Rules and Regulations at Greensboro's Watershed Parks

foggy morning at Lake Higgins

 The following are not permitted at any Greensboro Watershed Park:
  • Alcoholic beverages  
  • Swimming and / or wading
  • Bank fishing        
  • Skiing, jet skiing or wind surfing        
  • Rubber or canvas rafts and other inflatable watercrafts unless they are Coast Guard approved or NMMA stamped multi-hulled watercrafts with at least three separate air chambers
  • Watercraft that does not have a seat or cockpit area             
  • Using a car battery to operate trolling motors    
  • Private motors larger than 10 Hp on rental boats   
  • Loud music
  • Offensive behavior
  • Firearms
  • Littering
  • Open fires
  • Unsafe watercrafts or watercrafts that have great potential for body contact with the water (determined by lake specialist)
  • Smoking in restrooms, offices, classrooms, etc.
  • Remote or radio-controlled watercraft or other objects
  • Fishing, boating or sailing in restricted areas
  • Boat riding, pleasure boating or motor testing at Lake Higgins or Lake Brandt
  • No bikes, skateboards, scooters or roller blades on pier, dock or boat ramp
  • Fishing within 150 feet of pier
  • Dead lines used for fishing
  • Unleashed dogs

The following are permitted at the Greensboro Watershed Parks:

  • Picnics in designated areas
  • Jug fishing if jugs are maintained during operating hours and removed prior to closing
  • Casting nets for bait fishing only

Safety and General Requirements:

  1. A valid driver's license or picture ID is required for all lake activities.
  2. Children under 13 must wear a life preserver while using City-owned rental boats or when in private boats.
  3. Boaters should not get out of their boats except in the marina area.
  4. Minimum age for boat rental or private boat launch is 16. Exception: Ages 13 to 15, when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, may rent or launch a kayak or sailboat upon signing a waiver.
  5. Boat launches may be refused if weather conditions or boat conditions are deemed unsafe by lake specialist.
  6. Boats must enter and exit from the marina only.
  7. Rental boats and equipment must be returned to original location.
  8. Rental boats and equipment damage must be reported upon return.
  9. Rental boats are not allowed out past dark during late night hours.
  10. Private boats not equipped with installed operating lights are not allowed out past dark during late night hours.
  11. All boats must be off the water 15 minutes prior to posted closing time.
  12. No permits will be issued one hour and 15 minutes prior to closing time.
  13. All patrons must be off watershed park premises by posted closing time.
  14. Observe the following boat capacities:
  • Rental Rowboats: 3-person maximum or weight capacity
  • Rental Canoes: 2-person maximum    
  • Rental Sailboats: 2-person (Aquafins), 2-person (Lazer Pico), 3-person (Capri) 
  • Rental Kayaks: 1-person (Solo), 2-person (Tandem)

    15.   Children under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult at all times while in the marina area.

Any questions or concerns, call:
Lake Higgins Watershed Park 336-373-3739
Lake Brandt Watershed Park 336-373-3741
Lake Townsend Watershed Park 336-373-3694