When does the lake end?

[LFADAM]

My lake is the product of damming 2 rivers, there are many creeks and tributaries going into the lake from ends of coves. I kayaked up one about 2 miles away from my lake house and its only like 2 feet deep narrow but I was thinking.....

I looked on a detailed map of my lake and at the end of that cove/creek I kayaked up there is like a little pond. I was thinking maybe I could do a human pull and maybe hit an overturned kayak etc. Or set up a slip n slide on a bank and ride down it to a slider via small boat or human pull. Im not positive that pond exists, I never got to the end of the creek and Ill check back some other time but I was wondering...

what is the end of the lake? (public waterway) Like when does the water become private property? Its just woods in rural VA but I dont want some farmer coming at me with a shotgun for trespassing or get a slider torn down that I build in the creek.

Thanks in advance and any thoughts on river boarding? Do you think a slip n slide with soap on it would work, etc....

[LFADAM]

???

[Garrett R.]

u should be able to go to a place on the internet and see who own the land around the pond and the pond but i think the city would own it

[Enzoborder230]

the slip and slide might work, youd have to put like a peice of wood under it

[tball]

If you go to your city hall, library, etc you should be able to find a zoning map or similar that will show what land is public, commercial, residential, etc. Hunters can get away with anything once so while you're building your slide wear lots of camo and pretend you're trying to get back to your house in time for the Daytona 500 while you TIVO Hee-Haw. If you get busted just say your gul-dern brother-in-law told you the wrong piece of land to hunt on.

[LFADAM]

Thanks, I didnt see any houses near by and now that I think about it, the one farm that could own the land, I know the guy well. I'll try to find a map on the net. Im not sure what city would own it because the "city" near by is 6,000 population.........HAhA

tball, Nice excuse, ill remember that. All the farmers and people there are nice but the hunters Ive never met.

[midwesty]

why is the sky blue?

[LFADAM]

huh

[Mike]

nobody owns the water, it's God's water

[holiday13]

Mike, Not 100% true. I believe, and hopefully there is a real estate attourney on the board who can back this up, but I believe that any "navigatable" waterway is public. Meaning if you can travel the water way by means of boat (paddle or motor) than that water is public. The other key is that you must be able to get to the water way through public access, like this creek you are talking about. Now of course, check with your local government on this, but what I said above I believe holds true nation wide.

Now comes the issue of if you are allowed to navigate that waterway with a motorized vehicle. This brings another issue to the table as well that you need to research.

Lastly, if this creek is public and you can use it, are you allowed to "build a structure" on this land without permision. Even though it is a "slider" the local government will view it as a structure. Basically I think you have a lot of research to do, my gut is you are not going to be allowed to. but it is always worth the shot.

[Mike]

Not familiar with Super Troopers?

[gswake]

Holiday13 has it right. Probably a good idea to check your state's laws. Here in AR, the state defines navigable waterway as anything you can travel by boat, which is loosely defined - a raft suffices. A floating log probably would, too. And all navigable waterways are at least publicly accessible, if not owned by the state (I'm not sure which.) But that access ends at the bank - or the "ordinary high-water mark" - basically where vegetation changes. Past that, you'd need landowners permission.