From rsk at rockandwater.net  Fri Aug 13 19:14:01 2010
From: rsk at rockandwater.net (Rich Kulawiec)
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:14:01 -0400
Subject: New Ohiopyle Falls Access Policy Announcement
Message-ID: <20100813231401.GA7754@gsp.org>


Full announcement:

	http://americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/30802/display/full/

Quoting in part:

	After two decades of working on Ohiopyle Falls access, the
	Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks contacted American Whitewater today
	with official notification granting additional boater access to
	Ohiopyle Falls starting August 22, 2010. The new guidelines are
	as follows:

	First Year Private Boater Ohiopyle Falls Access Guidelines

	1. Prior to launching for each falls run, all boaters must
	register at the Lower Youghiogheny Launch Booth on SR 381. A
	launch permit, governed by the private boater quota reservation
	system, is required during applicable periods.

	2. Water Level must be 1.8 feet or below on the USGS Gage at
	the Lower Youghiogheny Launch in Ohiopyle.

	3. Using the Lower Youghiogheny Launch to take-out is
	prohibited. Boaters running the falls must continue down river
	and take-out either at the Loop Take-Out on Ferncliff or Bruner
	Run Take-Out.

	4. For the first season, the Falls will be open for runs between
	8:30 am and 2:30 pm from Sunday, August 22, 2010 through September
	12, 2010: approximately 3 week launch window. If access pilot
	continues into 2011 season, the launch window will run from second
	Saturday in May to second Sunday in September (corresponds to
	7-days a week manned Lower Yough Launch Area Operations).

	5. Access (put-in) will be from the river right shore only
	(Ferncliff side). Access will be prohibited from the Falls
	Day-Use Area except during Falls Running Events governed by
	Special Activities Agreements. When Double Rope Buoy Lines are
	fixed (typically Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend),
	access must be on the downstream side of the lines via Ferncliff
	Trail. When Double Rope Buoy Lines are not fixed, access is
	permissible from approved upstream locations: Ferncliff Trail
	upstream to SR 381 Bridge/Middle Yough.

	6. Boaters are prohibited from running Ohiopyle Falls alone (solo
	boater/party of one). Minimum group size is three boaters. 2nd
	or 3rd boaters do not have to run the falls and is/are included
	for the minimum group size for providing safety from shore
	(above or below) or boat (below) the falls.

	7. Only single and double occupancy kayaks and canoes designed
	and fully outfitted for whitewater use are permissible. Unguided
	Liveries/Rental Craft are prohibited. Rafts are prohibited.

	8. Boaters may scout the falls from beyond the warning signs
	during open hours but must wear PFD and helmet at all times.

---Rsk