Ozark National Scenicway General Managment Plan

[lukem]

Sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere but I did a quick search and nothing came up. I assume many here have seen this and I'm just starting to read through it to digest it. My main concern off the top is the possible limitations on gravel bar camping. I don't know yet what they are but it looks like it will be limited to designated areas.

If this is being discussed elsewhere, please feel free to direct to that thread but I thought some discussion would be good for various insights.

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=158&projectId=15793

[Guest]

deleted.

[Gavin]

Siusaluki is correct. Gravel bar camping for float campers will not be restricted. They said so on the ONSR facebook page...The restriction applies to areas that can be accessed by vehicles...A good example is the Sinking Creek campground, just upstream from Hwy 19 & Round Spring. Folks used to drive in and park travel trailers & pickup trucks all over that gravel bar. That kind of camping wont be allowed anymore.

[lukem]

Thanks for posting. I hadn't read all the details but just the summary and the table outlining what activities would be allowed where which is confusing because it makes it look like camping on gravel bars won't be allowed in "primitive" or "natural" areas (page 49). It also states that gravel bar camping is allowed only in designated areas so that is why I was confused. But then in chapter 2, it says primitive camping is allowed but only accessibly by boat or foot for Alt A (pg 64). Alt B only states that primitive sites would continue to be provided but doesn't specifically mention watercraft or foot (pg 70).

If it holds to be true that fishing and canoe camping will continue to be allowed as it currently is, the only real restrictions that have impacts are to the users that vehicle camp, use horses or run jet boats. I'm also a little concerned about the wilderness designation but that is off topic I assume for a fishing forum.

[Al Agnew]

Yes, the gravel bar camping was hashed out soon after the draft management plan became public, and it was confirmed by the riverways head that it doesn't apply to "primitive camping". The operative part of the plan is on page 40:

Factor 3: Provide Desirable Visitor Experiences and Services

All three action alternatives would share the following actions:

(Scroll down toward the bottom of the list.)

Restrict gravel bar camping to designated campsites only--EXCEPT FOR PRIMITIVE CAMPING (capital letters are mine for emphasis)

[ColdWaterFshr]

Anyone get the notice about the rescheduled dates for the meetings?

I found interesting the location of the meetings:

Meetings Now Rescheduled. Recent bad weather resulted in cancellation of previously planned meetings, first those in December, and then the most recent meetings scheduled this week. Yesterday NPS officials announced their new dates and added one additional meeting for Eminence. Here is the lineup:

Eminence--Thursday, January 16, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Draft GMP Open House

Eminence High School New Gym

505 South Sixth Street, Eminence, MO 65466

Salem--Friday, January 17, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Draft GMP Open House

City Hall Auditorium

202 North Washington, Salem, MO 65560

Van Buren--Tuesday, January 21, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Draft GMP Open House

8:00 – 9:00 p.m. Wilderness Hearing

Youth & Community Center

Intersection of Business 60 & D Highway, Van Buren, MO 63965

St. Louis--Wednesday, January 22, 2014

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Draft GMP Open House

8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Wilderness Hearing

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center

11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122

_______________________________________

3 towns opinions against 1. Where is the citizens of Springfield, KCMO, and Jeff City's voice?

[awhuber]

Where were the hearings in Salem KCMO and Jeff when they were having them for the arch?

[SpoonDog]

I'm bummed there's no meetings planned for the other urban areas- then again I'm not surprised. I just hope folks get out and make the one event in Kirkwood standing room only. I'd really like to see TU, Ozark Flyfishers, Smallmouth Alliance, the local shops and other conservation-minded folks in the area do what they can to try and fill some seats.

[ness]

Where were the hearings in Salem KCMO and Jeff when they were having them for the arch?

Ha!

[tanvat]

awhuber; c'mon, you're not serious are you? The Arch grounds are less than 100 acres in downtown St. Louis. The Riverways encompass 134 miles of the best Ozark rivers and over 80,000 acres of relatively unscathed landscape. While lots of people visit the Arch, no one does so under the illusion that the Arch is some world-class outdoor experience. Its cool to visit for a couple of hours before a baseball game or as a novel stop while on your way somewhere else, but the Arch is not the ONSR. Total false equivalency. And my guess is that you don't have so keen of an interest in the Arch grounds that you wish that there were hearings in Salem. If you do, then I stand corrected and admire your passion for the Arch grounds.

This is not directed at any poster on this board and please don't take it that way, at least until you start advocating for more powerboating on the ONSR. Looking at the public comments and the idiotic ramblings of local politicians, it is flat out sad that the management and future of our last best places is so heavily influenced by demontrably false assertions, illogic and hyperbole. The tradition of jon-boating is equated with jetboats or "motorized vessels" flying around with efficient, modern, high powered motors. Huh? There is a hopeless irony in listening to "locals" get riled up about traditions that never even existed while overlooking the real tradition of floating and fishing the rivers in relative tranquilty. Or the dreaded "lockout" or denial of acess that will turn the ONSR into an "environmentalists park." I am not sure what an "environmentalist park" is, and I'm sure the cacklers don't know either, but it surely does not include a place like ONSR where even under Alterative A you could drive to the river every 8 miles or less, take an easy class I, flatwater paddle, or walk in from innumerable legal roads that are never far from the river. NO ONE is "locked out," period; unless you count those too lazy to rise from their butts, pull up their real and proverbial bootstraps, and go. Or, it'll somehow ruin the local economy if the predominately local jetboaters can't continue to have the run of the river while out-of-towners take less frequent trips to drop money in the local economy; or just stay away. It is sad and flat out wrong that this decision and many other like it are made by people who may yet think the world is flat because it is repeated loudly and often and, by golly, that is just the way it is and that is that.