Source: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/access:ny
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 10:08:10+00:00

Document:
The New York public right of navigation allows a range of vessels, including small boats and canoes, to navigate on New York's freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and other waterways that are navigable-in-fact. To qualify as navigable-in-fact, a waterway must provide practical utility to the public as a means of transportation; ability to support recreational use is one factor New York Courts consider in their determination.
Adirondack League Club, Inc. v. Sierra Club, decided in 1998 by the New York Court of Appeals, remains the most important decision on this subject. In determining whether kayakers and canoers on the South Branch of the Moose River had trespassed on a riparian owner's property, the court held that recreational use is part of the navigability analysis. Although the Court did not make a final judgment on whether the Moose River itself was navigable, the highest court in New York did take an important step in expanding the definition of what waterways qualify as navigable-in-fact.
The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks prints a brochure discussing the common law right of public travel on New York's freshwater rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways that are navigable-in-fact. A copy of that brochure is available at http://www.americanwhitewater.org/resources/repository/New.York.Navigation.pdf.
For more information, go to: http://www.protectadks.org/data/content/view/137/1/.
In addition, there are ongoing efforts to pass legislation clarifying navigation rights in NY.
1) N.Y. Nav. Law § 2 (2006).
2) N.Y. Nav. Law § 2 (2006).
3) Adirondack League Club, Inc. v. Sierra Club, 92 N.Y.2d 591, 603-04, N.E.2d 1192 (1998).
4) Id. at 603 (emphasis added).
5) Hanigan v. State of New York, 213 A.D.2d 80, 84, 629 N.Y.S.2d 509 (App. Div., 3rd. Dept. 1995).
6) Mohawk Valley Ski Club, Inc. v. Town of Duansburg, 304 A.D.2d 881, 757 N.Y.S.2d 357 (App. Div., 3rd. Dept. 2003).
9) , 11) , 12) , 14) Id.
10) Adirondack League Club, Inc., 92 N.Y.2d at 607.
13) Douglaston Manor v. Bahrakis, 89 N.Y.2d 472, 678 N.E.2d 201 (N.Y. 1997).

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