Permanent Easement Protects Angler Access at Burt Dam on Eighteen Mile Creek

Anglers at Burt Dam got the kind of access win that is easy to take for granted until a “No Trespassing” sign shows up.

The Town of Newfane, New York, announced Aug. 14 that public access below Burt Dam on Eighteen Mile Creek has been protected through a permanent public access easement recorded with the Niagara County Clerk’s Office. The easement keeps the existing pathway along the east side of the creek open to the public.

That stretch is not some forgotten ditch. Eighteen Mile Creek near Olcott draws anglers chasing Lake Ontario chinook salmon, steelhead and lake-run brown trout. When the fall run starts and those fish push in, access to the water means opportunity for a lot of regular fishermen.

The dispute started in 2025 after “No Trespassing” signs appeared along part of the path anglers used to reach the dam. The town looked at legal options, including adverse possession and eminent domain, but the final result avoided a courtroom fight and avoided taking private property. A recorded easement is a cleaner answer, and it gives anglers certainty heading into future runs.

Access is never guaranteed just because people have used a spot for years. If a trail, launch, crossing or bank matters to fishermen, it needs to be legally protected, clearly managed and respected by the people using it. One trashed access point can poison the next negotiation. Do not be that guy.