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Hearing Testimony 

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kayakers is not acceptable if the other major user group on the river is absolutely unmanaged and 

 unlimited. The only complaint Hells Canyon floaters have with past Forest Service management is that 

 the management affected only non-motorized users (rafts, dories, & kayaks) while jetboat users could 

 come and go as they pleased with no limits on their utilization of the National Wild & Scenic Snake 

 River. 



Hells Canyon power boat use has never been managed or limited in any manner. The only 

 requirement of private jetboaters has been that they fill out self-issue, non-limited permits, and jetboat 

 outfitters have been able to make as many trips as they wanted at any time. This has occurred at a 

 time when non-motorized river users were operating under a strict 5 launch/day limited permit system. 

 During the late 70's and early 80's the Forest Service developed a management plan for all users, 

 including jetboats. However, jetboaters and their congressional supporters were able to scuttle this 

 management plan. As a result, Hells Canyon powerboat use remained unmanaged and unlimited. 

 Motorized use on the Wild & Scenic Snake River grew exponentially during the 80's and early 90's. 

 Today from late spring through early fall. Hells Canyon is over-crowded with powerboats on all 

 holidays, on most weekends, and on many week days. One of my guests likened rafting on the 

 Snake/Hells Canyon on a busy weekend to backpacking along an interstate highway. Forest Service 

 management of powerboats in Hells Canyon has been as poor as their float management has been 

 good. However, this lack of powerboat management can be traced dirertly to jetboater efforts and 

 Congressional interference that derailed the agency's planning process in the early 80's. Unfortunately, 

 15 years later, HR 2568 and S 1374 intend to ruin another Forest Service management plan that 

 would place jetboats under a limited permit system. 



Many Hells Canyon powerboat outfitters claim that the Forest Service Proposed Action will put them 

 out of business. Private powerboaters claim they won't be able to enjoy and use the Canyon. 

 Powerboat manufaaurers claim that limited use will harm their boat building businesses. I disagree. 

 Rafting has been managed on many rivers since the early 70's. Examples include the the Colorado, 

 Green, Yampa, Salmon, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Selway, and many more. Float outfitters have 

 thrived, private rafting has become very popular, and there are more raft, dory, & kayak manufacturers 

 than ever. I don't accept powerboater claims that limited permits will ruin their businesses and sport. 

 Instead, I believe that limited use will require change - change in outfitter pricing, change in outfitter 

 services, fewer but higher quality trips, more advance planning when a family wants to make a private 

 powerboat trip, etc. I know that change is hard. I can remember when rafters felt river management 

 and limited use would ruin us all. Instead limited use assured rafting a good future. It is well past 

 time to manage and limit powerboating in Hells Canyon. The Forest Service Final EIS provides for 

 effective management of river use, and I strongly believe that effective management will be good for 

 all users, including motorized users, and for the Hells Canyon resource. 



I am very concerned about HR 2568 and S 1374 because they vmM lock in place the very problems 

 Hells Canyon faces today. First, the bills ignore an 8 year, public planning process that included every 

 interest group. The bills also try to legislate that there is no conflia between motorized and non- 



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