[Paddlewise] Teenager drowns on Chatooga, retrieval efforts dangerous

Bob Myers sent the below URL to me.  The LA Times newspaper article
describes how a 16 year old girl was drowned on the Chatooga River
where, after six weeks, her body still remains following several
attempts to retrieve her body from the river.  Her father insists on
retrieving the body asap and attempts to do so have apparently put other
lives at risk.  According to the article, Buzz Williams, a former
guide who now heads the Chattooga River Watershed Coalition, received
a letter from Senator Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) stating that if the river 
is so unsafe that rescuers could not reach Rachel then maybe it's time 
to declare the river off-limits.  There is ongoing debate over whether 
or not the Forest Service has the legal right to alter the river
to retrieve the body (according to Williams, the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act says the river shall not be altered and is concerned that this
may set a precedent for altering the course of the river).  The recent
activities permitted by the Forest Service in spite of the Act, 
coupled with Thurmond's letter has caused considerable conern.

The drowning incident is tragic but the implications of the possible outcome 
surrounding the retrieval efforts are disturbing.  I'm passing this on to 
interested parties in South Carolina (or anyone else, for that matter)
that might wish to write the Senator.  Other than this article, I have
no more details.  If someone local to the area who happens to be 
knowledgeable of this incident finds that the information from this 
articles is not accurate, please post here (I'm somewhat skeptical when 
it comes to newspaper articles...).  Thanks.

The newspaper article can be found at:

http://latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/ASECTION/t000062806.html

Jackie

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