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All float trips on the upper 32 miles of the river must realistically come through the 

 16 mile permit zone. We do not ioiow of any that have not. Until one comes to 

 Pittsburg Landing, 32 miles below the only launch site on this section of the river 

 which is at Hells Canyon Creek, there is a physical lestrichon that disallows floaters 

 on the upper 32 miles of the river without a permit. 



MYTH #9 The Forest Service river plan will wreak economic havoc on the jet boat 

 manufacturing and jet boat outfitting industries 



We understand that all opponents of regulation of the uses of public lands want to 

 have an economic argument. But this one is so sweeping, it defies reason. 



The proposed river plan would allow an increase in both private jet boat launches, 

 and commercial jet boat launches. (See, Exhibit T.) It is incomprehensible that 

 anyone would dare to make such a claim of impending economic doom under these 

 circumstances. Neither commercial jet boat outfitting nor jet boat manufacturing 

 could conceivably be impacted in any measurable amount. 



Many of the jet boats manufactured in Idaho are shipped out of the region. HCPC 

 has sought to obtain specific figures, but have yet to find a source. Nonetheless, it is 

 no secret that local manufacturers are shipping many jet boats out of the region, 

 even to overseas markets. 



The most evident economic impact as a result of river regulations is the impact on 

 float outfitters. Their business has for 18 years been constrained by a use cap, and 

 even the achieving of the maximum possible customers on these trips has been 

 hampered by the degrading of the river experience by jet boats. (See, Exhibit G.) 



IV. A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE FOREST SERVICE'S PROPOSED 

 MANAGEMENT PLAN AS IT APPLIES TO JET BOATS 



The motivation' behind H.R. 2568 is the alleged unfairness of the Forest Service's 

 proposed Snake River plan. The truth is that this plan gives jet boaters almost 

 everything they could wish for, and gives one small concession to nonmotorized 

 recreationists: A 21-mile, 24-day per year nonmotorized window. 



The following is summary of the key provisions of the Forest Service plan relating 

 to jet boats (see. Record of Decision, Wild and Scenic Snake River Recreation 

 Management Plan, October 1994). 



• The actual use of jet boats will not be regulated by "rules of the road. " The 



plan imposes no speed limits, no requirement to slow down for floaters, no 

 requirement to minimize wakes except when near "administrative sites." 



Testimony nf HCPC on River Management 



