PLT LANDS SEAPLANE ON INDIAN RESERVATION LAKE.

Narrative

WHILE TRANSITING TO THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS FROM SLC AREA; DECIDED TO LAND AND SPEND THE NIGHT ON PYRAMID LAKE N OF RENO. IT WAS NEAR SUNSET AND LOOKED LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO CAMP. LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE AND TAXIED TO SHORE ON AN ISLAND MARKED ON THE CHARTS AS A BIRD REFUGE. AFTER BEACHING THE SEAPLANE I HIKED UP THE BEACH AND FOUND SEVERAL SIGNS SAYING NO PEOPLE ALLOWED BEYOND THIS POINT. I THEREFORE ASSUMED IT WAS OK TO STAY ON THE 200 YDS OF DUNES; HILL; AND BEACHES BELOW THOSE SIGNS. THE NEXT AFTERNOON INDIAN WATER PATROL CAME BY AND SAID NO CAMPING WAS ALLOWED ON THE ISLAND DESPITE THE SIGNS TO THE CONTRARY AND I SHOULD LEAVE. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS MY PLAN; ANYWAY AND I WAS WAITING FOR THE AIR TO COOL TO LOWER THE DENSITY ALT FOR TKOF. THEY SAID TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND FURTHER STATED THAT A PERMIT FROM THE PAYUTE TRIBE WAS REQUIRED FOR A WATER LNDG. I RECEIVED A TICKET FROM THE TRIBE FOR LNDG WITHOUT PERMISSION. WE LOADED THE PLANE AND TAXIED WELL AWAY FROM THE ISLAND BEFORE TAKING OFF WBOUND. NO FAR'S OR AIM RECOMMENDATIONS WERE VIOLATED BUT I FELT THE INCIDENT WAS WORTH RPTING. BEFORE LNDG ON ANY FURTHER LAKES; I INTEND TO GET MORE INFO AS I HAD ALREADY DONE ON MY DEST LAKE IN THE SIERRAS. THE W UNITED STATES IS NOT LIKE ALASKA WHEN IT COMES TO WELCOMING FLOAT PLANES! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE WAS FLYING A CESSNA 185 ON 2790 AMPHIBIOUS FLOATS. THE CONCLUSION OF THE TICKET WAS A LONG STORY. INDIANS HAVE NO AUTH OVER NON INDIANS. INDIANS HAVE TO BRING CIVIL ACTION IN A CIVIL COURT. THE TICKET WAS FOR 100 DOLLARS; THE PERMIT TO LAND ON THE LAKE IS 150 DOLLARS; THE TRIBAL COUNCIL OFFERED TO SETTLE FOR 300 DOLLARS. THE CASE HAS BEEN DROPPED. THE FAA IS NOT CONCERNED. THE RPTR HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE SEAPLANE PLT'S ASSOCIATION. THE 2ND EDITION OF THE SEAPLANE PLT'S ASSOCIATION GUIDE TO LNDG AREAS DID NOT SHOW PYRAMID LAKE AS BEING CLOSED TO SEAPLANES. LAKE QUINALT IN WASHINGTON WAS SHOWN AS CLOSED TO SEAPLANES. THERE WERE MOTORBOATS ON PYRAMID LAKE AND THE LAKE IS A NATURAL BODY OF WATER WHICH WOULD LEAD SEAPLANE PLTS TO CONCLUDE THE RULES OF NAVIGABLE WATERS APPLY AND A LNDG WOULD BE LEGAL. THE DEST; LAKE ALMANOR; WAS A STORY IN ITSELF IN THAT THERE IS A LCL ORDINANCE AGAINST LNDG ON THAT LAKE. THE RPTR WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE AUTHS TO LAND ON IT.