Council takes on river permit issue

Sisters is a ways away from the Deschutes River, but a controversy over access to the river came to town at the city council meeting Thursday, September 25.

The president of Sun Country Tours presented a resolution before the Sisters City Council which demands the public have open access to the Lower Deschutes River.

Dennis Oliphant asked the city council to join the cities of Maupin, Madras and The Dalles in signing a resolution which states, "It is hereby resolved the Bureau of Land Management shall not implement any system that will limit the public's right to access the Lower Deschutes River without an environmental or social conflict documented that doing so will solve and only then as a last resort."

Mayor David Elliott told Oliphant the city would carefully consider his request and give him an answer at a later date.

The resolution opposes plans by the Federal Bureau of Land Management to implement a permit system which would limit public access to rafting and recreational activities on the river between the Warm Springs Reservation and the river's mouth at the Columbia River.

If the permit system is implemented, it would only be in effect on 10 peak-use days of the year, according to a report from Oliphant. The plan would displace a total of 3,220 boaters or 2.2 percent in 2003, according to the report.

Oliphant said the permit system is extremely strict and requires advance notice up to six months in some circumstances.

Councilor John Rahm pointed out the permit system could also penalize no-show appointments by the loss of access to the river for up to two years.

He said such a penalty could hurt boaters who are scheduled on a rainy day.

Jeff Perin, owner of The Fly Fisher's Place in Sisters, told the city council the limited entry system on the river could seriously deter his business.

"I've owned the fly fishing shop for 12 years and I employ four guides in the summers," Perin said. "They come back and say they are only one of two to three boats on the water. In the early '90s, there were a lot of problems with drinking and partying on the river in Maupin so that lead to this permit system, but it has been cleaned up and there is no reason to regulate 100 miles of river for such a short space."

The Mayor of Maupin, Dennis Ross, told the council that those who sign the resolution express their intention to achieve the goals of the Federal Bureau's Lower Deschutes River Management Plan without implementing major restrictions.

"We have improved social conditions around the river and improved riparian habitat. We feel the objective of the plan has been met," Ross said.