River Patrol

[Wayne SW/MO]

Yea, I'm with Cricket, law enforcement has been doing this for many years and the kind of behavior shown in these videos has only gotten worse. I'm not quite sure what the solution is but this hasn't worked. There are long segments of the best streams in the Ozarks that are not compatible with angling recreation. I think of it as blacked out sections on a stream map that says "Don't Go here", what a shame.

For the Niangua it goes back to a total lack of doing your job, AKA the department of natural resources. In the early 80's when it was obvious the the Niangua was losing its natural attraction and the environment was being trampled by an ever increasing number of canoes being put on the river, they jumped on the bandwagon and started renting them to. It's amazing that you can still tell what brand of beer can is on the bottom in many areas.

No get me started on a department that's a total failure.

[bigredbirdfan]

Its really awesome that they don't even care to give them a litter bag to go along with a ticket which tells me it's not about the litter.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Its really awesome that they don't even care to give them a litter bag to go along with a ticket which tells me it's not about the litter.

I believe in Arkansas you can get a ticket for not having litter bag that is secure and can be closed. If I remember right.

[Al Agnew]

It's really just an extension of the widespread attitude that anything goes on these rivers. In different ways it's an attitude shared by the hooligan visitors, the local people, the landowners, and the government, it's just that they have different definitions of "anything goes". These rivers are being used to death. (I don't say "loved to death" as some do, because very few of the people using them actually love the rivers--if they did, they wouldn't do the things they do.) But mention limiting the use of the rivers in any fashion and you'll be in danger of being shot by somebody. The canoe rentals want to rent as many canoes and other craft as possible to make more money. The jet boaters don't want any restrictions on their use. The local businesses don't want any restrictions on ANYBODY using the rivers because it might mean less business for them. The landowners don't want any restrictions whatsoever on how they use their land along the river. The hooligan visitors want to do whatever they wish "out there in the middle of nowhere". Of course, all of those groups would like to see restrictions on somebody else, just not them. Heck, I'm as guilty as everybody else, because I don't want anybody to tell me when or how I can float these rivers. Of course, I can at least argue that I don't litter or do anything else that harms the resource and I try not to have any kind of impact on other river users.

[oneshot]

It's really just an extension of the widespread attitude that anything goes on these rivers. In different ways it's an attitude shared by the hooligan visitors, the local people, the landowners, and the government, it's just that they have different definitions of "anything goes". These rivers are being used to death. (I don't say "loved to death" as some do, because very few of the people using them actually love the rivers--if they did, they wouldn't do the things they do.) But mention limiting the use of the rivers in any fashion and you'll be in danger of being shot by somebody. The canoe rentals want to rent as many canoes and other craft as possible to make more money. The jet boaters don't want any restrictions on their use. The local businesses don't want any restrictions on ANYBODY using the rivers because it might mean less business for them. The landowners don't want any restrictions whatsoever on how they use their land along the river. The hooligan visitors want to do whatever they wish "out there in the middle of nowhere". Of course, all of those groups would like to see restrictions on somebody else, just not them. Heck, I'm as guilty as everybody else, because I don't want anybody to tell me when or how I can float these rivers. Of course, I can at least argue that I don't litter or do anything else that harms the resource and I try not to have any kind of impact on other river users.

Can't agree more I've seen so many changes over the years on the Niangua and Lead Mine CA most not for the best most Outfitters wanting to grow some getting so Big they will cut their fellow Outfitters Throat in a Heart beat some of them use to be best of friends.

But my son just bought a bunch of Rafts this year to put on the Niangua and I can't help but Pray for the best for him.

oneshot