New regulations for boaters on the Current

[STL FLY]

I heard on NPR this morning that the Parks Services and enacting new regulations for boaters on the Current River banning beer bongs, kegs, and Jello shots. This would probably mean less drunks and crowds for The current begining this summer!!!!

It's about time!!!

[Phil Lilley]

Has that ever been done on any other river in MO? Is this a first? Who will enforce it?

It sounds like a great idea- a bold move- but enforcement may problems on several fronts. Plus will it redirect partiers to other rivers and make them worse?

Don't get me wrong- I'm not complaining about the new rule... just thinking through it.

[bojack]

great move but just wait till the ACLU finds out. there'll be a discrimination suit there somewhere. nothing worse than drunks on the river when you have kids with you.

[STL FLY]

Yeah, you areprobably right, enforcement could be an issue. From what I understand this is a first attempt at something like this. The pilot program will begin with the Current River and Jack's fork ( I think); apparently the prevailing attitude of the public and the powers that be is these two rivers are becoming more crowded with alcohol related incidents and diturbences. If this works, this regulation could potentially expand to changes on other public waterways and parks, or it may just go away due to a lack of funding for enforcement.

We'll wait and see....

[Gavin]

Here's a link to the Park Superintendant's directive.

http://www.nps.gov/ozar/parkmgmt/rowdiness.htm

They also ask that you bring only 6 beers per person per day, but its not a regulation. The canoe outfitters on Michigan's Au Sable enforce a similar 6 beer limit, but I'm not sure about any other rivers. Party Floaters usually get around it by stashing there extra beer downstream. Cheers.

[Forsythian]

Great, more regulations!

Next thing you know they'll outlaw public nudity.

I smell a conspiracy concocted by the dry-fly-upstream-to-rising-trout-only crowd... and Gavin's probably the ringleader.

[KATroutman13]

Didn't they ban alcohol on the Elk a few years back?

[Gavin]

You cant pin this on me, 6 beers, no jello shots...Looks like we'll have to go someplace else on the 4th of July!

[Brian Sloss]

I don't have much of a problem with the Keg regulation and so forth, but I do have a concern about the 6 beer limit and it is not because I am advocating people taking cases and cases of beer and getting as drunk as possible. It is because I am afraid the limit would lead to more cans thrown in the river and the forest. People will take all the beer they want one way or another. They will find a way if they want it. What I'm afraid of is they will be less likely to bring the evidence out with them for fear of being ticketed at the access. Therefore, they may just get rid of the evidence before they get there. Enforcement will be the key to any new rules they make, and there has been a lack of resources for enforcement in recent years. The forest service has had their budget cut a lot in recent years.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Brian Sloss makes some good points about the 6 beer limit and the lack of enforcement in general as being the real problem. I read Poe's plan on the link Gavin provided and the 6 beer limit reads as a recommendation, not a rule.

I just think all they need more presence with agents on the rivers. And the purchase of audio decibel meters seems a little strange. Don't know what those cost, but seems a little frivolous and wasteful. And did the part about any alcohol mixture containing gelatin? Yeah right, the jello is the problem, keeping that off the rivers will solve a lot.

It shouldn't be that difficult -- JUST GO AFTER THE ROWDIES - they aren't too hard to find. And they don't necessarily have kegs, bongs, or trays of jello shots. Most the time, the don't have any of those.

And they need to broaden enforcement to all the well-known hotspots: Niangua, Huzzah, Courtouis, Meramec, Elk, Jacks, 11 point, etc.