New: enhanced/navigable pa public fishing map

RLeep2 said:
A couple things come to mind in regards to your question:

1) Actual (usable) navigability on an individual basis for most of the waters on the DCNR listing have not been legally tested or asserted, which is what actually matters in terms of public access. That 100-plus acre salad bowl over to Spartansburg almost certainly falls into this category.

2) Even if Oil Creek itself is considered publicly navigable, so far as I know, that does not necessarily covey the same status on the East Branch of Oil Creek which is an Oil Creek tributary and where Sparty Pond is located. The Little J is considered navigable, but Spruce Creek and the Little Bald eagle are not. Kinda like that..

(As I assume you know), there is a functional kayak/canoe launch on Sparty Pond that is open to public use or at least was as of a few weeks ago. Do you believe this status is somehow in jeopardy due to privatization? If so, I've not heard anything about it and I'm relatively local.
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I have lived in Spartansburg for over 60 years and have fished the Pond my whole life.
I was just curious if when a stream is deemed navigable it is deemed navigable to it's headwaters was my understanding.
Oil Creek runs through the pond and has been deemed a navigable stream below and above the pond.
Was just curious if the navigable ruling pertained to the lake its self.

No there is no threat to privitization..
I see we are battling an invasive weed now.
Have brought in biologists to recommend a plan of action...
 
I don't know the answer to your navigability question. So long as names (especially officially used names) have any meaning, Oil Creek does not run through Clear Lake. The East Branch of Oil Creek does, though. It may seem a trifling difference to some, but again, so long as we are dealing with officially used names and potential legal questions such as navigability, I think it matters.

To that end, Oil Creek proper is the outlet of Canadohta Lake and not the stream that flows through Clear Lake.
 
Was just going by the map.
 
Streams colored or outlined in bright green have "Publicly Owned Streambeds" as of 2024, per the PA DCNR. Source:


As to whether one can therefore legally walk said streambeds is another matter. Several have been adjudicated, but I believe most have not. The DCNR classification might give one a leg up in court were one to demand public access rights, but I believe that's as far as it goes.
 
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