Petition to Increase Seaplane Access to Indiana Lakes

To: Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR)
Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)


Subject: Seaplane access to Indiana lakes


WHEREAS, the state of Indiana is a leader in general aviation other than seaplane aviation, and

WHEREAS, the state of Indiana has only four existing public-use seaplane landing areas in the state, in comparison to states like Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota that boast thousands of public-use sites for seaplanes to land, and

WHEREAS, in 1998 INDNR and INDOT established a pilot program of seventeen lakes with private-use seaplane landing areas on a trial basis, and

WHEREAS, in the past decade this pilot program has established a strong record of safety and compatible use for seaplanes with other lake users, and

WHEREAS, INDNR has proposed to change the status from private-use facilities to public-use facilities, on the following lakes:

-Winona Lake and Lake Wawasee in Kosciusko County
-Lake Maxinkuckee in Marshall County
-Lake James and Hamilton Lake in Steuben County, and

WHEREAS, such a change will benefit both the seaplane users and the citizens of Indiana by decreasing discrimination between waterway users, increasing economic activity in the state, and generally making Indiana more fun to live in and visit,

Now therefore, be it resolved that the undersigned

a) Express our thanks to INDNR and INDOT for working to increase seaplane access to Indiana waterways, and

b) Express our strong support for the proposed change in status of the five lakes from private-use to public-use seaplane landing areas, and

c) Request that INDNR and INDOT not impose any simultaneous new restrictions on seaplane users in the state, and

d) Urge INDNR and INDOT to continue your efforts to end discrimination against seaplanes in access to public waters in Indiana at the earliest possible date.