Fort Washington Beach Upsetting Neighbors | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Fresno, CA Rain or shine fishing along the /*San Joaquin River*/ at Fresno County's /*Lost Lake*/ Park is common.

Further down river the fishing and camping is private at the /*Sportsman's Club*/ near a stocked pond. Next door to the club is /*Fort Washington Beach*/. It offers the public 'paid' access to a private pond, the river and overnight camping. Pearl Morgan, Sportsman Club caretaker: there are some that are staying there all the time, "All i know is i do recognize the tents and the blue ones have been here quit some time."

According to the Sportsman's Club caretaker, /*Pearl Morgan*/, the neighboring campers ignore the no trespassing signs and use their facilities, "There was a woman and some kids washing dishes there at campsite number five at the water hose because they don't have access over there to water. They had come over to use our restrooms because they said those over there were too dirty."

Fort Washington Beach operated for years with a lease from California's State Lands Commission that required appropriate sanitation. We spoke with the agency and were told that lease expired in 2002. The property owner, /*Judy Finch*/, wouldn't talk with us on camera but told us the lease is still in affect. She added that "Only one other person, who helps me run the business, lives there (permanently).

Meantime, the state's land commission told Action News it is planning on making a site vest to Ft. Washington Beach in the next couple of weeks in order to resolve the issue of that lease.

Trouble on the River at Fort Washington Beach