Re: [Paddlewise] Saturation Point

Matt Broze wrote:

[snipped:  huge contribution re:  crowding, overuse, and the negative aspects
of Water Trails, and guidebooks, and TAPS.  Matt, you sound like the Northwest
shadow of Edward Abbey!]

My guts agree with much of what Matt said.  Like Matt, I have "been there"
over the last 30 years as hiking guidebooks delineated my "favorite" spots in
the Cascades and Olympics of Washington State.  I am also on the sidelines as
a Water Trail is proposed for passage through my home paddling area.  (The
signs are up, but essentially *none* of the infrastructure -- ironic, no?)

My *head* disagrees:  I believe (as Thomas Unger stated) population pressures
will lead to most of what Matt decries  *even if the guidebooks were not
written,*  and *even if there were no "Water Trails".*

We really do not have the choice my guts might want (publicize and promote no
aspect of paddling; shun newbies; obfuscate trip descriptions; etc.).  We can
*not* reverse time and go back to the days when there were fewer paddlers.  We
*must* deal with the growing paddling population.  To ignore the growth is
folly.

I won't disagree with Matt's appraisal of the net effect of the implementation
of the Marine Trail in Puget Sound.  It sounds like what I am afraid will
happen in my home paddling area:  many of the funky "undeveloped" spots which
accomodate the small numbers of existing paddlers will get "recognized" and
then overrun by the expanded paddling population.  Does anybody see a way out
of this dilemma?  I am concerned that increased human use of waterways (just
from the human waste angle) unfortunately mandates increased development of
near-water areas.  I do not like dodging poop!

I think the key is how we manage what we have.  And, like it or not, that
means regulations and quotas.  I don't like it, but I do not have a better
answer.

Yeah, I will always keep close to my chest a few isolated spots, but it would
be naive to think they will be isolated forever.  And, Matt, I'm not tellin'
you where they are, either!  <G>

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR


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