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Floaters Have Been Regulated For Years; Power Boaters Refuse to be 

 Regulated 



As we pointed out above, floating is dependent on campsites and the impact 

 of nightly use on these sites can be considerable. This is one of the factors that 

 led to limits on floaters in the mid 1970's. 



Float use exploded in the early 1970's. Without regulation, huge numbers of 

 floaters arrived at the single launch ramp below Hells Canyon Dam on some 

 days, usually weekends. The congestion led to long waits and short tempers. 

 As these many parties moved down river, the conflict went with them. They 

 overwhelmed the few campsites available in the first night's float. These sites 

 were far more heavily impacted then than today. 



Floaters went to the Forest Service, fed up with the crowding and campsite 

 competition, and asking for regulation of launches. Power boating was not 

 affected by the congestion and was not competing for those first night 

 campsites. Since they were not a part of the problem, they were not regulated. 



Float regulations were first applied to commercials and, as private use grew, 

 later to them. Since the problem was largely confined to the top 16.3 miles of 

 the river above Rush Creek Rapid, the regulations applied only to that section. 

 The balance of the river was unlimited for both float and powered craft. That is 

 still the case today, although it would change radically under the new 

 management plan. In the 1970's, unlike today, the Forest Service regulated 

 people only when and where it was absolutely necessary. The closure orders 

 limiting float launches in the 1970's and 80's were based upon existing " 

 regulations; no new regulations were promulgated for either float or powered 

 craft until the 1990's. 



It is true that floaters have been regulated for years, at their own request and 

 on only the top 16.3 miles of river; it is untrue that power boaters have refused 

 to accept regulation. They were willing to accept limits in 1980, but were 

 attacked by an agency that wanted to eliminate them. They were willing to 

 accept limits in the 1991 LAC plan, but were again attacked by an agency that 

 wanted to eliminate them. They are willing to accept limits today, but need 

 action by Congress to assure that the agency's determination to eliminate them 

 will end once and for all. 



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