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I am up late, looking blearily at these alternatives and none of them give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I really want access but I know there are alot of people that don't and some of them may have valid reasons. But hey my reasons are just as valid. So how about the compromise proposed below.
Access to the three sections under consideration (Chattooga Cliffs, Ellicott Rock and Rock Gorge aka 00, 0 and 1) is rotated on a monthly basis. One such schedule is shown for example below. We would be allowed to paddle the Chattooga Cliffs section during Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, June and July and this section would be off limits the rest of the year. This way the fishermen get their solitude by fishing any of the other two sections. The other two sections are open for boating during other months of the year. During February to March, 2 or 3 sections are open, allowing multi-section runs.
This is a black and white alternative and avoids many of the subjective arguments. There are no limitations based on water level, the number of groups or number of encounters between fishermen and boaters. This alternative would be the easiest for the FS to manage as enforcement is not done based on hearsay or guesses at water levels.
A limitation is that if the number of groups does reach a point that results in deterioration of the river environment, some type of system will have to be implemented to limit the number of groups. But based on what I have read and seen, these sections are going to be accessed by only a few groups on a given day of runnable water. And anyone that runs Overflow knows that the impact of boaters on that section of river is nearly impossible to detect.
It is similar to the system used at Tsali. There they rotate the trails between horseback riders and bikers to avoid conflicts, result: everyone is happy.
I am going to sleep on it and perhaps propose it tomorrow. Sounds like a good idea right now, is there a flaw??? _________________________________________________________________
Chattooga Cliffs - Grimshawes Bridge to Bull Pen Bridge (AKA Section 00) Class IV-V 5 Miles Avg Gradient 78 fpm Min Sug. Level: 2 FT Max Sug. Level: 3 FT
Runnable Months Dec Jan Feb Mar June July _________________________________________________________________
Ellicott Rock - Bull Pen Bridge to Burrells Ford (AKA Section 0) Class III-V(V+) 5.4 Miles Avg Gradient 67 fpm Min Sug. Level: 2 ft Max Sug. Level: 4 ft
Runnable Months Feb Mar Apr August September _________________________________________________________________
Rock Gorge - Burrells Ford to Highway 28 Bridge (AKA Section 1) Class II-V 11.3 Miles Avg Gradient 38 fpm Min Sug. Level: 1.8 Ft Max Sug. Level: 4 Ft
Runnable Months Mar Apr May October November
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