Earlier this month, we posted news that paddlers may be one step closer to paddling long forbidden, ultra-classic whitewater runs in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, thanks to the River Paddling Protection Act passing in the House of Representatives.
Kevin Colburn, who we spoke to for the article, has since posted an update on why American Whitewater won’t be pursuing Yellowstone legislation in Senate:
“Earlier this week we posted a quick article informing our community that American Whitewater would not pursue the Senate version of the River Paddling Protection Act, ending our exploration of a legislative solution to the management of paddling in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks,” Colburn writes. “We’ve obviously gotten some questions about this decision and would like to offer a more robust explanation.”
“We recognized this situation as one that was rapidly headed for a long, heated, damaging, and distracting fight. The legislative effort we hoped would lead to a meaningful debate and science-based management was being taken in the wrong direction. The resources required to fully engage in a struggle of this scale and nature would consume significant organizational resources and prevent us from engaging in countless other high-priority projects. Our capacity to continue our original strategy on the river management plan in these parks, and other high priority regional and national projects would be threatened.”
Click here for the the full explanation from American Whitewater and visit their website to see more news and stay up to date.
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