HB 539-FN - AS INTRODUCED
1999 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 539-FN
AN ACT relative to public access to Squam Lake.
SPONSORS: Rep. Mirski, Graf 12; Sen. Krueger, Dist 16
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
This bill requires the fish and game department to acquire no less than 4 sites, by eminent domain if necessary, to provide year-round public access to Squam Lake.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
99-0061
03/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine
AN ACT relative to public access to Squam Lake.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings.
I. Squam Lake is New Hampshire's second largest lake, having a surface water area of 6,764 acres and 60.5 miles of shoreline.
II. Squam Lake is a public water, as defined in RSA 271:20, and is therefore held in trust by the state for public use.
III. The Public Access Plan for New Hampshire's Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers recommends 9 public access points for Squam Lake.
IV. Goal 2 of the Public Access Plan for New Hampshire's Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers is to "provide and improve year-round public access to state waters."
V. The Crane Ramp located on New Hampshire Route 113 does not satisfy goal 2 of the Public Access Plan for New Hampshire's Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers because it does not provide winter access to Squam Lake for ice fishermen.
VI. The preliminary feasibility analysis for public boat access to Squam Lake by DuBois & King, dated August 19, 1994, and commissioned by the fish and game department stated that a "need exists for public owned boat access sites to the lake," and identified 8 areas as potential sites.
VII. A July 23, 1991 fish and game department inter-department communication requested by Governor Gregg assessed 4 sites for public access to Squam Lake and determined that the Howe property on New Hampshire Route 113 in Holderness was the optimum site.
VIII. A subsequent preliminary feasibility analysis for boat access to Squam Lake by DuBois & King, dated October 9, 1997, rated the Howe property on New Hampshire Route 113 in Holderness the highest of the 9 sites evaluated.
IX. The Howe property on New Hampshire Route 113 in Holderness was purchased by abutters and others with the sole purpose of preventing public access.
X. The selectmen of the towns surrounding Squam lake were unable to agree on a suitable public boat access site.
XI. The issue of public boat access to Squam Lake has been studied extensively without tangible results.
XII. Local property owners have expressed an intent to purchase any and all property selected in the future for public access to Squam Lake.
2 Acquisition of Sites for Public Access to Squam Lake. The fish and game department shall acquire no less than 4 sites, by eminent domain if necessary, to provide year-round public access to Squam Lake.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
99-0061
11/12/98
HB 539-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to public access to Squam Lake.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Fish and Game Department states this bill will increase state expenditures from other funds by an indeterminable amount in FY 2000. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or state, county and local revenues.
METHODOLOGY:
The Fish and Game Department stated that land acquisition costs would be borne by the Public Boat Access Account and would vary with the way the acquisition occurred, and would also include legal preparation costs. Appraised values for lake front properties could range from $1,500 to $5,000 per foot depending on the location. Back land property values could range from $5,000 to $7,000 per acre. Recently, the Department was going to purchase a 6.5 acre parcel with 88' frontage at $34,845 per acre for a total land value of $225,000. The final design and construction phase includes planning, final design development, securing permits, environmental review and pre-construction costs. Construction costs vary widely with the type of site and who does the construction. A small facility (4-20) spaces could range from $2,500 to $5,000 per space if built with own forces and $4,000 to $10,000 per space if contracted out. A large facility (21+ spaces) could range in cost from $3,800 to $7,700 per space. This legislation requires the Department to acquire no less than four sites.