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Rob · 08-03-2004, 08:06 AM

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new...ke_winnisquam/

Below is the text.
State officials look at sites for boat ramps to Lake Winnisquam

August 3, 2004

TILTON, N.H. -- State officials visited two sites being considered for construction of a public boat launch at Lake Winnisquam.

Allen MacNeil, chairman of the state's Public Water Access Advisory Board, said about 20 people showed up Monday to tour Ahern State Park and a second site, at the mouth of the Winnipesaukee River, owned by the state's Department of Environmental services.

The board, a division of the state Fish and Game Department, is expected to make a recommendation on which site to develop at its next meeting on Sept. 13.

A public launch would have to be open 24 hours and would require parking for boats and trailers, widening of the gravel road and bathrooms.

But some city officials and members of the Ahern State Park Committee are opposed to a boat ramp at the park. They want to preserve it as a swimming and recreational area.

The committee suggests that the state advisory board look at installing a launch on state-owned property on the site of the former Laconia sewage treatment plant. MacNeil said the site could be converted to a boat launch, but would require some dredging, and that the removal of old sewage tanks could be costly.

Public boat launch access to the site was effectively cut off over the weekend when Ralph Langevin, owner of Martel's Bait Shop in Laconia, closed a popular launch. Police had been ticketing his customers for parking violations.

Langevin said he'd be willing to reopen the ramp if state and city officials start working together to solve the public access problem.

08-03-2004, 08:06 AM	#9
Rob Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	http://www.boston.com/news/local/new...ke_winnisquam/ Below is the text. State officials look at sites for boat ramps to Lake Winnisquam August 3, 2004 TILTON, N.H. -- State officials visited two sites being considered for construction of a public boat launch at Lake Winnisquam. Allen MacNeil, chairman of the state's Public Water Access Advisory Board, said about 20 people showed up Monday to tour Ahern State Park and a second site, at the mouth of the Winnipesaukee River, owned by the state's Department of Environmental services. The board, a division of the state Fish and Game Department, is expected to make a recommendation on which site to develop at its next meeting on Sept. 13. A public launch would have to be open 24 hours and would require parking for boats and trailers, widening of the gravel road and bathrooms. But some city officials and members of the Ahern State Park Committee are opposed to a boat ramp at the park. They want to preserve it as a swimming and recreational area. The committee suggests that the state advisory board look at installing a launch on state-owned property on the site of the former Laconia sewage treatment plant. MacNeil said the site could be converted to a boat launch, but would require some dredging, and that the removal of old sewage tanks could be costly. Public boat launch access to the site was effectively cut off over the weekend when Ralph Langevin, owner of Martel's Bait Shop in Laconia, closed a popular launch. Police had been ticketing his customers for parking violations. Langevin said he'd be willing to reopen the ramp if state and city officials start working together to solve the public access problem.