Paddlewisers, FYI: >X-Sender: rgrayson_at_rembrandt.intur.net >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.5 (32) >Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 18:20:54 -0500 >To: canoetx_at_facteur.std.com >From: Richard Grayson <rgrayson_at_down-river.com (NO SPAM)> >Subject: PWCs in Canyonlands NP >Sender: canoetx-approval_at_world.std.com >Reply-To: Richard Grayson <rgrayson_at_down-river.com (NO SPAM)> > >TRPA recently voted unanimously to endorse the NPS's proposal to >ban PWCs (personal watercraft, i.e., jetskis) from National Parks. Personally, I'd >like to see them banned from most Texas State Parks, too. But don't >count on Bubba to take such an idea lying down. Here is what's happening >on the Colorado River in Canyonlands NP (near Moab, UT) after PWCs >were banned in January 1998. > >BTW, to voice your support of banning PWCs from National Parks, e-mails >need to go in ASAP to: > Maureen Finnerty > Associate Director, Park Operations and Education > National Park Service > > Her e-mail address is: maureen_finnerty_at_nps.gov > >syotr, >rich grayson > > >>From: "Tom Martin and Hazel Clark" <tomandhazel_at_azaccess.com> >>To: <rgrayson_at_down-river.com> >>Subject: gcpba NEWSWIRE - PWC'S TRY TO STORM THE GATE >>Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 05:40:30 -0700 >> >> >>gcpba NEWSWIRE - PWC'S TRY TO STORM THE GATE >> >> Effective January 6, 1998, the waters within Canyonlands National >>Park, Utah, were closed to the use of personal watercraft (PWC) under the >>Superintendent's authority found in 36 CFR, Sec. 1.5(a)(1), pending >>final rule making on this issue. A press release to that effect went out >>to all major news outlets in Utah and western Colorado on or about January >>9, 1998. The justifications articulated in the compendium for closing the >>park to PWC use include: (1) Historical use of the Green and Colorado >>Rivers has been and continues to be primarily slow moving rafts and canoes. >>(2) The visitor experience of a multi-day river trip includes infrequent >>encounters with other parties and the expectation for solitude and a >>primitive setting, which is consistent with the General Management >>Plan. Total numbers for overnight use are capped to protect the >>opportunity for such and experience. (3) The introduction of high speed >>PWCs resulting in frequent interruptions of slow moving river trips is >>inconsistent with the purposes of the Park and the values being protected >>within the river corridors. >> >>In late April the park was notified that a planned PWC activity was >scheduled to >take place in defiance of the Superintendent's closure. >According to the event >organizer, Mr. James Wilcox Sr., of Grand Jct., >Colorado, the intention of the >trip was to challenge the park's PWC ban. >Mr. Wilcox stated that he believes >the use of PWCs is an historical use of >the park and should be allowed in the >future. The event organizer felt >confident that the NPS did not have the law >>enforcement authority, and/or resources to intercede in the event. >> >>Rangers confirmed, via telephone communications with the event organizer, >>that an estimated 60-80 participants and nearly as many watercraft were >>scheduled to make the run through the park on May 17th. They would launch >at >the town of Green River, run the 120 river miles downstream to the >confluence >>with the Colorado River, then up run the Colorado to the Potash ramp, 47 >>miles, or the Moab ramp, 64 miles. Total river miles then would be either >>167 or 184 for the length of the trip. They anticipated being on the river >>3-4 hours, which means continuous vessel speeds of 42-61 MPH are required >>to meet those time lines. National Park Service, Bureau of Land >Management >and State Park Rangers cooperated in the management of the >event whose >primary objective was to urge cessation of the event. >> >>On May 17, 37 PWC's launched from the town of Green River. They traveled >>73 miles downstream to Bottom near the park boundary, where they were met >>by rangers. The PWC's then turned around and returned to Green River >without >entering the park. The event organizers stated they are not >backing down in >their intent to fight the issue. Organizers stated they >had a $100,000 legal >defense fund and hinted of initiating civil >procedures challenging the closure. >> >>Ranger Marc Yeston served as Incident Commander for the operation which >>utilized 14 field rangers prepositioned in 4 different locations supported >by 4 >NPS vessels. The closure of park waters to PWC use has drawn >considerable >media attention. >> >>GCPBA urges you to write Canyonlands with your letter of suport for the way >>Canyonlands handled this precedent-setting challenge to their stand on a >>Cataract/Stillwater PWC free Park. Send your comments to >> >>Walter Dabney >>Superintendent >>Canyonland National Park >>2282 S. West Resource Blvd. >>Moab, UT 84532-8000 >> >>gcpba NEWSWIRE is a FREE service to the boating community from the >Grand >Canyon Private Boaters Association, paid for by our really dedicated >>members...you can be a member, check out >> http://www.flagstaff.az.us/~gcpba/ >>Send your e-mail address to gcpba_at_flagstaff.az.us and we'll add you to the >>list, tell us to remove you and consider it done. >> > >Richard Grayson >rgrayson_at_down-river.com >http://www.down-river.com/rgrayson/ > > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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