Boat Ramp Update

Recently, I received an email from an out-of-state property owner with some questions about the boat ramp, the boat ramp fees, and the boat docks.  This particular email had several questions which I believe others would benefit from the answers.

Below are the questions along with my best shot at the answers.  A few of the questions I did not know the answers to and will need to do further research.  I hope this helps!

Boat Ramp Questions: (Launch a boat)

• 1. Is the Rock Creek Landing boat ramp public?

     • Yes, Just because our neighborhood hosts the boat ramp it is public and available to be used by anyone that wants to launch a boat.  RCL has a county road through the neighborhood and the road ends near the red line.  From the red line to the boat ramp, we follow the rules & regulations set forth by the Corps of Engineers Shoreline Management Guide.

  2. If it's public, why does the neighborhood pay the rental/license fee?

     • Currently, boat ramps must be public per the Shoreline Management Guide.  I've only heard of one situation whereby a gated community was granted a private boat ramp license.  This community does have a private road in their neighborhood and is responsible for the maintenance.

  3. Should we put up a contribution box?

     • Several neighborhoods have put up a contribution box and our neighborhood has voted on this topic several times at the neighborhood association meetings.  With each vote, the decision is NOT to put up the contribution box because of the risk of vandalism and because we'd need volunteers to maintain it on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, such maintenance seems to fall on the people that live full time in the community.

  4. How often does the neighborhood pay the boat ramp fee?

     • Every five years.

  5. What do they base the boat ramp assessment fees on?

     • The Corps of Engineers real estate department (out of the Louisville office) determines the assessment fees based on the recent sale of land in our community and nearby communities in our area.  Just like purchasing a home, an assessment is based on the market value of the homes in that neighborhood and surrounding areas and the Corps real estate board determines the value of the land that we use as a parking area and a ramp area.

  6. Does the number of boat docks near the boat ramp have anything to do with the fees?

     • No, the boat docks are a separate issue and do not dictate any cost of boat ramp assessment fees.  The fees are determined by current market value.

  7. Does the neighborhood have boat ramp insurance to cover liability?

     • I do not know this answer and would need to check on whether we have it or need it.

Boat Dock Questions: (Park a boat)

• 1. Do boat dock owners pay a fee for their boat docks?

     • A boat dock group (up to 12 docks in one group) pay a $30 fee every five years.  Each boat dock grouping has a "RA" (Resident Agent) or what we call a dock master that is responsible for collecting the fee from the boat dock owners within that grouping.  The RA is also responsible for making sure the boat dock owner has a registerd boat and it is reported to the Corps of Engineers according to the Shoreline Management Guide.  In RCL's case, there are two boat dock groupings next to the ramp and they have formed an association called "Rock Creek Landing Boat Dock Association".  We have four other groupings within our neighborhood but none of these have their own association at this time.

  2. Do boat dock owners have to buy special insurance to cover liability?

     • I do not think liability insurance is mandatory but would need to research this answer.  Most boat dock groupings have a "Private Boat Dock" sign to persuade others not to get on their docks and provide some kind of protection.

UPDATE: 3/11/2024 The COE will no longer let us put the Private Boat Dock signage on our boat slips.

• 3. How many groupings of boat docks can our neighborhood have?

     • A new grouping must be approved by the Corps of Engineers (COE) and it has to be 500' from the nearest boat dock.  I think we have maxed out our boat dock groupings based on the conditions of 500' between the sets of boat docks.  Right now our neighborhood has two public lake access areas: 1) the end of Allen Road which is where our boat ramp is and 2) at the end of a platted easement which is located on the lower part of Allen Road next to Sheryl Glasscock's property.  The other three boat dock groupings are at the end of someone's property and anyone adding on to these boat docks would have to be within walking distance of their land to that set of boat docks and of course have COE approval.

  4. How do you access the boat docks that do not have public walkways or driveways?

     • If you do not have adjacent property to these sets of boat docks, you cannot access them. For further clarification on this topic, see the Shoreline Management Guide or contact the COE.