Goose Pasture Tarn

The Goose Pasture Tarn is CLOSED beginning April 2021 until Fall 2023 while the Tarn Dam is replaced.  Fishing, boating and recreation access are CLOSED during this time.  Boat permits will not be issued.

For information on the construction plans for the Goose Pasture Tarn Dam, please click here.

The Goose Pasture Tarn is restricted for Blue River Homeowners only.  Boat permits are required for any boat, kayak or stand up paddle board and are $20 each.  Please fill out and submit the forms below.  You may pay for your Boat Permit on this site under the Pay Online tab.  Select Business Licenses and then Boat Permit. 

If you have a long-term renter and wish to assign your rights to them.  Fill out and return the Assignment of Rights form with a copy of the lease.

Spillway/Dam

The water, land underneath and the dam at the Goose Pasture Tarn is owned by the Town of Breckenridge. The land around the Tarn is privately owned and the residents of the Town of Blue River have the recreational rights to use the Tarn.  Beginning in 2020, the Town of Breckenridge will begin work to replace the Tarn Dam.  The Town of Blue River and the Town of Breckenridge will be hosting a virtual meeting Thursday, April 23rd.  Information about the timeline and what to expect will be provided at that time.  Information is also available below.  More information on the virtual presentation will be available soon.

Blue River Town Code-Goose Pasture Tarn

(a) Goose Pasture Tarn, hereinafter referred to as "the Tarn," located within the Town, is a private lake within the Town of Blue River and available for use only to property owners of the Town. Use of the Tarn shall be limited to such uses and subject to such restrictions as further set forth below. The land around the Tarn is not owned by the Town and is private property. The water and dam are owned by the Town of Breckenridge.

Sec. 11-3-30. Use restrictions, identification.

(a) Use by property owners. Use of the Tarn shall be limited to property owners with proper identification, except for duly authorized guests or tenants as further outlined below. Parents and/or children and their respective spouses and/or grandchildren of property owners residing full time on the property shall enjoy the same Tarn recreational rights as owners, excluding guest privileges.

(b) Use by guests:

(1) Guests of owners may use the Tarn only when accompanied by the owner.

(2) Owners shall be held responsible for all actions of their guests and for any violations of this Chapter as if such violation had actually been committed by the owner himself or herself.

(c) Use by tenants.

(1) Tenants of owners shall generally have no privileges on the Tarn, except as otherwise provided herein.

(2) Tenant is defined as a party leasing a Town property for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days or longer. A tenant may have recreational rights on the Tarn, provided that the property owner assigns the rights at the time the lease is executed. The Town shall provide appropriate forms for registration of such assignments and will maintain a file of tenants with assigned rights for enforcement purposes.

Sec. 11-3-40. Rules and regulations for the Tarn.

(a) Spillway area. Fishing or trespassing within forty-five (45) feet of the improved concrete portion of the spillway of the Tarn is absolutely prohibited and unlawful. Violation of this Subsection shall be punishable upon conviction by a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each offense.

(b) Ice fishing. Ice fishing by owners, guests and tenants shall be permitted on the Tarn as provided in Subsections 11-3-30(a), (b) and (c).

(c) Snowmobiles, cross-country skiing, etc. Snowmobiles or other snow or all-terrain vehicles and cross-country skiing are strictly forbidden on the Tarn.

(d) Open fires¹. Open fires are prohibited at all times and in all areas adjacent to the Tarn.

(e) Animals. Dogs and all other pets and animals shall not be required to be under control by a tether or leash but shall be under voice control in all areas on and adjacent to the Tarn.

(f) Hunting prohibited. Hunting of any kind is prohibited on the Tarn and any surrounding lands owned by the Town or the Town of Breckenridge.

(g) Water recreation. Bathing is prohibited on the Tarn.

(h) Commercial use. Any use of the Tarn for commercial purposes is prohibited.

(i) Limit on fish. The daily bag limit is three (3) fish, of which only one (1) may exceed twenty (20) inches in length. The daily possession limit is three (3) fish.

(j) Limit on hooks. Only single-bait hooks, single-hook flies and single-hook lures may be used for fishing in the Tarn.

(k) Overnight parking, between one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise, is prohibited.

(l) Glass containers in the Tarn area are prohibited.

(m) Littering of the Tarn area by the depositing of paper or plastic products, wood, leftover food, clothing, fishing gear, fish, junk or trash of any kind is prohibited, and "pack-it-in and pack-it-out" is required.

(n) Boat docks. Licensing of the construction of boat docks shall be permitted by a licensing agreement which shall incorporate the Rules and Regulations for Boat Docks established by Resolution No. 13-05, adopted July 16, 2013, as from time to time amended.

(Prior code 4-3-4, Ord. 05-07 §1, 2005, Ord. 05-10 §1, Ord. 11-08 §§3, 4, 2011, Ord. 13-06 §§1, 2, 2013, Ord. 13-07 §2, 2013)