Launch permits or boat registration in your state.

[clemency]

I agree with having a parking fee. It might be a better source of income for the state and also be more fare to the public. Why should boaters have to bare the load when other users pay nothing?

Not a fan of parking fees. Usually don't carry cash and if I do it is probably in the wrong denominations. And I don't particularly like electronic payments either. Plus, boat ramps are only one piece of the access puzzle and as a paddler I don't actually need one; all I need is access to a place I can get a boat on the water.

A (sort of) parallel from NH. In NH we have something called a "hike safe card", which is voluntary and bought from Fish and Game with proceeds going to a search and rescue fund. If I were hiking (or paddling or any other outdoor activity) in NH and required SAR, a hike safe card would guarantee I did not have to pay for said SAR. I get the same guarantee by buying a hunting or fishing license, or an OHV, snowmobile, or boat registration. If I don't have any of those things and the state decides I was "unprepared" they can bill me for SAR. I think its a pretty good system, and it is pretty well publicized here because we get a lot of clueless folks wandering around in the Whites.

A hike safe card is $25. If I didn't have a fishing license I'd go with a hike safe card instead.

 

[tketcham]

Not a fan of parking fees. Usually don't carry cash and if I do it is probably in the wrong denominations. And I don't particularly like electronic payments either. Plus, boat ramps are only one piece of the access puzzle and as a paddler I don't actually need one; all I need is access to a place I can get a boat on the water.

You really can't isolate parking from a boat ramp. Parking areas cost money to build and maintain so even human-powered boaters that don't need a ramp should be willing to help pay for parking. Having to pay each time you park, like a city parking meter, isn't viable but having an annual access permit seems very reasonable, especially if you can buy one at local convenience stores.