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Prepared Statement of Herald Egbert 



Hi story 



My name is Herald Egbert and 1 am currently the elected president of the Green River Gtiides and Outfitters 

 Association. (GROGA) This Association represents the 13 legally permitted outfitters offering commercial guiding 

 services on the Green River in northeastern Utah. These outfitters offer guided float- fishing trips, scenic floats, walk- 

 wade guided fishing trips and fishing instruction and combinations of these trips. GROGA is recognized by tfie U.S. 

 Forest Service as the body representing the commercial interests on the Green River and has received official 

 recognition as such. Since 1 987, the commercial use on the Green River has grown fi-om 400 trips in 1987 to the 1995 

 total of 3786 tnps. 



I have managed the guide services for the Flaming Gorge Lodge since 1 987.. Since that time, we have grown 

 to our position as the largest outfitter on the river, running almost 1 500 trips in 1995. 



All but one of die permits issued for the Green River are one-year term permits, meaning that they have to be 

 re-applied for each year widi no assurance that the permit will be re-issued the next year. This alone has created great 

 hardships for all of the outfitters, none of which are assured of being able to operate the next year. 



The Green River is divided into diree sections, with different management objectives and plans for each. The 

 first seven miles from the Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole, is know as Section A. According to the Forest Service 

 sponsored Green River Use Capacity Smdy of 1991, page 21, 90 % of all fishers and 86% of non-fishers used Section 

 A. Commercial guide usage is only 5% of the total use of the A Section of the Green River. The second nine mile 

 section from Little Hole to Brown's Park is known as Section B. This section receives about 8% of all fishers and 

 about 13% of all non-fisher use. The remaining 1% of fishing use and non-fishing use is on the C Section, a thirteen 

 mile section fix>m Brown's Park to the Colorado State line. 



The commercial use on the Green River has grown from approximately 100 trips in 1986, to the 1995 total of 

 3786 trips. The 3786 total use figure represents an increase of 6% from the use level of 1994. 



I have seen the Green River change from a few fishers in certain seasons and many summer recreational users 

 to a year-round fishery with people fishing the river every day of the year. The greatest change I have seen on the river 

 is in the numbers of persons usmg the river. The skill level of the fishers has increased as well as the quality of 

 equipment used Many more private dory boats are noticeable as are also the increased number of guided fishing trips 

 being run by the commercial outfitters On a negative note, due to the increased usage, there has been a noticeable 

 increase in litter in the Green River Comdor and also an increased number of user conflicts. 



