Gilford beach gate to stay open for winter; selectboard approves rules to protect resources

GILFORD — The selectboard approved rules focused on keeping the Gilford Town Beach gate open for access to Lake Winnipesaukee during the winter, while ensuring the natural resource is protected, following incidents there last winter.

The selectboard voted 3-0 at the June 24 meeting to approve an ordinance drafted by Town Administrator Scott Dunn, after a public hearing.

James Carlson said he had questions about some of the proposed rules during the hearing, and it wasn’t clear whether or not the town would allow passage to the lake in order to drop off a bob house.

“Yes, it will,” Chair Chan Eddy told him. “That’s part of the intention.”

There will be a corridor, he said, which will be plowed when it snows, and will lead to Winnipesaukee. This will help people get on and off the lake, and create a designated area of travel. Clerk Richard Grenier added there will be fencing to make it visible.

Carlson said it appears the beach will be open to everyone, not just taxpayers, but a beach pass is needed during the summer. He asked why it would be any different, and Eddy said having a gatekeeper in the winter wouldn’t make sense.

He said crowds are not nearly as large as in the summer, and it would require someone to be outside in the winter elements from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Plus, fishing hours are variable, which Carlson acknowledged. He asked if someone would be checking the beach periodically to see if people are parked there, and Eddy assured him that would be the case.

Dunn said cameras will be installed, and there will also be police and NH Fish and Game officers patrolling the area.

Carlson said he doesn’t see the difference between that and checking stickers.

Vice Chair Gus Benavides replied, “Tens of thousands of dollars,” as attendants would need to be paid.

Benavides was thankful for Carlson speaking up, but in the end, the board decided to keep the wording as presented. Board members concurred it was a working document, and they expect feedback from anglers on what works, and what doesn't.

“None of this is really going to be carved in stone,” Eddy said. “It’s flexible.”

Michael Eastman, a resident and captain for NH Fish and Game, thanked the selectboard for helping with a policy that works for everyone.

“We’ll do our due diligence to make sure this works,” Eastman said.

Discussion on the policy dates back to May 27, when Recreation Department Chair Rick Nelson requested the gate be closed for the winter after a number of concerns, notably when a resident took a month to retrieve a truck that went through the ice in March. Nelson and Parks and Recreation Director Matt Mansur said the request was due to tree damage, impact on the sand, and potential environmental spills and hazards on the beach.

The discussion continued on June 10, when Nate Sweeney, who regularly goes ice fishing, shared concerns about the gate closure. He was reassured by the selectboard that under the policy, as written, the beach gate will remain open.

Eddy told him the Recreation Commission suggested the gate closure, but the selectboard felt that would not be prudent, as many people use it to access the lake when it freezes, to bring their bob houses and snowmobiles onto the ice.

Sweeney was thankful, saying that would have created a lot of backlash from the ice fishing community.

Sweeney asked if there would be a designated parking area, because one issue he has seen over the years is even though the gate is open, there is no specific place to park. This year, he said, they needed to move a snowbank to access the lake. Eddy said part of the policy is having a marked lane maintained for access, and noted there will be signage indicating such.

“The main thing is to make sure it is usable for everybody, and not having to deal with the issues we’ve dealt with in the past, including this past winter with the truck through the ice,” Eddy said.

Sweeney understood, saying he spent time at the beach trying to help the person retrieve the vehicle.

Sweeney said in the summer, there is never a problem getting on the lake. He's found, over the last two decades, the ice fishing community is restricted, across the board. He said there is often no guidance, and in times like the Fishing Derby weekend, when there are more than 100 vehicles coming to the beach, with no plowed areas or signage, it can become hectic.

“Between me and all the other ice fishermen, and I’ll stand for everyone, we spend a lot of time policing our own,” Sweeney said, and he just doesn’t want anything to lead to anglers having difficulty getting on the ice in the winter.

Eddy agreed, and said they will be working hand-in-hand with the ice fishing community.

Mansur said Sweeney made a good point about plowing, and said they do plow to get through the gate and provide a portable toilet. He asked if plowing is something the Department of Public Works will add to their winter list, and Benavides said that will be done.

Bill Rohr was shocked by hearing about people chaining snowmobiles to trees, and said there should be signage deterring this. He suggested the ordinance have “teeth.”

Approved regulations

While the gate to the town beach will be open, parking will be prohibited on the beach, and only allowed on the frozen lake or parking lots between Dec. 1 and March 31. The regulations also include that bob houses, campers, RVs, and other portable dwellings cannot be on the beach at any time, and can only be placed in designated parking lots or on the frozen lake.

There will be a carry-in, carry-out policy in the winter months, there is no disposal of trash at the beach.

The use of trees, picnic tables, buildings, utility poles or any vegetation for chains, locks, fasteners, and tie downs is prohibited. Camping or sleeping overnight is also prohibited, including in parking lots. Alcohol, fires, and open flames are not allowed.

The town will provide designated passage areas for vehicles, and does not monitor the safety of the lake nor thickness of the ice. No portion of town beach property is allowed to be used to remove a vehicle from the lake.

People using the beach for winter recreation need to comply with all laws, and the selectboard has the right to decide if the beach gate will be open. They also have the right to revoke public access at any time. Fines and penalties can be imposed, and town staff can also vehicle or portable dwelling removed from beach property at the owner’s expense if the rules are violated.

The winter regulations are in section 3.11 of the town beach regulations.