I was wondering why the USFS collects monies for the use of the landings, but does not spend any of it to fix them up.
I was at the Three Lakes, Laura Lake campground Boat Landing this past weekend. The boat landing is bad and has been bad for the last three years. when you own a $20,000.00 plus boat, you don't want to knock the tires off of the trailer putting your boat in and taking it out.
The Ranger that checks on the campground was very rude also. My wife thought she was doing the right thing by throwing away (1) soda can and (1) soda bottle, when the ranger stopped by us and told us the garbage cans were for campers only. I buy a yearly pass to use the boat landings. I guess the money I spend only allows me to use the terrible landing sites.
No wonder there is garbage scattered around the landings, and why people have little respect for the rangers.

Are you talking about Laura Lake campground in the Nicolet National Forest?

Pardon my spelling, but yes it was Laurel Lake near Three Lakes.

I was up at Nicolet NF last year at Franklin Lake and the boat landing was not bad other than being really shallow due to the drought in the area. I think there are still having a problem up there so the water levels could be even lower. (Was the problem you were having due to the lower water level so you had to go further down the landing and maybe off the edge of it?)

With the shortage of Govt $$ these days, I can guess that we are going to see more boat landings that are a little rough in the near future.

As for the ranger being rude, that is too bad. Sounds like you were doing the right thing picking up the garbage and wanting to toss it. I do that all the time as I travel. Maybe they had a run-in with someone else and they had not relaxed yet.

Hope your next trip is better!