FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:  KYLA SAWYER, (208) 628-4142

Record crowds ushered in a new era of jet boat river racing in north central Idaho during the 2012 Toyota Weaver Seed World Jet Boat Marathon Championship held April 13-21.

U.S.A. driver Ryan Rogers of Lewiston, Idaho and Crabtree, Oregon navigator Gary Weaver won the overall championship title completing the fastest time piloting #285 Pure Insanity for all 24 race legs on the St. Joe, Snake, Clearwater and Salmon rivers.

“On a scale of one to ten, this was an 11,” Race Referee Larry Darneille said.  “I have never been involved in more well organized event.”

Approximately 5,000 people lined the banks of the St. Joe River at St. Maries to watch the first two days of racing, Darneille said.

The race continued on the Snake River at Lewiston where its estimated 3,000 fans watched the round trip action from Hells Gate Marina to Bear Bar for day three and four.  Approximately 2,000 fans watched racers negotiate the Clearwater River for day five that included two legs from Ahsahka Boat Ramp at Orofino to the East End Boat Ramp at Lewiston.  The final two days of racing on the Salmon River at Riggins crowds swelled to 5,000 along the eight mile course and finish line.

“We are truly thankful for the support of all the volunteers, businesses and sponsors,” Race Organizers Kim Friend and Kyla Sawyer said.  “We had the very best race teams competing and north central Idaho’s hospitality was second to none.”

More than 200 volunteers participated in the 2012 Toyota Weaver Seed World Jet Boat Marathon Championship including emergency medical technicians, amateur radio communications, safety boat drivers and event staff.  Four representatives from the Union International Motonautique, the international governing body of power boating came to Idaho for the entire duration of the race.

A total of $40,000 in prize money was awarded to the first, second and third place winners in the Overall, Unlimited, A and FX classes in a field of 17 race teams.

The U.S.A. has the opportunity to host the world jet boat marathon every four years.  The 2013 World Jet Boat Championships will be held in New Zealand.

Here are the final results & times for all race classes:

2012 Toyota Weaver Seed Overall World Jet Boat Marathon Champion

1. Ryan Rogers & Gary Weaver/Larry Keats, Lewiston, Idaho/Crabtree, Oregon, USA, #285 Pure Insanity, 5:37:13
2. Rick & Jodi Hollingworth, Valleyview, Alberta, CAN, #55 Little Smokey, 6:39:08
3. Tyson Allen & Sylvain Ruel, Peace River, Alberta, CAN, #03 SS Adrenaline, 6:55:42
4. Shay & Grady White, Meridian, Idaho, USA, #51 Predator, 8:05:54

American Turbine Unlimited Class

1. Duane Carmont & Roger Derry, Riggins, Idaho, USA, #321 Revelation, 6:56:00 (only Unlimited boat to attain minimum distance and minimum number of legs raced)
2. Gord Humphrey & Chris Zapesocki, Fort St. John, B.C., CAN, #CDN-1 Unnatural Disaster,  6:12:06
3. Chad  Burns & Willie Burns, Peace River, Alberta, CAN, #339 Bad Habit, 6:21:41

Shore Lodge A Class

1. Ryan Rogers & Gary Weaver/Larry Keats, Lewiston, Idaho/Crabtree, Oregon, USA #285 Pure Insanity, 5:37:13
2. Jake Barney & Lester Zehner/Casey Barney, Lewiston, Idaho, USA, #212 Never Satisfied, 9:13:27
3. Terry O’Keefe & Russ Hoisington, Monitor, Wash./Culdesac, Idaho, USA, #211 Riptear, 9:18:18

Clearwater River Casino FX Class

1. Rick & Jodi Hollingworth, Valleyview, Alberta, CAN, #55 Little Smokey, 6:39:08
2. Tyson Allen & Sylvain Ruel, Peace River, Alberta, CAN, #03 SS Adrenaline, 6:55:42
3. Shay & Grady White, Meridian, Idaho, USA, #51 Predator, 8:05:54

BOISE, ID – The “Barber Flat Bridge” that crosses the North Fork Boise River on Forest Road 376 within the Boise National Forest will be restricted to vehicles with a wheelbase of 50 inches or less effective today.

The bridge, located about 35 miles east of Boise, was recently inspected and is deemed unsafe for full sized vehicles due to the movement of a bridge pier.  The pier was damaged following the floods in 1997 and has been monitored since then.  In a recent inspection a steel truss support has weakened and the agency is concerned with its structural strength.

The bridge is primarily used by recreationists to access dispersed undeveloped campsites on either side of the river.  Access to those sites on the north side of the river will be from Highway 21 via Forest Road 327 (Granite Creek), and on the south side from the Middle Fork Boise River via Forest Road 376 (near Alexander Flat).

The bridge will have the restriction indefinitely.  Funding requests have been submitted to the Intermountain Regional Foresters office for further investigation of the foundation pier and to evaluate repair options.

Further information about access to the area is available by contacting the Idaho City Ranger District at 392-6681.

David R. Olson

Public Affairs Officer

Boise National Forest

1249 S. Vinnell, Suite 200

Boise, ID 83709

208-373-4105 (w)

208-861-0768 cell

If you are interested in scheduling a presentation for your group in July or early August, please email or call (467-9278) for Susan or Jennifer to arrange a meeting.  If we haven’t heard from you, we will also follow up with a call later this month to find out how you would like to be involved in this next phase of the CCP process.

