Full river access remains controversial

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May 7, 2008

<a href="mailto:avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com">By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG</a> The Press Republican Wed May 07, 2008, 12:41 PM EDT

KEESEVILLE — Tom Dragoon will never forget the heart-wrenching 10-day search to find his son after he drowned in the Ausable River almost two years ago.

A day before his son, Mark Dragoon, celebrated his 29th birthday in June 2006, he died after his raft overturned in the rushing water.

Now, the idea of having the river fully opened to boaters has the elder Dragoon fearing for local rescue personnel, who may once again have to dive into tumultuous waters to save lives or recover a body.

DANGEROUS WATER

If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission opens the five-mile stretch beyond New York State Electric and Gas’s Rainbow Falls Dam, Dragoon said, area firefighters will be “literally exposing themselves to grave danger.”

“My main concern on the whole thing is what they’re going to do to protect the firefighters who have to scale the Ausable Chasm to save people and pull people from the river.”

It’s not just the potential safety hazards that have him opposing the action; it’s also the lack of financial support for the volunteer rescue crews.

“For the federal government to come in and open it up and not provide any funding for (emergency responders) who have to go in and pull bodies out of there isn’t right,” Dragoon said. “Who’s going to cover the cost of the recovery efforts?”

Dragoon said he understands where access supporters “are coming from, in the sense that they should have access to any water that’s under the control of the federal government,” but he feels there are no controls or accountability for people who venture into the closed waters.

“Those are Class 3 and Class 4 rapids, and the rescuers will have to scale the cliffs and go into those rapids. The inherent dangers of Adirondack rivers have proven themselves time and time again, and (opening the river) is not in the interest of the North Country.”

SAFETY RISK

Keeseville Fire Chief Lenny Martin said the department began its swift-water rescue program almost four years ago, in case the river was ever fully opened to kayakers.

The program has since evolved, and now about 20 volunteers are trained at various levels of swift-water rescue.

Though many paddlers will be trained, Martin said, others will not be prepared for the fast-moving currents, and he thinks it’s “going to get a lot of people in trouble. They’re going to kayak out of their experience, and that’s what we’re worried about.

“It’s going to be dangerous if we have to go in for a rescue or recovery. Anytime you put a volunteer in the water, you always have the chance of something happening,” Martin said. “And it’s going to be a financial burden on the department.”

Nancy Rigg, the executive director of Higgins and Langley Memorial and Education Fund, which focuses on swift-water rescue and recovery, said emergency responders have a 400-percent higher probability of being injured or killed during a swift-water rescue than while battling structure fires.

She suggests officials prepare a thorough response plan before any action is taken and wonders whether the local government could charge an access fee, for anyone who enters the water, to help fund any training and rescue efforts.

EXPERIENCE NEEDED

But avid paddlers say there should be personal accountability for everyone who ventures into the water and that there’s no type of governing body that oversees any open river.

“It’s not an uncommon concern, and I can see why people would want that, but that’s not how recreation is run in our country,” said Kevin Colburn, the national stewardship director for American Whitewater, which has strongly advocated for the river to be fully open from the dam to the mouth of Lake Champlain.

“There’s no governing safety body that tests what trails are safe to hike, what rivers are OK to float and what cliffs are safe to scale. If you do, you’re essential saying the river is safe for some people and not for others.

“People need to take care of themselves and never put themselves at undue risk.”

He said everyone who ventures into the rapids should have the proper training and equipment to ensure their safety during the trip.

“This is a Class 4 river, and it requires significant experience, skill level, appropriate equipment and a strong team to handle it,” Colburn said. “A member of the public shouldn’t paddle it before they get the proper experience and equipment.”

He said paddler safety is a big concern of everyone involved in the project. Educational material and signs at the top of the river will tell people “this is a very challenging river and is only appropriate for people of skill and with the necessary equipment.”

CORRECTING A WRONG

Colburn said opening that section of the river will correct a closure that should have never happened.

“It was inconsistent with federal regulation to begin.”

Colburn, who paddled that section of the river during the flow study two years ago, expects a decision to be made on the project within the next few weeks. A study showed it would not have an environmental impact on the area.

If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission opts to open the river, Colburn plans to request that paddlers have interim access to the river before the long-term planning, like restrooms and parking, is finalized.

“I’m just looking forward to working through the final details and having people enjoy the river again. It’s such a great paddling experience,” said Colburn, who pointed out the financial boost the extra tourism will have on the area.

“I always try to hold back my enthusiasm until the first boat is in the water, but I’m really excited.”

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com