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Little Miami Off Limits

rsfb wrote 195 days ago:


So much for running the Wild and Scenic portion of the Little Miami.

This reach is illegal to run, based on the following:

http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/427547

Thank you for your email requesting information about Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and Little Miami National and State Scenic River.

In your email, it appears as if you would like to film kayakers traveling through “The Narrows” within the state nature preserve. This area has been closed to boating by Special Notice issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. This notice was issued under Ohio Administrative Code 1501:17-11-05 prior to 1982 by Richard Moseley, Division Chief, and was prepared due to the extreme danger of travel through this area. (A copy of this noticed is posted at the state nature preserve.) In addition, state nature preserve regulations require that visitors to Clifton Gorge remain on the designated trails at all times. This rule would prohibit any portaging around “The Narrows” and “The Falls of the Little Miami” or stationing people on the bank. During normal water conditions, it would be nearly impossible to travel this area, and during flood conditions, the danger of the area increases.

We respect your credentials but the Division cannot issue a permit for kayaking in the gorge. Clifton Gorge is visited by over 500,000 people annually. The rules that we enforce are designated to protect the resource and the visitor. The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is charged with protecting remnants of Ohio’s natural landscape. Our mission is first and foremost protection. Even though we have hiking trails and interpretive facilities, the division is not recreation oriented.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Nancy
Nancy Strayer, Acting Chief
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Natural Areas & Preserves



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Gary Wilson

Boise Area – Another Dry Year

Gary Wilson wrote 484 days ago:


Despite last winter’s abundant powder, the water year finished near average, and more wet years are needed to relieve the drought.

Read the entire Idaho Statesman article HERE!



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Gary Wilson

New Idaho, Oregon senators could mean expanded talks on salmon, dams

Gary Wilson wrote 488 days ago:


In less than two weeks, the political dynamics of the Columbia and Snake River salmon debate changed dramatically.

Check out the entire Idaho Statesman article HERE!



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Gary Wilson

Results from Boise Whitewater Park Meeting

Gary Wilson wrote 498 days ago:


Jackson Regional Team Member Mark Cecchini reports on the results of the planning meeting last week.

New Park Logo:
Boise Whitewater Park

For those of you interested in this sort of thing, here are my observations from last night’s Boise WW Park Meeting.

Last night, the City of Boise Parks and Recreation Department along with representatives of McLaughlin Water Engineers presented the updated design for the whitewater park and the preliminary design of the planned Ester Simplot Park. First I have to say that the city appears to be doing its level best to include all of the stakeholders in the design process. The stretch of river where the park will be built has two irrigation diversions with water rights extending back to the  mid-1800’s. Thus, one major challenge for the design is to maintain these diversions while improving the safety, recreational opportunities, and riparian habitat of the river. Creating a whitewater park without altering the existing floodplain is another major design challenge.

As it stands now, the plan is to begin removing the upstream Thurman Mill diversion (the site of the 36th Street Wave) and replacing it with a new navigable and adjustable structure in the Fall of 2009. As presented last night, the design of this structure includes both a Vail-style Bladder system and a ASCI-style  “Waveshaper”. According to park designer Nick Turner, the Waveshaper will provide a year-round boatable channel while at higher flows the Bladder system will allow for a fully adjustable whitewater feature. It was unclear from the presentation what flows would be needed to spill enough water over the bladder portion of the structure to create a feature without disrupting the irrigation diversion.

Four or five conventional fixed whitewater features were also included in the plan. However, there was not much detail provided about these features, possibly due to ongoing negotiations with the downstream diversion controlled by the Farmerand’s Union Ditch Co. Other improvements to the site include: bank terracing/stabiliza tion, improved riparian habitat, raised viewing areas, and a “lazy river” connecting three ponds adjacent to the the river. Turner stated that the whitewater portion of the park is being designed for a beginner to intermediate skill set, but that the adjustability of the Thurman Mill feature will allow for a  competition- worthy spot at normal summer flows ~1,200 cfs.

During the question and answer session, community members raised a host of issues. Some boaters where concerned about how the park would handle sediment and flood debris. A concerned citizen questioned the impact that park would have on the bald eagles that can be seen on the stretch during the winter months. Others raised questions about the location of access, the cityand’s plans for educating the public about river safety, traffic congestion and safety near the entrance to the park, and plans for providing a natural park setting suitable for “unstructured play.”

All in all, the Boise WW park apears to be on track to begin the first phase of consrtuction next Fall, with the adjustable feature in place by spring 2010. The second phase of construction, which will install the downstream features, is planned to start in the Fall of 2010. However, only about $2 million of the projected $6 million total cost has been committed to date. In appreciation of the Neef family’s generous $1 million donation to the project the park will be known as Ray Neef, MD River Recreation Park. Additional funds have been contributed by the city of Boise and private donations through Friends of the Park (http://www.boiseriv erpark.com/ default.asp). The park is an exciting development for paddlers in the Boise area and it promises to greatly improve the aesthetics, safety, and habitat on this stretch of river.



