Whitewater activists protest state decision
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By Susan Smallheer STAFF WRITER - Published: September 19, 2009
JAMAICA – A group of whitewater enthusiasts, outdoor organizations and recreational companies are protesting a joint decision by the Agency of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to limit next weekend's water release from the Ball Mountain flood control dam to only one day.
The group, Friends of the West River, has collected more than 1,000 signatures from whitewater fans as far away as Colorado, protesting the cutbacks in the releases, which create premium whitewater conditions on the West River, if only for a day or so.
According to the president of the group, Charles Still of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., they plan to give the petition to Gov. James Douglas today, with copies to area legislators.
Still claimed that reducing the fall release to one day cost the Jamaica economy about $150,000, based on a 2005 economic survey. The study said the town and region enjoyed a $440,000 impact over a two-day weekend.
He said that usually there are about 2,000 paddlers drawn to the Jamaica location for the weekend, and he predicted about half that amount will show up next Saturday.
Still, who works in Bennington, said the West River was one of the prime whitewater rivers in New England. At one time, it hosted the U.S. Olympic trials for whitewater sports.
Other groups joining Friends of the West River are the Appalachian Mountain Club, American White Water, New England FLOW and other individuals, Still said.
This spring, the state and the corps announced that it was moving up the spring release by about four weeks, in order to protect the migrating salmon smolt. The early April date infuriated the whitewater paddlers, who said they strongly preferred the traditional late April release.
The traditional late September release has been cut back to just one day, Sept. 26, instead of the traditional two-day event.
Phillip Morrison, U.S. Army Corps ranger at Ball Mountain, said the cutback was really the decision of the Agency of Natural Resources, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Morrison said protecting fish and their habitat, coupled with very low stream flows this September, had dictated the one-day decision.
Morrison said the corps closely monitors the flow of the West River and the pond behind the Ball Mountain dam, and the release coincided with the corps' need to draw down the pond to winter levels.
Morrison said the decision came down to protecting fish and their habitat.
"It's because of the fish; and the fish are winning," he said.
Morrison said he was skeptical that the economic impact was as great as the group claimed.
Kayakers and canoeists aren't big spenders or partiers, he said. It is true some local community organizations hold suppers and other events to raise money, he said.
Still said the corps held a special whitewater release in July, which he said created "fantastic" conditions on the river, but he said there was only a two-day notice and not many people made it to Jamaica as a result.
Sabina Haskell, deputy commissioner for the Agency of Natural Resources, said she was unable to reach the state's experts on the issue Friday and declined further comment.
susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com
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