157 



Not only has the motorized constituency enjoyed free run of the river, the 

 escalation of jet boat use has driven both private floaters and commercial customers 

 from the river. (See, Exhibits G & H.) 



III. THE NINE MOST COMMON MYTHS ABOUT MOTORIZED AND 

 NONMOTORIZED USE OF THE SNAKE WILD AND SCENIC RIVER 



The following information addresses myths and misinformation about motorized 

 and nonmotorized use of the Snake River. This discussion illustrates that pending 

 legislation (H.R. 2568) is founded on misrepresentations and/or misinterpretations 

 of fact. The bill will not clarify or correct misinterpretations of the intent of 

 previous legislation. It will create a distinct new mandate that will legislate 

 preferred access to, and use of the Snake River by motorized rivercraft at the expense 

 of other recreationists. 



MYTH #1: The jet boat lobby represents a viable cross-section of floaters as well as 

 representing jet boaters 



The Hells Canyon Alliance (HCA) is a staffed organization that represents and 

 lobbies for commercial and private jet boat interests. It advocates vocally for 

 minimized regulahon of jet boat use, and against dedicating any norunotorized 

 period of any kind on the Snake River. It is the primary advocate for H.R. 2568. 

 (See, Exhibits A & Al.) 



HCA has stated publicly on several occasions that as well as representing jet boat 

 interests, it also represents many, and (it has implied) even the majority, of float 

 boaters. (See, Exhibits B & Bl.) It has stated emphatically that floaters and jet boat 

 users are not two distinct constituencies, i.e.; motorized and nonmotorized 

 recreationists. 



Only one "floater" organization is a part of HCA: River Access for Tomorrow. 

 River Access for Tomorrow has stated that it has fifty (50) members. (See, Exhibit C.) 

 It has admitted that some of these members also own jet boats. (See, Exhibit D.) 

 Conversely, opponents of H.R. 2568 and S. 1374 include the major private floater 

 organizations in the United States and the Pacific Northwest, including: American 

 Whitewater Affiliation; National Organization for Rivers; Northwest Rafters 

 Association; Rivers Council of Washington; and Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club. 

 These organizations collechvely represent more than 36,000 floaters. All of these 

 organizations oppose H.R. 2568 and S. 1374. 



Opponents of this legislation also include every commercial float outfitter that runs 

 regular trips on the Snake River and that does not also run jet boat tours. HCA 

 represents no commercial river trip outfitting companies that do not also run jet 

 boat tours. (See, Exhibit E.) 



Tesbmony of HCPC on River Management 



25-618 96-6 



