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control period float launches at 5 per day is based on the numbers of campsites 

 in the first two days of a float trip, Hells Canyon Dam to Rush Creek. Power 

 boater competition with floaters for camp sites is not much of a factor on this 

 section of river. However, conflict over campsites can be completely eliminated 

 if the Forest Service will simply implement a campsite reservation system as 

 required by the 1983 CMP decision of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture 

 Crowell. 



• Most power boaters who camp set up their equipment at one site and stay 

 there for the duration of their visit. Floaters usually stay one night at each site, 

 setting up a new camp every night. 



Power boaters have superior mobility and can go up or down river to locate 

 a suitable campsite. Floaters are on a one way trip and finding a suitable 

 campsite can become a consuming task that ruins an otherwise enjoyable 

 experience. This creates conflicts between the two groups that could be easily 

 managed with a campsite reservation systerh. 



• Floating is largely concentrated in the 31.5 miles of wild river above 

 Pittsburg landing. In 1990 floaters terminated 47% of their trips at Pittsburg 

 landing. Another 24% terminated their trips above Pittsburg and jet boated 

 back to Hells Canyon Dam. Only 19% went all of the way through the 

 HCNRA to the Grande Ronde. 



• Much of the private power boat use takes place between the HCNRA 's 

 North boundary and the Salmon River, an area visited by only 19% of the Hells 

 Canyon floaters. The bulk of the upstream commercial day use trips tum> 

 around below Rush Creek. 



Management Plans 

 • The first plan 



An awareness that a recreation management plan was needed for the Snake 

 River first dawned on the Forest Service in 1973. The area was then managed 

 as part of the. Hells Canyon-Seven Devils Scenic Area. While the Forest 

 Service had a jet boat patrol on the river, its use was limited to cleanup work 

 and administrative transportation for fire, trail and range crews. 



A float outfitter asked the three Forest Supervisors involved in managing the 

 scenic area and their District Rangers to accompany him on a float trip. He 

 worked diligently to show the Forest Service people that float use had grown to 

 a point that it was out of control and a threat to the area's resources. Power 

 boating was not even an issue. He was successful in his quest and convinced 

 the Forests' collective leadership to impose a moratorium on issuance of any 

 new float outfitter permits. There were 18 permits at that time and about that 

 many more applications filed, but not processed. Private float use, like power 



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