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legislation is passed, "vestiges of primitive America" will be defined to include 

 jet-boats, jet-boat noise, and jet-boat wakes. 



The Forest Service is an important and major player in river protection and river 

 recreation in the United States. It is charged with managing some 96 designated 

 components of the Wild and Sceriic Rivers System (some 4,316 river miles 

 including 67 miles of the Snake)."' 



In January of 1 995, the Forest Service joined other agencies in establishing the 

 Interagency Wild and Scenic River Coordinating Council. The purpose of this 

 Council "is to improve interagency coordination" and enhance "protection of 

 important river resources." One of the major goals of this Council is to "Maintain 

 the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act as the national and international standard for 

 river conservation.""'' The AWA is a participant in this Council, and we are 

 concerned that favoring motorized use of the Snake over human-powered 

 recreation by failing to regulate motorized craft is contrary to both the purpose of 

 this Council and the clear intent of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 



2. Conflicts between motorized and nonmotorized craft within the NRA 



• In claiming that "motorized travel is fully compatible with all other recreational 

 uses of the river", H.R.2568 disregards a significant and documented safety 

 concern and a exponential increase in the number of nonmotorized craft over 

 the last decade. Between 1986 and 1989, 65 to 75% of all accidents on the 

 Snake involved jet boats (compiled from Forest Service record of incidence) 



• 



Western Whitewater ~ "jet-boat traffic has tripled in the past decade and 

 continues to increase."" 



• Idaho Whitewater - (on the Salmon River) "Other hazards include 

 rattlesnakes, poison ivy, cactus and jet boaters."" 



• Oregon River Tours - "An increasing number of private boaters exit at 

 Pittsburg to avoid the power boats with their camp conflicts...""' 



• The Whitewater Sourcebook ~ "Further Comments: Watch out for jet-boats!"" 



Contrary to what this legislation portrays, jet-boats on Whitewater rivers pose a 

 serious threat to canoes, kayaks and rafts. Paddlers don't expect to see them as 

 they negotiate Whitewater drops and waves, and while many object to the noise 

 created by these craft, they are hard to hear over the roar of Whitewater. 



This safety issue is especially critical to boaters on the Snake and Lower 

 Salmon Rivers. While both are rivers of national Whitewater significance and 

 reputation, they are both fairly easy rivers to paddle. Both are rated as Class III 