We have this email address on our CCP mailing list, so we will send you the planning update when it is released.  Feel free to forward that information to your members, or let me know if I should add other people to our mailing list.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Susan
___________________________________
Susan Kain, Visitor Services Manager
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
13751 Upper Embankment Road
Nampa, ID 83686

The committee members evaluate grant applications based on established criteria and make recommendations to the Idaho Park and Recreation Board for funding. Members are required to attend meetings during the year with travel expenses reimbursed.

RTP Advisory Committee – The purpose of the Recreational Trails Program is to acquire, purchase, improve, repair, and maintain trail facilities and sites. There are currently six advisory committee member openings statewide for the following interests:  Hiking, Motorbike, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Disabled, and Water Trails. Those applying for the RTP Committee must live in Idaho, be willing to serve a three-year term, be an active participant in the trail activity they represent, and attend required meetings.

ORMV Advisory Committee – The purpose of the Off-Road Motor Vehicle Fund is to acquire, purchase, improve, repair, maintain, furnish, and equip off-road motor vehicle facilities and sites or areas used by off-road motor vehicles on public or private land, and to assist with the enforcement of laws and regulations governing the use of off-road vehicles in the State of Idaho. There are currently five ORMV advisory committee member openings: one for  Regions 1 & 2 representing Motorbike/ATV; one for Regions 1 & 2 representing Snowmobile; one for Regions 3 & 4 representing Non-Motorized; one for Regions 5 & 6 representing Snowmobile; and one for Regions 5 & 6 representing Non-Motorized. Those applying for the ORMV Committee must live in Idaho, be willing to serve a three-year term, be an active participant in the off-road activity they represent, and attend required meetings.

Applications are due no later than June 22, 2012 and may be obtained by contacting Angela Manning at the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation State and Federal Grants Program:

Angela Manning

State and Federal Grants Assistant

(208) 514- 2448

angela.manning@idpr.idaho.gov

Wallowa Whitman National Forest Supervisor Monica Schwalbach has released a statement saying that she will withdraw her travel management decision and “stop the clock” on the appeal process that was scheduled to end April 30.  Schwalbach said she wants to make sure issues are considered “in a constructive manner” and take time for further consideration of the concerns that have been raised.  In her letter, she addresses several of those concerns.

Forest Supervisor Stops the Clock on Wallowa-Whitman Travel Management Plan
Letter to the Editor
It has been one month since the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest released its travel management decision.  Since then, there has been considerable public interest and debate over various aspects of the plan.  As I have listened to the many people who are commenting on the plan, it has become apparent that there is a good bit of confusion, as well as some concerns that would benefit from more discussion.
Because of these concerns I have decided to withdraw the travel management decision, and stop the clock on the appeal process that is underway.  The forest needs to develop a travel management plan for public motorized recreation, but I want to be sure the various options for moving forward are considered in a constructive manner.  I believe that by taking the time now to allow for further dialogue and consideration regarding the concerns that have been raised; we will develop a better outcome in the long run.  Some of the key concerns include the following.
A main concern is there have been significantly different numbers bantered about regarding how many miles of roads would be designated open for public motorized recreational use, and how many are being closed to motor vehicles.  The number question is a challenging one because there are different ways of looking at the situation.  For instance, there currently are over 9,000 miles of roads on the Wallowa-Whitman national forest landscape, but only about 4,700 miles are considered open to the public.  Many of the others are impassable because they are overgrown with vegetation.  Meanwhile, the project area included in the travel management decision is focused on 1.3 million of the 2.4 million acres on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.   Road totals for the project area are therefore less than those for the entire forest.
Along with the roads question, is a concern that the maps provided to the public do not offer enough detail for people to adequately consider the potential implications of the decision.  I have heard several people suggest that the agency provide more information on these maps, such as road numbers, landmarks, and watershed boundaries.  Without more detailed information, it is difficult to provide specific responses back to the agency about the decision, and what people might like to see changed.
Another key issue is that many people are concerned about access for firewood.  While the travel plan decision provides for identification of additional firewood cutting areas across the forest, many people are concerned that this approach may not be adequate to meet the need for fuelwood in our northeast Oregon communities.  I have met with quite a few people to discuss this concern and appreciate the various suggestions that have been offered regarding ways to address the issue.
A separate concern involves access to private lands and permitted uses such as grazing and mining on the forest.  Access to private land and permitted uses is fully allowed by the travel management plan.  Private land owners would still have access to their cabins, miners would continue to have access to their claims, and grazing permit holders will retain access in allotments to administer their permits.
These are all important concerns and I appreciate the people who are raising them.  I also think the agency has a responsibility to address these concerns, including clarifying misinformation, providing more specific information to the public as requested, and engaging in further dialogue.
I truly appreciate the passion that has been shown in response to this decision, and want to encourage everyone to direct this passion in a positive, productive and respectful way.  I encourage anyone who has additional suggestions to share them with me or one of our local district rangers.  The Wallowa-Whitman national forest is treasured by all, so let’s be sure we develop a plan that is reasonable, responsible, and makes sense now and for the future.
Monica J. Schwalbach
4/17/2012