWR/Water Patrol connection ... they may not have a boat or CO on your private pond/lake ... but, they do have a duty to patrol/manage the fishing & boating activities on Herrington. Those fish, and that water, is public property ... and their use and management is under their jurisdiction. They may get federal monies (matching funds or something like that), but they don't have to use that money to provide a dock/pier/launch ramp on your private waters ... like they do on publicly accessable waters. I see the connection you're trying to make ... but, Herrington Lake must be a unique situation. Like I said, I don't know the answers. If someone is closely connected enough to KDFWR or someone whom would know ... I'd appreciate it if they'd find out and inform us all.

... cp

I know nothing about the lake but I have to admit that I am surprised that there is no state owned, public access point to it considering that it is part of a river system and consequently public, navigable water.

There are state owned ramps scattered all over the rivers and lakes on this end of the state to go with the private ones. To have a body of water that large without one is somewhat puzzling.