concrete put in richland

[canoe]

Let's see, You joined, as best I can tell the ACC website today, and now have 2 posts, are critical that I have a place or 2 or 3 at the putin, and are somehow critical of this? Grow up. We have been protectors and stewardts of this area for more than 30 years. If you can't deal with the fact that there are folks that have paved the way for you to be able to paddle the things you paddle now or in the future, then maybe you need to reconsider how you got here. dale

[canoe]

By the way, if you didn't notice, I didn' t do the morter work. dale

[BMuu]

I don't see removing trees as a problem but adding cement doesn't seem like something I would like to see in our natural creeks.

Richland is not like the Ocoee, The Ocoee feels more like a water park than a river.

[anthony]

Roaadblock sucks, I am not worried about myself when it comes to this rapid, but other people have really shook me up swimming it. I am totally against the concrete thing, but I understand the fear that would make a person want to fix the rapid. Dale thanks for what you do in the hills, and I trust your good judgement up there, but roadblock will move, and the left line is getting bigger after every flood. just my 2 cents

[Benji]

Yes Dale I did notice that you didnt claim the work, I was just saying you seem to be the only "regular" that was defending it. I joined the message board today because I felt so strongly on the issue. Ive been reading posts for at least 5 years and have avoided it because of cool people like you. Oh and you paved the way for me eh? No, I think the county did that,my father, and Fish. You say youre a protector? Have I myself not been in favor of the conservation of the creek???

[A Savage spanke]

There is a right line, and its a fun little slide. Since that undercut is so easily avoidable, I do not think that concrete is justifiable. The left line, as Anthony said, is even opening up (why you wouldn't run it on the right I have no idea, thats a fun move). Look at prudential, Alien Boof, or frog rock. Those rocks are way more dangerous and see way way more people than roadblock ever will, and they are all still natural (unless frog rock was created by blast rock, I'm not sure on that). People keep messing with rockport, and its only gotten worse in the 7 years I've been going there, I don't know why our creeks would be any different. Cement should be left out of our creeks, unless its that creek by locomotion, because Fayetteville really needs a play park.

[kevohudd]

Intentionally poorly concrete in a remote creek is very different from building roads, bridges, and cutting wood jams. If one must use it, keep it in the parks without making a mess.

[Sparky]

In 1991 Richland Creek and several other Arkansas streams were added to Wild and Senic river system. The segment of Richland you're referring to is classified as "Wild". Now whether you like it or not this stream belongs to all Americans and is offered some protection via it's wild status. Whitewater streams are inherently dangerous. In my 30+ years of paddling I've become adept at portaging. Having traveled and paddled in the eastern and western mountains over the years I always return to the Ozarks and marvel at the beauty of our mountains and streams. There is so little wild space in our part of the country, I never though our paddling community would be divided over how to care for it.

Brent

[Renee H]

I don't see removing trees as a problem but adding cement doesn't seem like something I would like to see in our natural creeks.

Richland is not like the Ocoee, The Ocoee feels more like a water park than a river.

Disagree! Natural is natural - if people are gonna bi**h about the cement, they should bi**h about those who go out and cut trees out of the river/creeks so they can paddle it. Altering a river is altering a river! If someone wants nature to take its course and move the rock on Richland, same goes for downed trees in a river - why not wait for a great flood to go in and move them instead of dragging teams of people in to clear them? I don't have a problem with either clearing creeks or using concrete/mortar to make it safer. If it was left alone, that's fine too. I just think those griping about the cement are the same ones going in with chainsaws to cut fallen trees out of the river, which is still creating a paddling stream to their liking.

[waterhog]

you can cut deadfall in the national forest im not certain but i bet puttin concrete in a wild and scenic river is not only wrong but prob has concequences comparing the two as they were the same is in my eyes is ridiculous most boaters only clean the dead fall they cant get around there is ways to get around the undercut at roadblock theres 3 freakin lines there if u cant take one portage or stay off richland because u dont belong there i have never cut wood from richland and was not happy when someone cut the root ball out of lowerscrewup i thought it made it more interesting.

[walmart]

If u don't like it then hike in and remove it

[marc b]

I don't like the fact that there is concrete in the river, but the fact is it was not put in there to distract from the natural state of the river or become a eyesore as we enjoy a great run down one of my favorite creeks. I have been on the creek since it was placed and I have not even seen it. What I have seen have been tires, trash and run down camps along the side of the creek. I also think that the person that placed the morter had everyones safety in mind. It may not have been the best move, but he was trying to do a good thing. As far as Benji, what do you have against Dale? If your first post on this board is going to be to trash talk someone that has paved the way for many boaters than it might be best to spend another 5 years just reading the posts.

[Renee H]

I agree with you Chuck that you can portage or pick the other lines around Roadblock, which is what I do. And while I don’t regularly go out and clear creeks, I don’t have a problem with that or with the fact that someone tried to fix a rapid with mortar. I guess if it’s against the law, then that’s another matter. I, personally, would not put forth the effort, but I believe that each person who goes out and alters the river, whether it be clearing wood or putting mortar in an undercut, thinks they are making it a better place to paddle. I think it’s great as long as additional hazards aren’t created. And I appreciate all the work of others who do put forth the effort to clean creeks and cut out wood to make it better for the rest of us.

And I thought I had heard that concrete or mortar was used to fix some undercut rock on the Nantahala River as well as Frog Rock on the Fractions section of the Arkansas River. It seems to be a common practice these days…..

[mgood]

While I don't agree with it, because I believe that you need to be at a minimum standard to run Richland and Roadblock is an easy move to make, I do have to admit that placing the concrete there probably saved someone's life.

Just something to consider when posting.

[Benji]

My problem is that I have been reluctant to join because of all the pissing matches I've read between you guys over the years. On my first post Dale discredits me simply because he doesn't know me, what a great ambassador to our sport. I've got 30 runs down upper and 10 years paddling experience at 24, which is peanuts to some of yals # of runs. That however doesnt give you any more right to an opinion than me, which is what the topic was about, peoples opinion on the issue. I think if Dale has anything else to say then he wont hesitate, mind your own business.