COURTESY OF DANIEL ROMAN
to drowning. Because of this, all river guides are
to cut the fence. The officer made a phone call
required to carry a river knife. However, not
to Zach, who agreed to let us raise the fence
everyone who floats the river carries a knife.
high enough above the river for a boat to pass
The Arkansas River, where I trained to be a
underneath. I felt conflicted as I stepped into the
guide, is the most rafted river in the country.
cold spring waters of the North Fork to place an
There are over 30 rafting companies who put
entrapment hazard in its path. Once the fence
hundreds of commercial rafts on the river each
was back in place, the officer left me his card and
day. However, if a throw bag becomes loose in
told me to call anytime. I was not happy with the
the water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will close
fix but realized that it was the best-case scenario.
the Arkansas to boating until the throw bag is
I was concerned that as the water rose, our new
retrieved. These closures can cost outfitters on
fence would become submerged and clothes-
the Arkansas hundreds of thousands of dollars in
line boaters. I made a trip to Gambles to pick
lost revenue, but it is worth it, because they save
up some flagging and marked the wire as best I
lives. To me, there was no difference between a
could. I spent the rest of Spring 2021 explaining
lost throw bag in the river and the electric wire
to boaters that there was a fence across the river,
that spanned the North Fork. I felt justified in my
and that they should not cut it.
decision to cut it.
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Temporary crisis averted, the WSSUP guides
When I arrived at the Hotchkiss boat ramp,
and I started brainstorming better solutions
the scene of yesterday’s crime, I was met by a
for the river fence. We needed something that
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer. My phone
could keep cows in, let boats through and have
call had paid off! A representative from the
the ability to be raised or lowered as water
boating world was here to help me solve my
levels fluctuated. Long-time river guide Johnny
problem. After explaining the situation to the
Dejaynes remembered a fence he had seen on
officer, I was informed that case law was on the
the Slate River outside of Crested Butte. The
side of the land owner. I was in no way justified
fence consisted of a wire strung five feet above
