River festival set for rodeo grounds

River scenes and whitewater and workshops covering a variety of issues that affect Pacific Northwest boaters headline the Northwest Rafters Association's Fall Festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, at the Sisters Rodeo Grounds.

The festival kicks off with an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 8:45 a.m. offered by the NWRA Bend Chapter for $5.

The workshops begin with a presentation by Larry Olson, photographer and driving force behind "Oregon Rivers"- a coffee table collection of photographs.

Olson offers a slide show honoring the 56 river segments in Oregon that are included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

John Daniels, journalist and poet, and author of the book's essays, will read excerpts from the book.

The day ends with slides of seldom-seen and floated whitewater in Canada -the Dean and Stein rivers- by Franz Helfenstein, a Bend, Oregon, expedition boater.

River Queen Cuisine will cater lunch and dinner.

Interspersed among the slide shows will be presentations by the NWRA's River Issue Committee on River Politics, the Oregon High Desert Association and their activities this past year, river manager reports on the Deschutes, John Day and Metolius rivers, a history of the Deschutes River's geology, knot-tying demonstration by Val Shaull, an introduction to Wild Wilderness, social hour, dinner awards and a Metolius River trip.

Bob Reynolds, a geology instructor at Central Oregon Community College, will give a slide presentation on the geology of the Deschutes River following lunch.

Scott Silver, a wilderness advocate and founder of Wild Wilderness, will give a presentation on the activities of his organization, including wilderness fee demonstration projects.

A photo contest will take place during the morning, with photographs entered by 9:30 a.m. and judging taking place during the lunch hour. The results will be announced at the close of the workshops. First prize is $100, second prize is $60 and third prize is $40. All photos must be submitted by the photographer, be 8x10 or larger - mounted, unmatted or framed and with an accompanying photo - or 4x6 submitted for publication in the newsletter.

The photograph should have accompanying editorial material describing the scene, identifying the river and the individuals, the month and year it was taken and other pertinent information. Photos submitted for newsletter publication will not be returned. The weekend's activities close with a float down the Metolius River.