|
Hello Rhonda,
In response to requests from the community, the Veranda Beach Homeowners Association (the "HOA") and the Veranda Beach Marina LLC (the "VBM") are providing the following guidance with respect to anchoring and mooring at Veranda Beach.
Am I allowed to anchor my boat at Veranda Beach?
YES – within certain time constraints, you may anchor your boat outside of the areas that are leased to the VBM (the "Marina Lease Area") or the HOA swim area (the "HOA Lease Area") pursuant to Washington State law.[1] However, you are not permitted to anchor your boat in (or allow your boat to swing into) the Marina Lease Area or the HOA Lease Area, and VBM requests that any anchoring is kept at a safe distance from the marina and designated boating lanes.
Generally, the HOA Lease Area is marked by swimming lines, while the Marina Lease Area is from the east edge of the swimming lines to the west edge of the boat ramp (generally demarked by the docks) and then a 25' strip into the water from the west edge of the boat ramp to the end of the point. See Appendices A, B, C, D, and E below.
Am I allowed to moor my boat at Veranda Beach?
NO – you are not allowed to moor your boat inside the HOA Lease Area or offshore of Veranda Beach. You are permitted to moor your boats at the marina with the permission of VBM. See Appendices C, D, and E below.
What is the difference between anchoring and mooring?
The DNR states that in drawing the distinction between anchoring and mooring:
An anchor travels with the boat; it is used to hold a boat in place, but when the boat moves, the anchor gets drawn up and goes with the boat. In contrast, a mooring buoy remains in one place, attached to the bottom, and a boat attaches and detaches from the buoy.
When anchoring, you must use tackle that you retrieve when you move your anchored boat.
You may NOT install mooring systems that remain in place while the boat is off-site. This means that no buoy, float, SUP, kayak, etc. can be left in the lake offshore of Veranda Beach to be used as a “mooring buoy.”
See Appendices C, D, and E below.
Don't our CC&Rs prohibit anchoring in front of Veranda Beach?
NO – there is no mention of anchoring (or mooring) in our CC&Rs.[2]
However, the HOA's Rules and Regulations do generally prohibit any boats from tying to, or anchoring within, the HOA Lease Area. [3]
Didn't we vote as a community to prohibit anchoring in front of Veranda Beach?
NO – there is no record of any such vote.
At its September 2020 meeting, the HOA Board of Directors did pass a resolution to recommend to the DNR not to issue any mooring permits, but this has nothing to do with anchoring. See Appendix F below.
Who regulates the waters of Lake Osoyoos?
The DNR is the landowner of the US portion of Lake Osoyoos and as such has the authority to manage it.[4] The HOA may manage the HOA Lease Area, and the VBM may manage the Marina Lease Area, in accordance with the terms of those leases.
The HOA understands that it has no jurisdiction to manage the waters of Lake Osoyoos waterward of the HOA Lease Area.[5]
Any questions about anchoring or mooring outside of the HOA Lease Area and the Marina Lease Area should be directed to the DNR at 509-607-9724 or cindy.preston@dnr.wa.gov. See Appendix C below.
[1] See Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 332-52-155 which generally authorizes temporary anchoring on state-owned aquatic lands for periods of less than 30 consecutive days provided that it is not for more than 90 days in any 365 day period. We have confirmed this in our discussions with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (the "DNR").
[2] You can find a copy of the CC&Rs on our HOA website. Further, the Board is of the view that the CC&R's apply only to properties within the Veranda Beach Resort and areas leased by the HOA (i.e. they do not apply in other areas such as the unleased portions of Lake Osoyoos).
[3] You can find a copy of the latest Rules and Regulations on our HOA website.
[4] The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Washington Department of Ecology, and Okanogan County contribute to the regulation of the waters of Lake Osoyoos.
[5] The HOA has confirmed this in our discussions with the DNR.
Appendix A: Marina Lease Area
Appendix B: HOA Lease Area
Appendix C: "Notice to Lake Osoyoos Recreational Boaters" from the DNR
Appendix D: Letter from the DNR to the HOA dated December 9, 2020
Appendix E: Letter from the DNR to the HOA dated October 19, 2023
Appendix F: Veranda Beach Homeowners Association, Notice to the Community – Proposed Resolution on DNR Request for Input on Mooring Buoys
PDF VERSION - Veranda Beach - Anchoring and Mooring FAQ
| 
