Portage around dams?

[Roy]

Are dam owners required to provide portage around dams when the portage would be especially difficult or long? I am planning a trip for next summer and there are several dams noted on the map- one of them requires a two mile portage.

[wvbreamfisherman]

I don't know of any general requirement. It's possible that if they are a power dam that they might have been required to improve access below and above the dam as a condition of relicensing. I know of a couple dams in WV that did that.

[Newanderthal]

They may not have a specific path, but if you start to portage and someone tells you to get off their property, inform them that you're in the process of doing just that.

[WildRover]

I'm pretty sure that FERC requires hydro dams to provide safe portage for kayaks and canoes. They either have to make a clear path with signage for portage or provide a vehicle to transport you if the portage is far or if it will require you to walk on a road. You can call the company that owns the dams and they can provide you with portage times or a special number you can call to arrange portage.

[ppine]

Some dams are really old and were built without any official provisions for boaters. It is important to be respectful of private land owners and government officials. Act like they are doing you a favor which they may be. Attitude means everything in these types of situations. The newer dams often have spillways or fish ladders that can be navigated by boats. They at least usually have an easement around them.