Is Colorado's Rafting Industry Harming Property Values?
The future of the whitewater rafting industry in Colorado remains murky, despite the passage of a bill that seeks to preserve the rights of rafters and boaters to float rivers through private lands.
The Denver Post notes that House Bill 1188---the "River Outfitters Navigation Bill"---has been watered down so the issue can be studied by the Colorado Water Congress, a private group of lawyers and others who may lean toward granting landowners the right to decide who may float down rivers that cut through their properties.
Property-rights advocates say allowing rafters access to rivers along private property---thereby allowing them to come ashore to avoid obstacles---will lead to more trash and reduced property values, but proponents of the original bill say it's necessary to preserve the Colorado rafting industry.
The Durango Herald writes that the issue is in dire need of clarification: The state constitution hold that rivers and streams belong to the public, but a 1979 state Supreme Court case found a man guilty of trespassing for walking on a riverbed along private property. The original House bill would have granted floating rights only to commercial rafting companies, but over time that provision was removed.
Democratic state Senator Chris Romer is opposed to sending the bill to the water congress, saying the legislature is just trying to dodge a tough decision. "We're getting balls thrown at us and instead of standing up and playing ball, we're ducking," he says (listen via KRCC radio). "We're playing dodgeball."Comments
Submitted by Jan2010 (not verified) on Tue, 2010-03-23 15:40.
Did you know that many of the outfitters support the Grand CAnyon Conservation Fund? Arizona River Runners is one of fourteen outfitters participating in the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund. River rafting guests who donate just $1 per day of their trip help to provide grants for conservation groups, as well as groups working to provide outdoor experiences for those with physical or socioeconomic challenges. Organizations like the Grand Canyon Trust are working hard to protect the canyon and its natural beauty, while other groups like River of Dreams help provide river trip scholarship assistance to the disabled. Managed by volunteers for over 20 years, the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund makes sure that 100 percent of donations go directly to protecting the canyon and providing opportunity to spread environmental awareness and community involvement.
In past years, the involved river outfitters have raised over $90,000 in donations. These funds have all been distributed to other non-profit organizations in the form of grants. A lot of care and attention goes into choosing the groups to receive these funds, which are always those that will effectively and efficiently make use of the money given to them. Each individual grant generally ranges anywhere from $5,000- $20,000.
Arizona River Runners is working hard with other outfitters to continue to spread awareness and education through non-profit public interest groups. Anyone can help make a difference, and all donations are fully tax deductible as charitable giving. Each person to donate as little as $1 is helping to preserve one of the world’s natural wonders and is giving people an opportunity to experience that which they might otherwise never be able to.
Please visit http://gcroa.org/Pages/gccfund.htm for more information or to make a donation.
