46 



STATEMENT OF JERRY HUGHES, OWNER, HUGHES RIVER 



EXPEDITIONS 



Mr. Hughes. I am Jerry Hughes. I own and operate Hughes 

 River Expeditions. This is my 20th year of operating raft trips in 

 Hells Canyon, and the 31st year that I have worked in Idaho and 

 the western States as a river guide. 



I do not propose eliminating Jetboats from Hells Canyon; how- 

 ever, I do support use limits for both power and float craft in order 

 to preserve and protect Hells Canyon. 



I support the Forest Service plan for the wild and scenic Snake. 

 Forest Service management of rafts in Hells Canyon has been ex- 

 cellent. Raft trips have been managed for 20 years by limited per- 

 mits. Rafts are limited to five launches per day, raft parties, that 

 is. 



However, I feel that a great unfairness exists in Hells Canyon. 

 Rafting is managed with limited permits, while Jetboat use is un- 

 limited. Forest Service management has been unacceptable to 

 rafters because of this obviously unfair system. Rafters are limited 

 while Jetboaters can come and go as they like with no limits what- 

 soever. 



During the early 80's, the Forest Service developed a manage- 

 ment plan for all users; however, Jetboaters and their Congres- 

 sional supporters scuttled that plan. As a result, powerboat use in 

 Hells Canyon grew exponentially during the 80's and early 90's, 

 during a time when rafting use was capped by limited permits. 



From late spring through early fall. Hells Canyon is overcrowded 

 with powerboats on all popular weekends, holiday weekends, on 

 many other weekends, and on many weekdays. 



Today, 15 years later. House Bill 2568 is intended to ruin an- 

 other Forest Service plan that would finally place Jetboats under 

 a limited permit system. Powerboaters claim that the Forest Serv- 

 ice will ruin their opportunities. I disagree. Rafting has been lim- 

 ited on many rivers since the 70's. Limited use has not hurt raft- 

 ing. 



I believe that the Forest Service plan will be good for all users, 

 motor and float, and for the Hells Canyon resource. The plan will 

 require change. 



The Forest Service plan does not eliminate powerboating. In fact, 

 it provides for a tremendous amount of powerboating on the Wild 

 and Scenic Snake. 



From late May to September 10, the plan provides for 1,208 out- 

 fitter powerboat days on the wild river, and for six daily private 

 powerboat launches into the wild river, and for eight to 23 daily 

 private powerboat launches into the scenic river. I consider this to 

 be a huge allocation of powerboat use that is unprecedented on any 

 other wild river and scenic river. 



House Bill 2568 tries to legislate that no conflict exists between 

 motorized and nonmotorized craft. Unfortunately, conflicts do exist. 

 Jetboats, by their nature, are noisy; they throw large wakes; they 

 smell of exhaust; and they do intrude on the experience of non- 

 motorized users. 



House Bill 2568 also locks in patterns of river use that exist 

 today. Supporting these current patters of use assures that many 

 days will continue to be overcrowded with Jetboats. 



