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- DAMASCUS -- Area livery representatives and National Park Service (NPS) officials expressed concern over the effects of possible increased boating activity on dangerous portions of the Mongaup River, at a meeting of the Upper Delaware River Safety Committee held April 13 at NPS headquarters.
- Under a proposal being considered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in order for existing hydroelectric facilities to be licensed, Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) may be required to time water releases to encourage canoeing and kayaking, NPS superintendent John T. Hutzky said.
- Jules Robinson, of Wild & Scenic River Tours in Barryville, said he was afraid an increased number of drownings could result from officially opening the Mongaup River to recreational traffic. He also expressed concern that bad publicity could spill over to the Upper Delaware, which is comparatively safe.
- ...white water created by hydro releases on the Mongaup are many times more dangerous than any rapids on the Upper Delaware.
- Advanced canoeists at the meeting agreed white water created by hydro releases on the Mongaup are many times more dangerous than any rapids on the Upper Delaware.
- "The question is, if [recreational] use is going to be a part of the license, how is it going to be managed?" Hutzky stated. Hutzky said there are no plans for governmental administration of the Mongaup, or assignment of NPS safety personnel such as arc stationed on the Upper Delaware.
- He noted the River Management Plan calls for construction of a major visitors' center at the confluence of the Mongaup, near Sparrowbush, but said NPS jurisdiction does not extend up tributaries.
- However, when paddlers leave the Mongaup and enter the Delaware, Hutzky said NPS licensing requirements could be enforced. There is no exit point near the bottom of the Mongaup River, and boaters would be required to "turn left and head toward Port Jervis."
- Hutzky stated he recently attended a meeting in Wurtsboro, where he told an O&R attorney that if the utility intends to open the river to boating "they should spend $25,000" and hire a river safety manager.
- Because the Mongaup has never been used for public navigation, ownership of the riverbed falls to the riparian landowner, -- O&R.
- According to Hutzky, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) favors recreational use of the river. Hutzky said Lumberland and Deerpark oppose recreative use in the license, citing increased ambulance calls which could result.
- In another matter, David Jones of Kittatinny Canoe Corp, reported "a major problem with an eel trap" below the #2 Bridge in Sparrowbush. "I don't know what can be done, but it's catching a lot of people," he complained.
- Although none of the 18 people at the meeting knew who owned the weir, NPS chief ranger Glenn Voss said he would attempt to find out and contact DEC, which issues permits for eel weirs.
- Reportedly, the weir in question has been structurally altered recently.
Licensing of boat-running camps - Voss said NPS sent letters to 158 commercial "group camps", notifying them they will now be required to comply with NPS licensing criteria in order to take boats on the Upper Delaware.
- Of the camps contacted, only 12 replied. A follow-up letter, will be sent to the remainder, Voss said.
- Rick Lander, co-owner of Lander's Upper Delaware Canoe Trips, objected to nonprofit camps being exempt from the requirement to carry the same type of liability coverage as commercial outfitters.
- Hutzky replied that nonprofit organizations are exempt from provisions of the concessions Law, which applies to businesses operating on the river.
- "We're getting to a point where the liveries are having a hard time competing with the camps. They're not required to have on-water liability, and the insurance companies are driving us to the wall," Lander claimed.
- Voss said 1989 will be "an educational year for the group camps." Camps found running boats on the river without licenses will receive an initial warning, but after that will be ticketed and fined, he stated.
River patrols praised - Voss and Lander acknowledged past assistance by volunteers from the National Canoe Safety Patrol (NCSP).
- "At Skinners Falls and Ten Mile River base we've worked great with you guys. I think things have worked out good between us," Lander told NCSP founder Chris Neilson.
- Voss said patrols will again offer annual canoe training for NPS seasonal rangers and camp counselors. Neilson added that an April 29-30 training weekend is open to "key people" from commercial liveries.
WNPS on the airways - Voss announced that a "traveler's information station" at Sparrowbush began broadcasting around the beginning of April, with a listening range of slightly over one mile. The message can be heard at 1610 on the AM dial.
- A pre-recorded statement advises visitors arriving in the valley of river conditions, as well as private ownership of riparian land along the Upper Delaware.
- Voss said a brown and white reflective sign advising motorists to tune to the frequency has been provided by NYS Department of Transportation, but is not yet in place.
- NPS expected a small informational sign, but instead received one 12' in length. Voss said the agency is looking for a place to position the billboard. He attributed the delay, in part, to an inability to fit the sign in any NPS trucks.
- The sign will be placed on the northbound side of Route 97, south of the Route 42 intersection.
- In other business, the safety committee: was told new warning signs will be mounted on the Skinners Falls Bridge in April; heard a report on 1989 seasonal staff deployment; discussed the opening of the NPS Zane Grey Museum in Lackawaxen, where former owner Helen Davis will continue .to volunteer time, according to Voss; noted employment openings available for safety personnel with commercial liveries; was told about NPS safety posters and an audio tape for use in livery vans; discussed a 3-5 minute safety video, to be produced by NCSP and the Upper Delaware Council; heard a report on water quality monitoring; noted NPS monitoring of livery safety requirements will be. gin earlier this season; and discussed whether it is always wise to tell canoeists to kneel in the boat when encountering rapids.
Related external links
- Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
- Under a proposal being considered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in order for existing hydroelectric facilities to be licensed, Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) may be required to time water releases to encourage canoeing and kayaking, NPS superintendent John T. Hutzky said.
Thursday, April 20, 1989, p. 7.
By TOM RUE
River safety committee discusses dangers of Mongaup