Boat Wash Stations

Disclaimer: This page is intended to provide general information regarding Agency jurisdiction. Other provisions or restrictions may apply if an Agency permit or variance is required or if the property has previously been subject to Agency review.

This is a supplement to the Citizen's Guide, which provides basic information about Adirondack Park Agency regulations. Please contact the Agency with any questions. For a binding written response as to whether a specific proposal requires Agency review, please submit a Jurisdictional Inquiry Form online or by mail.

Updated: April 4, 2018

The Adirondack Park Agency Act (APA Act) and Agency regulations implementing the Freshwater Wetlands Act and the Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers System Act establish permitting requirements and prohibitions on certain activities in the Park. These provisions may require Agency approval for new boat wash/decontamination stations.¹

Boat Wash Stations on Private Land:

Boat wash stations on private land will require an Agency permit if there will be wetland involvement.
Boat wash stations on Moderate Intensity Use, Low Intensity Use, Rural Use, or Resource Management lands will also generally require an Agency permit if:

• Use of the boat wash station will be offered for a fee; or
• The boat wash station:
  1) will be located within:
  • 1/8 mile of a New York State-owned Wilderness, Primitive, or Canoe area;
  • 1/4 mile of a designated study river;²
  • 150 feet of the right-of-way of a state or federal highway on Rural Use lands; or
  • 300 feet of the right-of-way of a state or federal highway on Resource Management lands;
  2) and will involve one or more of the following:
  
  • a permanent infiltration basin;
  • a building-type structure;
  • a structure greater than 100 square feet in size, even if the structure will be located on top of a trailer or other vehicle; or
  • a motorized vehicle that is not currently registered and inspected that will remain at the station through the boat-washing season.

Regardless of whether a permit is needed, boat wash stations on private land will generally require an Agency variance in the following circumstances:

• In all land use areas except Industrial Use, for the establishment of a structure greater than 100 square feet in size, other than a boathouse or dock, within the shoreline setback areas designated in § 806 of the APA Act.
• On Low Intensity Use, Rural Use, or Resource Management lands, for the establishment of a structure of any size within 150 feet of a designated recreational river or 250 feet of a designated scenic river.³
  

Boat Wash Stations on State Land:

Boat wash stations on state land will require an Agency permit if there will be wetland involvement.
Boat wash stations on state land that is not managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) under the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (SLMP) may require an Agency Order if the station will involve:

• a permanent infiltration basin;
• a building-type structure;
• a structure greater than 100 square feet in size, whether located on the ground or on top of a trailer or other moveable structure; or
• a motorized vehicle that is not currently registered and inspected that will remain at the station through the boat-washing season.

The establishment of a boat wash station on state land managed by the DEC under the SLMP may require an amendment to the Unit Management Plan for the land.

PRINTABLE FLYER

¹ Note that there may be additional reasons for Agency review of a boat wash/deconamination station project beyond those described in this flyer.

² The list of Study Rivers can be found in Appendix Q-5 to the Agency's regulations.

³ Fences, poles, signs of less than two square feed in area, lean-tos, docks, bridges, and stream improvement structures for fishery management peruposes are excepted from this requirement. Boathouses are also excepted from this requirement within a designated recreational river area.