More people will be able to raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon each year under a new management plan adopted by the U.S. National Park Service.More rafters will be shifted to fall, winter and spring months while the number of daily summertime launches of both motorized and non-motorized commercial rafts will decrease.
While rafters will be spread out over more of the year, they will travel in smaller groups. The net result will be more tourists overall.
The new plan also eliminates the existing waiting list for those who want to raft the river in non-commercial boats, replacing it with a lottery system.
The lower Colorado River, from Diamond Creek to Lake Mead, will see pontoon boat tours go up, allowing up to 480 passengers per day, up from between 130 and 188 passengers, depending on the time of year.
The plan bans jet boat tours entirely, but commercial operators that use the craft to meet rafts above Lake Mead would still be allowed.
The plan is being criticized by Living Rivers, a river restoration group, which feels motorized boats should have been banned entirely.
© The Edmonton Journal 2006
The Edmonton Journal, Published: Saturday, April 15, 2006
