Sutherland to work on state boatlift fees

MOSES LAKE - State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland issued a statement about the direction of boatlift fees on Moses Lake.

The statement was issued Thursday afternoon in response to a meeting Sutherland held in Moses Lake July 16 to discuss the annual $175 lift fee.

"One of the most frequent questions from the community pertained to the lake level at statehood and ownership of the shore lands," he noted in the statement. "After listening and reading the information you shared, I requested the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General to investigate this issue further and provide clarification. Please let me know if you have additional information to share about the historical ownership of the shore lands."

The DNR is attempting to determine the lake level at statehood. There is a dispute about whether the elevation was 1,038 or 1,048 feet. The 10-foot difference could determine if the shoreline is public land and if the DNR is allowed to require permits for boatlifts.

On June 18, 146 boatlifts were tagged with notices requiring them to be authorized with the DNR for use on Moses Lake. To be authorized requires payment of an annual $175 fee.

One person on Moses Lake already paid the fee and is authorized while four people were awaiting authorization. Shortly after the notices were issued, the DNR postponed further enforcement to investigate the elevation issue and to educate people about the fee.

The Board of Natural Resources gave authorization to the DNR to collect fees in 2006. The DNR didn't begin collection until one person contacted them about the fee.

Notices were only issued on Moses Lake.

Boatlifts built after the authorization were the only ones targeted with notices initially. One person complained that older boatlifts were not being tagged and did not want to pay the fine because it was unfair. In response, the DNR decided to require all boatlifts to be authorized.

Sutherland stated he plans to hold an evening meeting in Moses Lake to continue discussion of the issue. A date is not set.

"By understanding each other's perspectives and by working together, we can ensure everyone who lives and recreates on Moses Lake enjoys the use and access of state-owned aquatic lands to the fullest extent," he noted.