BASS LAKE – Things just got easier for boaters on Bass Lake. As we reported back in April, the 2016 boat registration stickers are no longer being sold at the Sheriff’s “Island” Office and no boats will be registered by Sheriff’s personnel as had been done in the past. Stickers are now available for purchase at three new locations.
Miller’s Landing, The Forks Resort and Bass Lake Boat Rentals are currently selling registration stickers, making things easier for boaters.
“This new procedure will be more convenient for the boating public and will also save tax-payer funds since sheriff’s personnel will no longer be needed to issue the registration stickers,” said Sheriff Jay Varney.
The registration sticker fees vary based on type of vessel and are available for purchase now:
- Vessels up to 35 horsepower are $32
- 36-250 horsepower are $50
- 251 horsepower or higher are $63
- Personal Water Craft are $50
Registration stickers are required year-round for any vessels operated on Bass Lake.
In years past, boating permits were sold to boaters at the County-owned Island on Bass Lake by two part-time, extra-help employees. This not only had a financial impact on taxpayers, it was inconvenient for boat owners navigating the narrow lanes that lead in to the Sheriff’s island, and quite irritating to the property owners along the way when folks towing boat trailers got hemmed in along the tight streets.
These new agreements between the County and the Bass Lake businesses are a win-win-win — saving the County money on extra part-time employees, providing convenience for boat owners, and building traffic into the businesses along the lake that have suffered financially for too many seasons with low water levels and depressed tourism.
Sheriff Varney is also pleased to announce that Deputy Amy Roussell will be assigned to oversee the Bass Lake Patrol Operation this year. Deputy Roussell had worked patrol assignments on Bass Lake during four summer boating seasons previously, and this year she will be coordinating enforcement efforts on the lake as well as in the surrounding areas of the Bass Lake basin.
