29 



Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Collett. I appreciate your com- 

 ments. Mr. Feltch, we will turn the time to you, sir. You are recog- 

 nized for five minutes. 



STATEMENT OF DAVID FELTCH, VERNAL, UTAH 



Mr. Feltch. Thank you. My name is David Feltch, and I rep- 

 resent the local public. I live in the Vernal area and have used the 

 river for many years. 



I think we all feel that most people think the same way as we 

 do. I think most Forest Service personnel tend to lean toward the 

 feeling that the quality of an outdoor experience is based upon the 

 amount of solitude that one enjoys. 



I have been an avid user of the Green River for many years. 

 Twenty years ago while floating the Green River, even on a Satur- 

 day, you might see one or two other rafters. At that time, we usu- 

 ally caught eight, ten fish a day. 



Today, when I float the river, we catch around 30 fish a day, yet 

 the Forest Service is trying to tell us that our experience now is 

 not as enjoyable because we see more folks. Maybe they have for- 

 gotten that their figures show that 91 percent of the river users are 

 there primarily to fish. 



The statement read by Mr. Lyons said that their main respon- 

 sibility is to protect resources. It didn't say that they are deter- 

 mined to enjoy them. If there are a number of people that are hav- 

 ing a negative impact on the environment, then there need to be 

 some changes made, but on Green River, this can easily be accom- 

 plished by adding a restroom on the A section and educating the 

 public on the importance of taking only pictures and leaving only 

 footprints. When a raft pulls out of the river, it leaves no evidence 

 of its passing at all. 



I believe the Forest Service needs to listen to what the public 

 wants, not manage all rivers for the sole purpose of a solitude expe- 

 rience. Currently, 91 percent of the public response is of a positive 

 nature. This does not indicate a need to put some regulations on 

 it. 



Most families plan their vacation around their work schedule, 

 the kids' school. We go somewhere knowing it might be a busy time 

 of the year at that location, and we will have numerous other peo- 

 ple there, but we would rather go and see the sights than stay 

 home. Yet, the Forest Service wants to tell us we won't have what 

 they consider a quality experience, so we can't go at all. 



Yesterday was a good example of this. I took the opportunity to 

 visit several local attractions. There were lots of other people at 

 each one of them. I am sure that my experience visiting the Capital 

 would have been enhanced had there been fewer people. However, 

 this will likely be the only time in my life I will visit this area. 

 What a shame it would have been if I was turned away because 

 I was the 751st person to arrive, thus denying me the opportunity 

 to see that magnificent structure. 



The Forest Service showed their proposal and it is far being ex- 

 ceeded. They want to put up locked gates and not let anyone 

 launch until 7:00 a.m.. The sole purpose for this is so they can 

 count the number of rafters and hikers at any given time in the 



9R-R1 ft QR _ 5 



