News From The NJ Senate Democrats
TRENTON – Aiming to ensure that the public has boating access to state-owned bodies of water where boating is permitted, the Senate advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Shirley Turner to require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide for public boat access to state-owned and county-owned lakes and reservoirs within two years of the enactment of the bill.
“Private marinas have increasingly been limiting public access to their boat ramps, making many publicly-owned lakes and reservoirs inaccessible unless a resident is a member of those marinas,” said Senator Cruz-Perez (D-Camden/Gloucester). “Without public access, these public bodies of water are essentially privately-owned, enjoyable only by property owners and those who can afford to pay for private access. This bill will ensure that if a lake or reservoir is state or county-owned and allows boating, the public is guaranteed equal access to those waters and its recreational opportunities.”
The bill, S3887, cites the second-largest lake in New Jersey, Greenwood Lake, as one of the main examples of the problem. It is state-owned and maintained with public dollars, annually being restocked with thousands of fish to ensure recreational enjoyment. Despite its status as a significant freshwater fishing location and its maintenance with public funds, there is no guaranteed public access to the lake.
The legislation would remedy the issue highlighted by Greenwood Lake by requiring the DEP to provide for public boat access by constructing or causing to be constructed boat ramps for public access, as well as by entering into long-term contracts with the owners of private marinas subject to a public bidding process.
“Publicly-owned lands and waters ought to be available for the enjoyment of the public, but recent trends have made many of these waters unavailable for use by members of the public,” said Senator Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “When tax dollars are being used to maintain these lakes and reservoirs, it only makes sense to ensure that public funding comes with a guarantee of public access.”
The Senate passed the bill in a 39-0 vote.
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