Ohio Administrative Code › Title 1501:47 - Division of Watercraft › Chapter 1501:47-4 - Scenic River land › Section 1501:47-4-02 - Visitation, use, and general prohibitions

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) Scenic river lands are generally
			 available to the public for the purpose of engaging in fishing, boating,
			 hiking, wildlife observation, or any other legitimate recreational activities
			 not otherwise prohibited by the laws of this state.
(B) The division of parks and watercraft
			 
								will
			 post in a conspicuous location any special instructions, orders, and notices
			 pertaining to the use of state scenic river lands by the public. Such
			 instructions, orders or notices 
								may pertain to, but are not limited to, special
			 hours of operation, area closure, temporary access restrictions, emergency
			 situations, or other situations not otherwise covered in the rules. Declaration
			 of such postings 
								will originate with the chief of the
			 division.
(C) No person
			 
								is permitted
			 to enter upon scenic river lands or utilize any facilities therein that
			 have been temporarily closed or evacuated by the chief of the division or the
			 chief's appointed agent if it has been determined to be hazardous for public
			 use as the result of inclement weather, water, fire, construction, or any other
			 situation with the potential to impact public health, safety, or
			 welfare.
(D) No person
			 
								is permitted
			 to be present on scenic river lands in violation of any special
			 instructions, orders or notices issued under paragraph (B) or (C) of this rule
			 unless exempted in writing by the chief or an appointed agent.
(E) On scenic river lands that are open to
			 the general public by access permit only, 
								any person who
			 intends to enter such areas must 
								carry proof
			 of written permission from the chief  or the chief's
			 appointed agent  while within the area, and present
			 it upon request.
(F) When a
			 designated trail or trail system is present, no person
			 
								is permitted
			 to leave the designated trail or trail system, except to gain access to
			 the waters of the wild, scenic, or recreational river for the purposes of
			 engaging in legitimate recreational activities or with written permission from
			 the chief of the division or the chief's appointed agent. Any person who leaves
			 a designated trail to access the waters for legitimate recreational purposes
			 must attempt to take the shortest, most direct path possible to avoid injury or
			 damage to the plants, animals, or geologic features of the area.
(G) It 
								is unlawful to throw, toss, drop,
			 propel or cause, directly or indirectly, the throwing, tossing, dropping or
			 propelling of any object over or off any precipice, bridge, observation tower
			 or other similar structure or natural formation within the boundaries of any
			 scenic river lands.
No person 
									is permitted to collect, remove, injure, deface,
				destroy or otherwise disturb ice, soil, sand, gravel, rocks, fossils, minerals,
				plants, plant materials, animals or any other substance within the boundaries
				of any scenic river lands.
It 
									is be unlawful to hunt, pursue, trap or attempt
				to hunt, pursue, trap or catch wild animals on scenic river lands except in
				areas designated for such activities or with prior approval from the chief, and
				such is done in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code and wildlife
				orders then in effect.
(1) Exceptions:
(a) Collecting of materials for conservation
			 efforts or research purposes may be conducted with written permission from the
			 chief of the division. Such permit 
										may be valid for a period up to, but not to exceed one year,
			 
										and may
			 be renewed at the discretion of the chief. Proof of written permission must be
			 provided to any appointed agent, department of natural resources official or
			 law enforcement officer upon request.
(b) For the sole purposes of ensuring public
			 safety and furthering conservation efforts, department staff, volunteers, and
			 contracted persons may remove, burn, extract, or otherwise dispose of materials
			 such as firewood, invasive species, storm debris and geologic or human made
			 structures that pose imminent danger to the public welfare in accordance with
			 special orders issued by the chief as provided for in paragraph (B) of this
			 rule.
(c) It
			 
										is
			 lawful to take or catch fish, unless otherwise posted provided such is done in
			 accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code and wildlife orders then in
			 effect.