WALHALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA - A proposed rule change for people who boat the Chattooga River would manage the number of private paddlers on the river and set up a system for reservations. <br>
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The U.S. Forest Service has opened a three-week public comment period for the amendment to the Chattooga's management plan. The revision affects both commercial and private recreational boating on the river, which forms the northern part of the border between Georgia and South Carolina. <br>
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``There will be no public meetings,'' said Mike Crane, a Forest Service ranger based in Mountain Rest, S.C. ``What we are looking for is being sure we have addressed the issues. Is there something we haven't thought of before?'' <br>
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The Forest Service has received about 200 written comments since the amendment was first proposed in July. The service favors managing the level of self-guided boaters and establishing a procedure for future enforcement of use through a reservations system. <br>
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``Now, there is no reservation system for private paddlers,'' said Jack Wise, general manager of Wildwater Limited in Oconee County. Private paddlers are required to travel in groups of two and sign in at entry points to the river before beginning their trips. <br>
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The proposed amendment also would change the definition of rafts to include inflatable kayaks. Wise said the changes would affect commercial operations the most by increasing the maximum number of boaters per trip to 12 from seven. <br>
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He said commercial operators could have five people in one raft and one or two in the inflatable kayaks. <br>
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About 12,000 paying paddlers traveled the Chattooga last year. <br>
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Comments on the amendment will be taken until May 28 and a decision will be made in June. Comments can be sent to Crane at 112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, S.C., 29664.
