160 



the people who still use the Snake River, but not those who may have been 

 displaced by the prohision of unregulated jet boat use. (See, Exhibit L.) 



Sociologist Dr. Robert O'Brien pointed out that the 1988 survey failed to adequately 

 explore the impacts of jet boats on other river users by using only vague queshons to 

 address the issue. He indicates that these impacts may be understated due to the lack 

 of directness of the questions asked about jet boats. (See, Exhibit M.) 



The meaning of any survey's results can be questioned. So can the effectiveness of 

 their questions. But one thing that these surveys have illustrated cannot be 

 queshoned: That is the fact that a substantial segment of the public that still 

 recreates in Hells Canyon is indeed bothered by jet boats. In fact, among all users, jet 

 boats are consistently named as the number one problem on the river, or the most 

 negative aspect of a river trip. The contention that jet boats aren't really a problem, 

 or that they are only a problem to a small, exclusive constituency is clearly false. 



MYTH #3: Existing law gives jet boaters carte blanche on use of the Snake River and 

 those who would like a nonmotorized experience should just go somewhere else 



This selfish statement has been made on numerous occasions by representahves of 

 HCA. (See, Exhibit N.) 



The HCNRA Act recognizes motorized rivercraft as a "valid " use of the Snake 

 River. (See, Exhibit F.) This is as far as the Act goes in articulating the degree to 

 which jet boat use should be allowed to take precedence over other uses or concerns 

 in Hells Canyon. 



However, that section of the Act also requires the use and number of motorized 

 rivercraft to be controlled. This stipulahon obviously addresses the fact that 

 overuse, and certain use habits that could occur through lack of regulation of this 

 activity, could create problems. 



Although there is no passage of the law that establishes jet boating or motorized 

 rivercraft as a priority in Hells Canyon, other parts of the HCNRA Act, and the 

 National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, do set forth provisions for the protection of 

 values that are impacted by motorized rivercraft. 



The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, under which 67 miles of the Snake River 

 is designated, describes "Wild" designated sections under the Act as "vestiges of 

 primitive America." (See, Exhibit O.) Thirty one miles of the Snake is a Wild 

 designated river. The HCNRA Act adds that in managing the HCNRA, the Forest 

 Service should protect wilderness values and atmospheric habitats. (See, Exhibit F.) 



Neither the HCNRA Act, nor any other law or federal regulation that we know of, 

 precludes the Forest Service from establishing nonmotorized zones on lands or 

 rivers, or from providing relief from motorized use. 



Testunony of HCPC on River Management 



