Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1982)
SPILYAY TYMOO OCTOBER 11, 1982 PAGE 3 Deschutes River’s life at stake by Marsha Shewczyk The Deschutes River once flowed untamed and unspoiled through rugged canyons, past the 43 miles of reservation land on to the Columbia River. Not many people contemplated riding its rapids. In the quest for adventure md excitement and as a way to ¡scape the environs of the city, great, numbers of people now flock to the Deschutes River. For a few hours, nature is at its best as river rafters enjoy the jagged rock wails bordering the river. Instead of the constant hum of automobile traffic and industrial noise the serenity of the Deschutes River is relaxing. The beauty is breathtaking. At least it used to be. Today there are problems. It is no longer a handful of a d v e n tu r e r s w ho see k recreation on the Deschutes River. The numbers have increased to thousands. Thé Deschutes River as a natural resource can give only so much before it begins to suffer. Only so many trees along the river can be cut for firewood, only so much litter can be deposited, only so much trampling of vegetation can occur before the Deschutes fails to provide beauty and continue to be a resource. Representing the interests of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs the Warm Springs Recreation Committee s highly concerned with the heavy use of the Deschutes River. Spawning grounds along with cultrual areas may be affected. Through pressure, the Tribe has permitted rafting with the concession that power boats not be permitted over the section of the river owned by the Tribe. There reihains the question of whether or not this concession is a forfeiture of rights. The issuance of river permits along with a list of river rules and regulations for a user fee is an attempt to monitor the river. This, however does not limit the number of users on the river. Money generated from the pass system is distributed by the State Parks Admiistration tn provide for law enforcement services, river recreation fishing. Kah-Nee-Ta is looking information and education, into sharing some of the maintaining facilities along the revenue. river and for “enhancement K a h -N e e -T a g e n e r a l and protection of the natural manager Garland Brunoe is and scenic beauty of the studying the feasibility of D eschutes R iver Scenic offering raft trips at the Waterway...” as the law states. suggestion of Kah-Nee-Ta’s The regulations to be board of directors. It is only observed specify provisions for with a resolution from Tribal campfires, litter and pollution, Council that the trips will be tree c u ttin g , co llec tin g offered. souvenirs and relics, trespass Contrarily, the Recreation and campsites. Committee feels that increasing In reference to reservation revenue for a single enterprise land the regulations state, “The does not, justify increased use Confederated Tribes of the and depletion of the river’s Warm Springs Reservation of resources. The aesthetics and Oregon have closed all fisheries are more important. reservation lands to public use Public meetings are being except by permit.” planned for discussion of the Even with the rules outlined Deschutes River. A meeting for boaters and fishermen, between the Bureau of Land “The fee system leaves a lot to Management, the Tribe, the be d e s ire d ,” com m ents State Police and the Scenic R e c r e a t i o n C o m m itte e W aterw ay co m m ittee is chairman Louis Pitt, Jr. scheduled for October 22 in “The tribe is an unofficial The Dalles to discuss studies participant in the fee system. made on the river throughout We didn’t endorse it,” adds the summer. Pitt. Oregonians and out of Waiting to see just how much state traverlers are invited to the river can take seems to be NO TRESPASSING— Reservation land is off-limits to river enjoy the wonders of the an inadequate approach to users. That fact is stated in the regulations regarding river usage Deschutes River in the Oregon preserving the Deschutes River accompanying river passes. Signs are also posted liberally along Scenic Waterways program for future generations. By the the river's edge. But even with these,trespass on reservation land is voted upon by Oregonians. time the effects are seen, it common. Trespassers often claim ignorance to the fact that the The Oregon State Police might be too late. land is Indian owned and off-limits. cadets and the Warm Springs police patrol the river issuing c ita tio n s if n e c e s s a ry . According to Bureau of Land Management area manager Zeek Ziegler, 74 citations were issued in the first two weeks of August. The citations were issued for illegal campfires, angling in the wrong places, no life preserver on the raft, mutiliating game and fish and undersize trout. These citiations are representative of those issued throughout the summer. When is comes to trespass on Indian land, oftentimes the case is thrown out of court. According to Warm Springs police chief Jeff Sanders, “We lose because of the wording. We have to show intent.” Even with many no trespassing signs lining the reservation side of the riv er “ n o t enough information is given” for the people to know they are breaking the law, Sanders says. CAMPFIRE CAUSED— This fire near Trout Creek started with a campfire. River users must The rafting business on the follow regulations concerning fires and use o f areas bordering the river. Increased use produces a Deschutes River is definitely hither possibility o f damage to the river and adjoining land. Spilyay Tymoo photos by Shewczyk lucrative with so many people interested in rafting and
