During the past year American Whitewater continued our efforts to increase paddling access to Ohiopyle Falls. After several meetings with key people at Ohiopyle State Park and the Pennsylvania DCNR we are making some progress. Unfortunately, nothing is happening as fast as we might have hoped.
We initially proposed that the Falls be opened up outright. After this was rejected, we created a pilot program, which would open the Falls on days and times designated by new park management. This proposal was then taken to upper-level state park management in Harrisburg, where several questions arose. American Whitewater, in our Falls Access Letter, emphasized the importance of leaving the decision to run the Falls to the individual paddler. We specifically rejected the idea of "certifying" paddlers to do this.
Although the DCNR rejected our proposal they did offer additional days when we could run the Falls under a Special Activities Agreement. Based on this and our additional proposal we will offer two clinics titled "How to Run a Waterfall" in addition to the Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival on August 26, 2006. We may also run a clinic during the Falls Fest. We are working to schedule clinic dates and are seeking sponsorship from outfitters and manufacturers. All participants in the Falls Festival and Falls Clinics will be entered in a database. Based on our proposal these participants should then be allowed to run the falls in a non-structured way at specified times in the future. DCNR personnel have commented positively on this "database" idea and will make a final decision on this after the clinics. We anticipate and hope for a positive decision. Because of this we expect all levels of paddlers to participate in these clinics.
We all know that running waterfalls of similar height and difficulty is a mainstream activity for 21st century whitewater paddlers. Even after thousands of runs though, the perception among decision makers remains that Ohiopyle Falls may pose some unacceptable risk. While the current plan to increase access is very cautious, it is the only option on the table, and we have agreed to proceed in this manner.
This is another small step toward our ultimate goal of opening up the Falls to responsible public use. Your participation in the above events is a way of showing Park Management that falls running is not a stunt, but rather, is a challenging component of whitewater sport as a whole.
We can assure you we continue to pursue our ultimate goal of unlimited access and have developed a set of action plans that we hope will speed the process up. Check www.FallsRace.com for updates.
Thank you,
The Ohiopyle Falls Access Committee
Barry Tuscano – Charlie Walbridge – Barry Adams – John Lichter – Kevin Colburn
If you would like to read the various proposal and papers presented to the DCNR check the links below.
Ohiopyle Falls Paddling Pilot Program Operating Rules September 2005
Ohiopyle Falls Questionnaire and Assumption of Risk November 2005
Ohiopyle Falls Access – Revised Proposal and Discussion Paper April 2006
American Whitewater Ohiopyle Falls Access September 2005
Addition Proposal Regarding Ohiopyle Falls Access September 2005
