49 



The American Wliitewater Affiliation is a National organization 

 of about 30,000 members both direct and affiliated members. Our 

 membership is comprised almost entirely of noncommercial 

 kayakers and canoeists that are involved in Whitewater sports. 



There has been a lot of discussion this afternoon on the econom- 

 ics and on the commercial operators and on rafting, but there are 

 a lot of other people on the river. There are private boaters who 

 enjoy Hells Canyon just as much as the commercial outfitters and 

 for people who have a business there, there are also people who are 

 visiting because they love the river 



For that reason, economics does play a very big part, but it is not 

 the only part. It is also the environment and it is also the experi- 

 ence, and all these are affected in some way. 



We do not support H.R. 2568 basically because motorized travel 

 is increasing on both the Snake River and Hells Canyon and also 

 on Idaho's Lower Salmon River. Both of these are outstanding wil- 

 derness trips, and the Lower Salmon is a direct tributary of the 

 Snake. 



For boaters who are running on the Salmon, they almost must 

 paddle 20 miles to the Snake before reaching the take-out. These 

 people are affected also by increased Jetboat travel. 



Earlier today, Mr. Hansen asked and everybody else has asked 

 also if there really is conflict in Hells Canyon. If you want to know 

 if there is conflict between motorized and nonmotorized craft, you 

 can open any Whitewater guidebook and it describes this resource. 



Idaho Whitewater, which is the definitive guidebook on the rivers 

 within the State of Idaho describes for the Salmon River that other 

 hazards on the river in talking about the recreational hazards in- 

 clude rattlesnakes, poison ivy, cactus and Jetboaters, and it goes 

 on. 



There is the Whitewater Sourcebook and almost any guidebook 

 that you read, the first thing they point out is to be aware of the 

 hazard of Jetboaters, what they present, the hazards the Jetboats 

 present to nonmotorized travel. 



You can also look at the two surveys which have been discussed 

 many times throughout this day. This is lot more information on. 

 conflict than just a few people trying to control a canyon for their 

 own use. 



We also see this legislation as posing a big safety problem. In 

 claiming that motorized travel is fully compatible with all other 

 recreational uses of the river, this disregards the significant and 

 documented safety concern. 



Between 1986 and 1989, 65 to 75 percent of all accidents on the 

 Snake involved Jetboats. These figures were provided by the Forest 

 Service record of incidents. 



Contrary to what the legislation would propose, Jetboats do pose 

 a serious threat to canoes, kayaks, and rafts. We don't expect to see 

 them on the river. As we are trying to get through the rapids or 

 we are trying to get through the waves, we don't see them coming. 

 Loud noise has been one of the big issues here, but if you are in 

 the middle of a series of ten-foot waves, you do not hear Jetboats 

 until they are on top of you. 



Both the Salmon and the Snake offer big water routes, typical 

 western routes. If you are moving down, you cannot hear them 



