David,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate you taking the time to state
the reasons why riverboarding is not allowed right now and won't be
for some time. I have a few questions and hope you can elloborate
and clarify on some of the reasons that you gave.

Foreseeable Future-What is your definition of this, a few years,
longer? Is it something where if there are only a few of us wanting
this it won't happen, but if we get more numbers begging the DNR as
well as the Tourism Department, then maybe someday?

Safety-I'm choosing not to rehash this as I believe I have stated my
case that the best riverboarders, with the proper gear, could scout
and successfully make decisions regarding each rapid. Some might
require a portage, and the gorge isn't for everyone, but those of us
who have what it takes should be allowed to take the precautions and
willingly assume that risk.

Resource Impact: Are there other issues regarding resource impact
besides the endangered plant near the put-in? Is it an issue of
total number of people in the gorge at any time? Is there a
preception that riverboarding would impact the environment in a
greater way than boating already does?

Administrative Load: I understand that you and other administrators
are busy with other demands besides boating and recreation.
However, how much time would it take to make up special passes for a
test run for riverboarders, conduct post-evaluations, and then
educate the rest of the staff on required safety gear that a boarder
would have to have to be allowed to run the gorge?

Monitering of the event: Are you referring to the test-run that I
suggested in my email or ongoing riverboarding?

Budget: What are we looking at cost wise in $ figures, over what is
already spent each year for the whitewater releases. Are you
expecting more safety or libility expenses?

Staffing: I am a little confused as why riverboarding would require
any more staff than presently required for each whitewater release.

Overall Management Issues of the Park: Is this because of a fear
that if we are allowed to riverboard, that climbers, repailers, hang
gliders, etc will want access as well?

Thank you for your time, and hope to receive more information to
understand the positon of DNR and reasons against riverboarding. I
will be leaving the country soon for a few years, though I hope that
others in the riverboard community will continue to press for
riverboard access. I hope that you will continue to keep open and
cordial communication with them as you have with me.

Thank you,

Kevin Yount, *********END

Ken, I pretty much agree with you on this one, that most of their
reasons are smoke screen. Hope we can get some answers, and for the
time being, how about everyone else hold off on the other channels
until we hear back from David Perry. Feel free to email him
yourself though. Then if seems we're getting nowhere, we can try
other channels like the State Parks Director, Department of Tourism
and local and state elected officials.