OutdoorNebraska

30 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • Floating The Good Life T H E A P P R O A C H From the arrival to the site and preparing watercraft for the float, the approach is where the river or lake embankment is encountered to reach the launch point. Designing the approach will vary based on the height of the embankment and slope that can be graded to navigate the route safely. Determine what permissible types of watercraft will be allowed for use on the access. Motorboats, canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, and the increasing popularity of stand-up-paddleboards (SUPs) and watering tanks ("tanking") are all seeking a location to get out on the water. Lakes and shallow river embankments may require a short length of approach while steeper embankments will have a greater distance and elevation to construct for reaching the water. The following are considerations for two categories of constructing the approach – stepped and ramping alternatives. Step Approaches For access locations with limited area to construct and serving only non-motorized watercraft, site steps and landings may be a suitable alternative. Step approaches are beneficial on steeper embankments as they require a smaller footprint of disturbance to construct. Consideration must be given to the embankment stability and river flows to assess whether a step approach will remain intact long-term. Universal accessibility is limited with step approaches, which may turn away those without the physical mobility necessary to use safely. It is important in a grant-funding scenario to know what level of access will qualify for compensation and whether step approaches can be considered. Overall, the approaches should be considered on a limited basis where serving a wider range of watercraft and users is not possible. See Figure 7 for an example of a Step Approach. Materials selected for a step approach must be able to be cleared of deposited sediment following a high-water event. Maintenance to keep the steps cleared will need to be attentive for the approach to remain safely operational. Poured concrete, pavers, or natural stone slabs will be easier cleaned than aggregates within a wood timber frame. Wood posts and decking can provide a stepped access; however, will be subject to a shorter lifecycle and have a higher risk for damage during high water flows. Use of wood posts and decking is not recommended as a suitable construction material for areas where flows may overtop and reserved only for lakes or above potential flow elevations.

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