Jump to content

My posted property that has a stream running thru it , trespassers


luberhill
 Share

Recommended Posts

Can people walk down the stream thru my property ?

I own the land on either side of the stream .

 I assume I own the land under the stream too 

Not sure how that works 

Everything I read online says I own the land under the stream and as soon as someone crosses my land to get to the stream they are trespassing .

I really wouldn’t care but the kids are going there and trashing it... all kinds of crap , garbage , tarps etc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can people walk down the stream thru my property ?
I own the land on either side of the stream .
 I assume I own the land under the stream too 
Not sure how that works 
Everything I read online says I own the land under the stream and as soon as someone crosses my land to get to the stream they are trespassing .
I really wouldn’t care but the kids are going there and trashing it... all kinds of crap , garbage , tarps etc

Stream yes you own. Navigable waterway you do not. People have this argument on the East branch of the Delaware


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, DDT said:

My friend owns property that the Naples creek runs through. He can't stop passage and fishing because the fish can navigate it

Yea not sure that’s considered navigable .. fish or minnows can navigate a mud puddle.

I believe the law means by boat or raft etc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it’s navigable with a canoe or kayak at any point of the year, you don’t own it. The actual law is more complicated, but that is the ultra short version in simple terms. Had this discussion years ago with ENCON and a land owner that called them because I was Fishing a section of Honeoye creek, which I walked to up the creek bed. 
 

if yours is only 8 feet wide, I wouldnt think that would be the case though. Just give a shout to the DEC and ask. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, WNYBuckHunter said:

If it’s navigable with a canoe or kayak at any point of the year, you don’t own it. The actual law is more complicated, but that is the ultra short version in simple terms. Had this discussion years ago with ENCON and a land owner that called them because I was Fishing a section of Honeoye creek, which I walked to up the creek bed. 
 

if yours is only 8 feet wide, I wouldnt think that would be the case though. Just give a shout to the DEC and ask. 

Yea you can’t float a boat or canoe .. much of it I can walk across, there are deeper pockets here and there but going down it in a boat ... nope

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of the year mine is shallow and 6 feet across, but the spring melt brings it up high and 10 feet across.  You could go down it at that time in a canoe or kayak if you had a death wish.

Edited by Grouse
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From what I understand If they stay in the water not yours .  once they step out the water then its trespassing  be it ocean river or what ever body of water you can think of .  Technically any body of water is  navigable  at some point or part of the year .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

part of the thorny question regarding navagability is wheter logs can be floated down the river, and has the stream at your point ever been used for this person as far upstream as you own. It was originally defined by commercial traffic. Has been significant litigation regarding this with canoers in the  central Adirondacks. DEC might be hesitant to give out a legal opinion unless it is totally clear. But folks can not trespass across your property to reach even navigable waters. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  My question then is how can dsr on the salmon river block people from fishing with out paying ? I understand  floating through. It is public water way. It was used as a commercial  water way  and I kayak could go through...  I guess it matters who you are and how much money you have .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, phantom said:

From what I understand If they stay in the water not yours .  once they step out the water then its trespassing  be it ocean river or what ever body of water you can think of .  Technically any body of water is  navigable  at some point or part of the year .

And there’s where it gets tricky. The example that I have Experience with, Honeoye creek, for a lot of the summer is dry with a small mostly shallow running creek with deeper pockets that hold fish. When it rains a lot and in the spring, it’s quite a bit deeper and in most places 30 feet or more wide. The DEC officer pointed out that the defined creek bed, even when dry, is not private property. In the pictures below you can see what I mean.

32132922-695B-4AEB-8BD6-91993888D15F.jpeg

74BAA87E-0FCD-413E-9327-7E8C5C14C54C.jpeg

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, WNYBuckHunter said:

And there’s where it gets tricky. The example that I have Experience with, Honeoye creek, for a lot of the summer is dry with a small mostly shallow running creek with deeper pockets that hold fish. When it rains a lot and in the spring, it’s quite a bit deeper and in most places 30 feet or more wide. The DEC officer pointed out that the defined creek bed, even when dry, is not private property. In the pictures below you can see what I mean.

32132922-695B-4AEB-8BD6-91993888D15F.jpeg

74BAA87E-0FCD-413E-9327-7E8C5C14C54C.jpeg

It's funny how different officers will interpret the law.

I remember reading some of the case that is referenced by the DEC in my link. 

Because of the ruling the fisherman could boat down the river, but could not anchor or walk the river, Except to Portage. In fact the land owner owned the river bottom.

I had done my research for some whitewater kayaking, and it pretty much came down to run it at your own risk and fight it out in court.. lol

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, DDT said:

My friend owns property that the Naples creek runs through. He can't stop passage and fishing because the fish can navigate it

NYSDEC has permanent easements on most of Naples Creek allowing public access for fishing. So, Naples isn't your typical stream.

A friend of mine had a stream next to his house. DEC would not stock it because a neighbor didn't allow access.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, phantom said:

From what I understand If they stay in the water not yours .  once they step out the water then its trespassing  be it ocean river or what ever body of water you can think of .  Technically any body of water is  navigable  at some point or part of the year .

Not true above a natural falls is not.  though stream. May be deep enough above  if you need to get out and drag or Portage any point to terminus above that  natural obstacle is not navigable. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back in my whitewater kayaking days, our club needed to get an attorney involved because we were getting hassled so much...we all received a letter that we would show the police when they stopped us.  We had the right to be ON the water (navigatable)...no dams.  Regarding  the Salmon River (posted sections)...you can drift and fish but not anchor.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...