38 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • Floating The Good Life
Shoreline Landings: Shoreline landings can provide a stable surface for parallel positioning
of the watercraft to the flow of the river. Ramps can provide parallel positioning as well but
typically require dragging the watercraft hull across hard surface, which shoreline landings can
avoid. Shoreline landings can also be built to lengths that allow two or more watercraft to use
the launch simultaneously. For positioning two canoes or kayaks tandem across the face of a
shoreline landing, the minimum length of 40 feet should provide sufficient provision.
Design of the shoreline landing should be to a width that an individual with watercraft can
be on the landing and safely move about. Additionally a width capable of allowing mechanical
equipment to gain access for clearing sediment is preferred. For both instances, a minimum
width of 7 feet is recommended for a shoreline landing.
As river elevations vary during different times of the season, consideration should be given to
constructing a two-tiered landing solution. A lower landing at a height of 12 to 18 inches above
the average mid-summer water elevation and a second landing constructed 12 to 18 inches
above the first tier. The second tier will be utilized when the lower tier is below water but
with river elevation still within levels safe for paddling. Lake shoreline landings are less likely to
benefit from a multiple tiered solution and serve well as a single tier.
