Sewalls Falls gate was a mistake
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s recent decision to permanently gate vehicle access to the southern Sewalls Falls boat launch is a heavy-handed mistake. While the community shares deep concerns over illegal dumping, vandalism and serious criminal activity, completely blocking public vehicle access unfairly penalizes law-abiding citizens rather than solving the problem.
As a local boater, this closure eliminates the take-out for a short stretch of the Merrimack River convenient for a quick evening float trip after work. Non-trailered watercraft — like my 130-pound fishing raft — are practically unfeasible to haul the long distance from the water to the new gate on Second Street.
Worse, this major operational shift occurred with zero public input. As a citizen reviewing the regulations, this appears to bypass the statutory requirements of RSA 541-A. Furthermore, NH Administrative Code § Fis 1603.01(b) is intended for temporary safety measures; using it to permanently eliminate vehicle access to a public launch goes well beyond its scope. Agency staff even suggested non-motorized boaters aren’t stakeholders who “pay to support the area” — ignoring federal Dingell-Johnson excise taxes anglers pay on gear.
Instead of a permanent shutdown, Fish and Game should implement smart solutions. A managed automated gate open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset would preserve recreational windows. Paired with a License Plate Recognition camera at the Second Street choke point, law enforcement would have the exact tools needed to catch midnight dumpers without punishing the public.