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Prepared Statement op Jerry Hughes 



HUGHES RIVER EXPEDITIONS, INC. 



PO.BOX 217 CAMBRIDGE, IDAHO 83610 

 PHONE; (208)257 3477 FAX: (208)257 3476 



April 26, 1996 ^"^ 



United States House of Representatives 

 United States Senate 

 Hearings Testimony 



In introdurtion, my name is Jerry Hughes. I am 48 years old, and I am a 3rd generation Idahoan. I 

 was raised in Southern Idaho and received degrees in Business & Law from the University of Idaho. I 

 have worked as a boatman on the rivers of the Western U.S. since 1965. 1996 is my 31st year of 

 worlcing as a professional river guide. 



I am a rafting outfitter on the National Wild & Scenic Snake River through Hells Canyon. Along with 

 my wife, Carole, I own and operate Hughes River Expeditions. Hughes River Expeditions is the largest 

 rafting outfitter in Hells Canyon, and 1996 will be our 20th year of outfitting and guiding raft trips for 

 the public on the Snake/Hells Canyon. I was one of two people who represented rafting outfitters on 

 the Forest Service Limits of Acceptable Change Task Force that scoped issues and developed 

 alternatives for the management of Hells Canyon. I have participated in every step of the 

 Environmental Impact Statement process, and I am very familiar with the issues surrounding Hells 

 Canyon river management. I represent my business, other Hells Canyon float outfitters, and river 

 guests from aaoss the country and from foreign countries who float Hells Canyon with outfitters & 

 guides. 



I am not a proponent of eliminating jetboats from Hells Canyon. However, I am a proponent of well- 

 managed, limited permit use by all river users including jetboats. I strongly believe that limited permit 

 management of both power and float craft is essential to preserve a quality user experience, and to 

 protea the Hells Canyon resource. Jetboats with their noise, wake, and odor greatly impact the Snake 

 River/Hells Canyon, and all non-motorized users, including rafters, kayakers, hikers, and horsemen. To 

 me the current unlimited powerboat use in Hells Canyon is an abuse of a spectacular national 

 resource. Unlimited and unmanaged powerboat use essentially makes Hells Canyon into a local 

 powerboat park. A powerboat park that is managed for the convenient use of some 600 local Idaho 

 & Eastern Washington powerboaters. Instead, I believe that the Snake/Hells Canyon is, and should be 

 managed as, a National Wild & Scenic River, inside a National Recreation Area that is surrounded by 

 National Forest Lands, much of which are Wilderness. I see Hells Canyon as a National Resource 

 rather than as an area primarily for local powerboaters. 



Snake River float trips have been managed by limited permits for the past 20 years. Extended, camp 

 out float trips are limited to 5 launches per day (with 3 trips/day allocated to private users, and 2 

 trips/day allocated to outfitted trips). Float management in Hells Canyon has been excellent. The 

 Forest Service has accommodated the needs of the floating public in many ways. However, you cannot 

 manage one component of river use in a vacuum. The Forest Service management of rafters & 



