[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - GRAND CANYON CHASM]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - GRAND CANYON CHASM
Date: 	Fri, 24 Jun 2005 15:25:26 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	riverwire at rrfw.org



RRFW Riverwire – GRAND CANYON CHASM

June 24, 2005

River Runners for Wilderness is featured in the July 2005 edition of 
Canoe and Kayak magazine. In the article titled “Grand Canyon Chasm, The 
Split Over The Colorado”, Jo Johnson of RRFW and American Whitewater’s 
Jason Robertson (Managing Director) defend their respective positions on 
the soon to be released Colorado River Management Plan.

The differing opinions came to light when 4 groups, including American 
Whitewater, Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association, Grand Canyon River 
Runners Association and Grand Canyon River Outfitters Trade Association 
released a “compromise” agreement that purports to end the disagreement 
over access issues in the Grand Canyon by endorsing the Park’s 
Alternative H. In her counterpoint article, Jo Johnson says “Despite 
claims to the contrary, modified Alternative H fails to resolve the 
current and historical disparity between river paddlers and the park’s 
river concessionaires” and points out that the 20-group Grand Canyon 
Wilderness Alliance and other important stakeholders disagree with the 
adoption of Alternative H.

Robertson counters, stating “we listened to the concerns of our members, 
the NPS, and Congress, which overwhelmingly feared that our relatively 
minor differences over river management would derail the planning 
process and lock down the broken status quo for decades.”

“When paddlers who love wilderness rivers invest the money and time – 
and endure the red tape – for a once-in-a-lifetime river journey through 
Grand Canyon,” Johnson maintains, “they shouldn’t be subject to the 
overcrowded and heavily motorized environment, denied fair summertime 
access, and rushed through the off-season canyon in fewer allowed days.”

It’s clear from this article that the preferred alternative with 
modifications will do little to put the long standing contentious issues 
surrounding river running in Grand Canyon to rest.

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