Rich Bowers, Executive Director
American Whitewater
September 3, 1998
Dear Friend of rivers,
I am writing to support the Friends of the River letter regarding El Dorado County Board of Supervisor efforts to restrict commercial boating on the South Fork American River.
As you may know, American Whitewater represents only non-commercial whitewater boaters, but we work with outfitters on many rivers across the nation to protect and restore them for recreationists like you and your family and friends. In California, both commercial and non-commercial boaters are working to improve the Kern, the North Fork Feather, the South Fork American and other rivers. Regardless of what you may have heard, the issue on the South Fork is not about the reduction of commercial trips, but a direct attempt to remove all boating from the river.
American Whitewater, along with Friends of the River and a number of other organizations, have been involved for years with the many issues on the South Fork. This includes upcoming dam relicensings, as well as discussions over the South Fork River Management Plan. In the early meetings of this plan, there was no doubt that the County and others wanted to decrease or eliminate all boaters so that they could improve their "Quality of Life." Believe me, for these people, "quality" has no room for whitewater boaters.
Fortunately, the County has no authority to restrict non-commercial boaters at this point, and they look extremely bad if they try to restrict you and I for just paddling on a public resource like the South Fork. So they are targeting the commercial boaters, and trying to use anyone they can to help them get their way. As a private boater, you need to know that they want to kick you off the river too, and they are looking for ways to do just that. American Whitewater, Friends of the River, and commercial outfitters are working together to keep the river open to all boaters.
If you need more information about this issue, or any other issue related to whitewater recreation or rivers, give American Whitewater a call at (301) 589-9453, or contact Friends of the River at (916) 442-3155.
S.Y.O.T.R.,
Richard J. Bowers
Executive Director
