Current River Below Montauk Shut Down?

[jgentile]

Akers is state Hwy K, Cedar Grove is Co Rd 650/651, Parkers is Co Rd 652, Baptist is Co Rd 653 (Does the forest service control that access?), Tan Vat is off Co Rd 644. As I stated previously I’m having a hard time understanding this even though I understand the Current is a part of the ONSR. Is this just a power play of some sort? I guess the NPS which controls the ONSR is saying the river is theirs and they are patrolling it now that they are “off work”. Oddly if I were checked now on the Current it would be the first time since about 15 years ago. I wish they would enforce regs that much when they are “on work”. Not trying to be a smart guy there, just saying I like reg enforcement and wish I saw more of it. Anyone have the official documented word on closure? Of course the NPS - ONSR web site is down.

I have fished the upper Current the past two week. I have seen plenty of anglers and no one from the NPS. Zero... I would hate to run into one as they are the last people I or anyone else would think to be "essential" personnel.

And I too am with Muddler4. I have never seen an enforcement officer around to deal with the G#*&^!!$!!! poachers. It would be ironic to see one this week.

[moguy1973]

If I received a ticket for accessing public property I would be sending it to my local federal representative or senator and they'd be flipping the bill. Since they are still getting paid and all. I'm still paying my taxes to utilize that access. They didn't stop taking those did they?

[Gavin]

I know plenty of folks who have been down...The aren't arresting anyone unless its for something else.

[Phil Lilley]

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/11/4547503/boaters-can-float-on-ozark-national.html

Darrell is out of pocket this morning but he sent me this link.

Still looking for something online about the guys ticketed for accessing the river.

[Muddler4]

Thanks Phil, some copy and paste from the article.

“people can float on rivers through federal parks but they must stay off federal park land, including gravel bars in the rivers.”

“Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration is working on a proposal that could allow national parks to reopen in Missouri with help from the state.”

“Work on the proposal comes after President Barack Obama’s administration said it would allow parks to reopen if states are willing to pay the costs.”

I could go on any number of rants here but to keep this short I’ll just propose that the State Of Missouri officially allocates, and submits $00.00 to the NPS and let us use our river. It’s not like someone has to be paid to open the facilities or turn the river water on.

Also, what emergency services would the NPS normally have in place on the upper Current? Anyone have their number on speed dial? Their web site is.....oh never mind . I know the good people at the NPS aren't calling the shots. Probably as frustrating to them as us.

[Al Agnew]

Actually I don't think anybody is calling the shots. It's pretty easy to figure out how and WHY to close a park like Yellowstone, with obvious boundaries, gated roads, and specific entry points with kiosks. And with 460 miles of roads and well over 2 million acres, it takes a lot of rangers to adequate patrol Yellowstone, and plenty of ways for people to really do damage to the resources if they have no fear of a ranger catching them.

But the Riverways is obviously different. Lots of informal access points and points that are not owned by the Park Service or Forest Service. No gates on a lot of the access points. The land around the Riverways IS owned by the federal government, but it would still seem that the Missouri water "law" should apply as to the use of gravel bars. I suspect that the guidelines are either vague or non-existent for what the Riverways supervisor should and shouldn't do in the case of a government shut-down, because a lot of the existing guidelines, which you can find in print if you dig deep enough (I've seen them), just don't fit the situation with the Riverways, or the Buffalo National River. So I suspect the supervisor is flying by the seat of his pants on this one and not getting clear instructions from higher ups that don't have a clue as to the situation, and that's why we keep getting conflicting reports on what's open and what's not. They're probably just all hoping the shut-down ends soon so they don't have to keep making these decisions.

I can completely understand closing campgrounds and highly developed accesses, where there is a need for lots of services from patrolling for partiers to trash pick-up. At the same time, I can see no reason for closing or attempting to close an access that consists of a parking lot and a path to the river...even if it has a restroom, just lock the restroom door. As for the state taking over...it occurs to me that the local residents and businesses could ask for volunteers to pick up trash, send the sheriff's department people to the accesses occasionally to look for vandalism and littering and rowdy behavior, and thus keep the accesses open at least. And not allowing the canoe outfitters to put people on the river would simply be ridiculous as long as the accesses remained open.

[Phil Lilley]

Thanks Al. You nailed it.

[Idylwilde]

As I have Seen an heard second hand is that the federal Rangers are still on patrol of the River Ways. It is the biggest land mass in the Federal park system and they are not many of to patrol it all. But I saw three rangers in the upper sections of the Blue Ribbon Area last week. Note: That was the most I have seen all year: Also the story about the two locals being arrested came from a reliable source to me, from another local from Salem. The were ask to leave and told the ranger to make them, so they were made.

If you read their rules that they released you can see that no fishing would be allowed. It states you can float through the park BUT do not step foot on land or gravel bar belonging to the River Ways. Now how can you get to the water without doing that or leave the water for that matter? I understand where everyone is coming from on this but as Phil and others discussed yesterday I don't want to be the next person they make an example of. Guy's This too shall pass. I tend to look at like the fishing pressure has been lifted for that area for a few weeks and will be even better when it opens back up. I would love to be there today fishing BUT till I see proof of it being legal I will not break the law. But I can not tell anyone not to do what they want to do.

As to the chances of being caught it's like the others that break the law in the blue ribbon zone face every time they break it. Or buying a winning lotto ticket, you know it's a risk and should be prepared to face up if you get caught. It has cost the whole river ways business a lot of money and like you we have no control over it. All I can say is Go Vote!

[Idylwilde]

A link to all is known about the shut down by anyone. http://www.doi.gov/shutdown/index.cfm

And! http://www.doi.gov/shutdown/fy2014/upload/NPS-Closure-Determination-and-Notice.pdf

[awhuber]

Had great float today! 7 boats out of Baptist to Cedar. Had the County Commissioners from Dent and Shannon with us.

This event was written about in the Salem News.

Dont let the feds keep you out!

The road to Baptist is a Dent county road, we cost shared with the park service to pave it.

The Road to Parker is a county maintained road, as well.

The road to Cedar is a county road also.

I saw lots of fish today and only 1 fisherman.

A small group of folks on horse back.