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George and Lynette Hauptman 



P.O. Bo.x 893 

 Halfway. OR 97834 

 (541)742-RAFTor 

 (541)742-4110 

 Fax:(541)742-7208 



Testimony Opposing H.R.2568 and S.1374 



In introduction, my name is George Hauptman. I am 49, and a fourth generation Oregonian. Over 

 the years I have spent most of my life working outdoors in Oregon. In the late 1960s I fished 

 commercially for salmon off the Oregon coast. For the past 20 years, I have outfitted and guided 

 salmon and steelhead fishing and Whitewater float trips. I know the pattern of use in Hells Can- 

 yon well and wish to testify on legislation that will direcdy affect my life for the next two de- 

 cades. I urge you to reject the two bills H.R.2568 and S.1374 and instead support the Forest 

 Service management plan. 



I have been a permitted float outfitter in Hells Canyon since 1980. We are the second oldest float 

 company in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, and it has been our only business for the 

 last decade. During that time I believe no person has spent more time in Hells Canyon than I 

 have. I outfit and personally escon between 20 and 28 four day trips per year through Hells 

 Canyon. I usually spend between 80 and 90 nights per year in a sleeping bag in the heart of Hells 

 Canyon. I know the resource intimately. 



Since formation of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, the United States Forest Service 

 management of the non-motorized float use in Hells Canyon has been excellent. The manage- 

 ment of float use has been fair and evenhanded, intelligently structured and for the most part, 

 their staff professional and a credit to the agency. 



On the power boat segment of use in the canyon, there has been no management whatsoever. The 

 person who was the river supervisor for 1 1 years refused to regulate power boat use in any way. 

 He subsequently took an early retirement and is presently an employee of one of the larger 

 powerboat outfitters in Hells Canyon, (the same outfitter to whom he issued the only special use 

 recreational permit. Sheep Creek ranch, in the wild section of the canyon.) The new Forest 

 supervisor has staffed the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area river program with persons 

 who are competent and attempting to operate the program in a fair and equitable manner with 

 limited funding. 



