In January 2001, American Whitewater Regional Coordinator Mike Bean alerted El Dorado County officials that boaters are strongly concerned about the spectre of reduced access opportunities on the South Fork American. Access is being reduced through passive controls and agreements, which allow commercial access but limit or deny the public’s ability to get to and from the river.
{Mailed January 17, 2001}
Craven Alcott, El Dorado Parks and Recreation Manager
3000 Fairlane Court, Suite 1
Placerville, CA 95667
530/621-5864 or 621-5598
Dear Ms. Alcott,
In the summer of 1999, the Special Use Permit (SUP) for American River Resort (ARR) was amended on a trial basis to permit South Bay and American Whitewater Expeditions commercial access to the South Fork American River. First, I have reservations about promoting a large number of commercial rafts to park in the eddies at the bottom of Troublemaker, a technical class III+ rapid known for swimmers. Ideally these eddies should be kept empty to allow rescue of swimmers and recovery of gear before being carried into a number of rocks in the middle of the river channel just below the two eddies used by the new commercial take-out. A much safer location for the commercial take-out would be a hundred yards upstream of the rapid on river left. It is also my understanding that no new commercial put-ins or take-outs were allowed under the County’s 1984 River Management Plan. If this is true, then why was the River Management Plan ignored in this case?
Second, a clause was added to the ARR SUP prohibiting private boater day use. For a number of years, private kayakers have paid to use ARR as an early take-out for the upper (Chili Bar) run. The take-out was especially useful in winter when the days are shorter. Some residents have complained about the number of boaters in the quiet zone and the nuisance caused by kayakers taking out at the Highway 49 bridge. Allowing kayakers to take-out before the 49 bridge minimizes both of these impacts. The impacts of kayakers using ARR as a take-out are minimal especially in the winter months. I remember just a few years ago when Coloma Resort welcomed kayakers to their facilities as a day use take-out. I was recently told their SUP prevents boater day use as well. I’m confused by what appears to be a move by the County to restrict public access to the river while increasing commercial access. It would be one thing if the owners of these permitted properties did not want the day use business, from my experience, they welcome the extra cash as do other local business that rely on private boaters.
So for these two reasons, I must suggest that you consider retracting the changes to the ARR SUP and allow take-outs at ARR by private boaters especially in winter and early spring. I would also ask that you consider changing the SUP for Coloma Resort to allow take-outs by private boaters.
Michael Bean
American Whitewater Regional Coordinator, Gold Country Paddlers River Access Committee
1310 Scott Road
PO Box 364
Coloma, CA 95613
530.295.1286