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