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Luke

Russell Fork Rendezvous

Luke wrote 501 days ago:


Once again The Bardstown Boaters were at the Russell Fork Rendezvous for some glorious Fall paddling. The Rendezvous is a gathering in Eastern Kentucky to celebrate the Russell Fork River and the wonderful people of the area.

You could find The Bardstown Boaters camp at the trailhead for the Pine Mountain Trail.

On Saturday, The Bardstown Boaters paddled the Upper Section of the Russell Fork then hiked into The Gorge Section to watch competitors in The Lord of The Fork, a whitewater race through what is known as the Beast of the East.

On Sunday, many in the club paddled the Upper Section of the Russell Fork River once again.

The Russell Fork runs every weekend in October with scheduled releases on Saturday and Sunday. The scenery is always spectacular this time of year. When the Fall comes it continues to invoke memories of the Russell Fork into the minds of Bardstown Boaters.

For some first-hand recounts, a run down of the winners, and more images from the weekend visit the forum.



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Gary Wilson

Whitewater park on Boise River to be built next year

Gary Wilson wrote 501 days ago:


BOISE — After nearly a decade of planning construction is set to begin on Boises first river recreation park next year.

Read the rest of the KTVB article HERE!



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Gary Wilson

Idaho : Meeting to discuss Boise Whitewater Park

Gary Wilson wrote 502 days ago:


Please join us for a discussion of the planned Boise River Recreation Park

Meeting will be held at Whittier Elementary Gymnasium at 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 30th



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Luke

Race to follow Bourbon Trail

Luke wrote 505 days ago:


A new adventure relay race called The Bourbon Chase will be held for the first time in Kentucky in October 2009.

Teams consisting of 12 runners will run along the state’s famed Bourbon Trail on Oct. 9-10. The race will start near Bardstown and finish in Lexington, but the route the runners will take covers nearly 200 miles.

“Certainly, running along the trail in horse country is beautiful. It’s a great way to showcase our finest products,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, vice president of tourism marketing for the Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The idea for the race came from Mike Kuntz, a former track and field coach at the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University.

He participated in Oregon’s annual Hood to Coast Relay in 2001 with former U of L runners.

“This is the grandmother of them all,” he said of the Oregon race.

“I thought we could do an event in Kentucky that could be even better,” he said, adding that Kentucky has more to market, and the Bourbon Trail has more beautiful scenery than the Oregon race route.

“I felt like we could have a better runner’s experience in Kentucky. … Oregon was beautiful, but they really didn’t showcase the state,” he said.

Kuntz talked with people in the bourbon industry about his idea for a race in Kentucky nearly a year ago.

“It’s my idea that’s been slightly tweaked,” he said of the Kentucky race.

Lexington has been designated as the host city for the overnight relay race.

“We want to have a huge post-race event here in Lexington,” Ramer said.

She said the race could have an $800,000 to $1 million economic impact on the Lexington area. People who participate in such events often stay overnight in the cities where the races end, she said.

“Ultimately our goal is to have an event that will bring people from every corner of the United States,” she said.

Next year’s race will be held the same weekend that Keeneland Race Course’s fall meet starts, so participants can enjoy the city after the run, then head to the track, she said.

Up to 4,000 participants and volunteers are expected the first year for The Bourbon Chase, which is designed to celebrate Kentucky’s bourbon production history, according to planners of the event. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail links distilleries in the state, where visitors can see how bourbon is made.

Each runner will run three three- to eight-mile legs. Support vans will drop off and pick up runners at designated exchange points along the route.

“This is a great opportunity to introduce our signature industry to thousands of adventurous travelers,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Details for the event are still being worked out, including what prizes the winners will receive.

“I think there’s nothing to win on a Bourbon chase really than bourbon,” Kuntz said.

For more info visit www.bourbonchase.com



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Luke

Viking Canoe Club Donation

Luke wrote 509 days ago:


The Bardstown Boaters would like to send out a very big thank you to The Viking Canoe Club and to those who attended the LVM Premiere at Nachbar in Louisville. They have graciously donated $100 in proceeds towards the Bardstown Whitewater Park.

The Viking Canoe Club and The Nachbar host many LVM Premieres and other boater friendly activities. Keep checking in with the Vikings and visit the Nachbar at 969 Charles Street on the corner of Charles and Krieger in Germantown where there is always a good time to be had.



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Gary Wilson

Idaho : 315 Miles Of Rivers Are Up For Protection

Gary Wilson wrote 526 days ago:


Water rights are major hurdle for Wild and Scenic Rivers

Congress is steering a bill through the final rapids that would add 315 miles of Idaho rivers to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system that Idaho Sen. Frank Church helped create 40 years ago this month.

See the full Idaho Statesman article HERE!



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