BOATS AND BOATING;

You asked (1) if Connecticut is planning to close all of its state boat launch ramps and (2) if (a) neighboring states’ environmental protection departments police state boat launching ramps and if (b) those ramps may be used when not policed.

The state is not planning to close all of its boat ramps. Due to the budget restrictions, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is considering closing access to certain parks, some of which have boat ramps that will close as a consequence, according to Tom Tyler, DEP legislative liaison. Keeping certain park gates closed to vehicle access will relieve some of the maintenance burden, which is increased by the loss of staff to layoffs and early retirement.

DEP will not close any parks that generate significant revenue for obvious reasons, Tyler said.

Policing (i. e. , an attendant monitors activities during open hours) of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York state boat ramps vary. Massachusetts state park officials monitor boat ramps in the parks, but not at every marina or lake, according to Department of Environmental Management. New York has only one state boat ramp entry into the Long Island Sound, which is not monitored, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Marine Division, but monitoring of state

boat ramps at lakes varies. Rhode Island state boat ramps are not monitored, but state park attendants do monitor parking and other issues at larger state park facilities, according to the Department of Environmental Management’s Fish and Wildlife Division.

JRH: ts