Emerson, Van Buren residents opposed to river rules changes

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Rep. Jo Ann Emerson told community members Wednesday no changes should be made in management of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is in the process of constructing a new general management plan that will be used to guide the park for the next 15 to 20 years.

About 15 people were invited to The Landing in Van Buren to share their thoughts about four proposed management alternatives.

These include a no-action choice and others that call for varying degrees of restricted and unrestricted use of the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. A public comment period for the management plan has been extended to Sept. 11.

"We are blessed to have this beautiful area," Emerson said. "It's very concerning to me when the park service or any other entity tries to prevent my constituents from having access to the natural resources with which we are blessed."

Residents have been most vocal in opposing possible limits to boat use and horse power.

Many have predicted restricted use of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways would hurt the tourism surrounding communities need to survive.

Unfortunately, the economic aspect of regulations is sometimes forgotten, Emerson said.

"We'll do everything we can to oppose this," Emerson promised the group.

Emerson has written a letter to the National Park Service in opposition of management plan changes and a proposed Wilderness Area designation for the Big Spring area. In it, she says valid concerns have been raised regarding the conduct of visitors of the river but that she believes the park service already has the ability to address those concerns.

Emerson said her next step will be to speak with Ozark National Scenic Riverways superintendent Reed Detring.

Tom Bedell, owner of The Landing, said Emerson's staff asked him to arrange Wednesday's event. Attendees included Van Buren Mayor John Bailiff, local business owners and people who were previously involved with the creation and running of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

"I really need to hear from you about the interactions you have had with the park service," Emerson told the group. "The more you can do before Sept. 11 to generate comments will be good too. I feel we need to be 10 to 1 [opposing] this."

Van Buren relies heavily on tourism, according to Bailiff. Sales tax generates 70 percent of the city's general revenue and 80 percent of its capital improvement funds, he said.

"What's going on would have a negative impact, there is no doubt," Bailiff told the congresswoman. "And if the park service starts making restrictions about boats, we'll have a four-mile stretch of river [here] that will be congested."

He and Van Buren's city council unanimously support the no-action alternative, Bailiff has written in a letter to the National Park Service.

Coleman McSpadden said he served on the first advisory committee to discuss creation of the park.

"We were for it completely for the economic development of this county," McSpadden said. "It is one of the best things to ... happen to this county and we don't need a lot of changes."

'A good value'

Retiree Doug Rice said he moved to Van Buren because of the river.

"This place is unique to any place I know. You can boat, float, hike and camp. It's a good value for retirement," Rice said. "But if this goes through, I wouldn't be able to use the river like I planned and I would probably put my place on the market. I don't want to do that because I love this town and the people."

Robbie Williams, owner of Red's Super Service and Polaris, questioned the safety of taking people out in an underpowered boat, saying new restrictions would be too low for families using the river together.

He has seen boat sales fall off since the proposals became public, Williams said.

The restrictions would address boater and floater congestion that only occurs during a limited time, he continued.

"Why have regulations to deal with 20 days tops of conflict?" Williams asked.

The Landing rents tubes to between 3,000 and 4,000 floaters each week during July, the busiest part of the summer, Bedell said. Of that, Saturdays account for about 2,000 floaters.

If there were problems for floaters, it would affect his business and he would want it addressed, he said.

"But I don't see that," Bedell said, "I see thousands of floaters and get few complaints. Limits are already in place so that we can exist with the floaters."

Congestion would be helped if a boat ramp proposed several years ago by the park service was put in place at Waymeyer, Bedell added.

"It's not boats versus tubers. There's room for everyone on the river," Emerson said.

People can comment on the general management plan at parkplanning.nps.gov/ozar or by writing a letter to Superintendent, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P.O. Box 490, Van Buren, MO 63965.