OutdoorNebraska

8 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • Floating The Good Life R E G U L A T I O N S G O V E R N I N G W A T E R T R A I L S Navigable bodies of water are managed for public benefit and use through the Public Trust Doctrine. The Public Trust Doctrine is a federal regulation that states the public has the right to use common resources, such as open water. Within Nebraska, only the water is open to the public. Any land, including the banks, shoreline, river or lake bottom, islands or sandbars that may be present are the property of the adjacent landowner. The only time a person can exit a watercraft and set foot on land without a landowners permission is if there is a hazard in the water that requires portage of the craft. It is important when planning and implementing a water trail that this regulation is made clear to all users. This regulation also makes it important for local communities to have well-established put-in and take-out points on public land that paddlers can freely access without trespassing. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are vitally important for every paddler's safety. Paddlers, such as operators of any watercraft, also are required to carry a PFD for every person in the watercraft. Children under the age of 13 are required to wear a properly fitted PFD at all times while on the water. This regulation includes all forms of watercraft, including tubes, tanks, and stand-up paddleboards. This regulation must be emphasized in all marketing materials and signage should be placed at all put-ins and take-outs. Owners of motorized watercraft are required by law to register it at their county treasurer's office. Paddle craft is not required to register in Nebraska. Paddlers may register their craft if they plan on travelling to a state that requires registration. While there are relatively few regulations regarding water trails within Nebraska, it is important that a community is mindful of what the regulations are and passes that information on to all the users of their water trails. FUR TRADE REGATTA, A CANOE RACE, AT CHADRON STATE PARK Nebraska has approximately 79,056 miles of river, more than any other state in the U.S. There are 10 designated Water Trails in the state covering approximately 518 river miles. Stretches of the Niobrara River and the Missouri River are declared Wild and Scenic Rivers by the National Parks Service. For information on existing trails or to designate a new trail contact the Water Trails Coordinator at 402-471-0641, or visit our website at OutdoorNebraska.org/watertrails.

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