Eco Blurbs Miner Gives up Westwater Canyon Claims Floaters taking to Utah's Westwater Canyon of the Colorado River no longer need fear confrontations with a Grand Junction miner. The miner, Ron Pene, relinquished his claims along the river-left bank below an attraction known as Miner's Cabin as part of a settlement with the federal government. The Bureau of Land Management, in return, agreed to pay Pene $16, 850 (the amount Pene paid the BLM for 960 acres in 1986) and cease legal action. The settlement is pleasing to outfitters and private boaters as Pene had a camp trailer visible from the river and used heavy equipment to work what was supposed to be a "pick and shovel" claim. "We applaud the settlement 100 percent," says Tom Kleinschnitz, owner of Grand Junction's Adventure Bound, one of several Westwater outfitters. "As outfitters we're making money on public lands also, but we're using the resource in a renewable fashion. Pene wasn't playing by the rules and it finally caught up with him." Late last year, the federal government conducted an economic validity exam and determined there was not enough ore in Pene's claims to make them viable. In complying with the settlement, Pene has removed his mining equipment from the site, which the BLM intends to reclaim this fall. Tim Palmer Named 1998 River Conservationist of the Year Perception Kayaks named long-time river activist Tim Palmer as its 1998 River Conservationist of the Year. "We are proud to recognize Tim for his lifelong efforts in river conservation," says Perception President Jim Clark. "This year's field of applicants were all strong candidates but it was Tim's efforts over the past 30 years that made him shine above the rest." Palmer's work dates back to a study of Pennsylvania's Pine Creek as one of the first rivers to be considered under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. He has authored 12 books, including Lifelines: The Case for River Conservation, which has been used to aid conservation efforts all over the country. Palmer also has worked on conservation campaigns by writing brochures, press packages, guest editorials and Congressional testimonies. His conservation work includes efforts on the Columbia, Snake, Yuba, Stanislaus and Oldman rivers. As part of this award, Palmer will receive a $1,000 grant to continue the conservation effort of his choice. "Nobody else comes close to the passion, deep knowledge and superb skills that Tim displays in depicting our rivers and analyzing what we have done to them," says Kenneth Margolis, president of Portland, Ore.'s River Network. Wild and Scenic Progress In March of this year Congress designated 29 miles of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord rivers in Massachusetts to the National Wild and Scenic River System. Rich in scenic, historical and recreational values, the three rivers are among the state's most popular for recreation. The designation came about thanks to Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA), who introduced the bill, and the 10 communities along the river who sought the protection. In other Wild and Scenic progress, a bill was recently introduced in the U.S. House by Representative Cass Ballenger (R-NC) to designate North Carolina's Wilson Creek as a Federal Wild and Scenic river. The designation would include wild, scenic and recreational segments and has the support of the state's two U.S. Senators. Action is expected to take place in October. Wilson Creek is a challenging whitewater run and excellent trout stream that drains 5,964-foot Grandfather Mountain. Designation is being supported by local residents, the American Canoe Association, the Carolina Canoe Club and Trout Unlimited. Boat Registration: Just Say No Paddlers can celebrate two victories over canoe and kayak registration legislation. In what might be a first, Arizona paddlers got legislation passed that ended the state's requirement to register and number canoes, kayaks and rafts. The bill was passed over the objections of the Arizona Department of Game and Fish. In North Carolina, paddlers were able to defeat a bill that would have required canoe and kayak owners to register their boats at a fee of $25 per boat, and to place large hull numbers on them. SB 499 was introduced at the urging of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, but was withdrawn when paddlers—spearheaded by the Carolina Canoe Club, American Canoe Association and Wilderness Systems—convinced the sponsor that the bill was a bad idea. Paddlers felt the Commission would ignore the needs of paddlers and direct the money raised toward the motorboat community. Sucking Up A Wild River Some rivers get their sucking sound from suckholes or whirlpools. On Alaska's Wild & Scenic Fortymile River, the sucking sound comes from gold miners who are dredging the river bottom with giant vacuum cleaners. Adding to this destructive form of mining—allowed on a river segment classified as "wild"—this spring the Bureau of Land Management proposed long-term camps on federal lands in the "wild" corridor to support the suction dredge-mining operations. American Rivers and the American Canoe Association quickly weighed in, objecting with the threat of legal action. The groups pointed out that the BLM proposal was illegal under the National Environmental Policy and Wild and Scenic Rivers acts. Even the BLM's Environmental Assessment of the plan concluded that, "the outstandingly remarkable values for which the wild designation was made, wildlife, scenic and recreational values will suffer directly." As a result of the reaction to its proposal, the BLM has scrapped plans for this summer and is pursuing alternatives. For ACA and American Rivers, the only acceptable action is for BLM to stop suction dredging in the "wild" section of river and uphold its responsibilities under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Easley, S.C.'s Perception Inc. has partnered with Patagonia, Teva, Smith Sport Optics, Paddler magazine and the Outdoor Life Network for its inaugural Clean-it-Up Tour. Throughout the 1999 paddling season, paddlers will have the chance to participate in clinics and learn advanced freestyle maneuvers in Perception's newest playboats. The clinic is free to all attendants who accept a Clean-it-Up mesh bag and agree to always carry the bag with them to clean up trash along the nation's waterways. "The beauty of the campaign is it provides a way for river enthusiasts to have a lasting impact on the environment long after we've rolled though town with our message," says Perception Spokesperson Veronica Griner. "If every paddler were to pick up one piece of trash every time they go out on the river, our waterways would be that much cleaner. Collectively, we can make a huge difference." For a schedule of events, times and locations, visit www.kayaker.com or call (800) 59-KAYAK.
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Perception Announces Clean-it-Up Tour