FYI - Regulation for Recovered Boats on Buffalo River

[Cowper]

This is just FYI. While trying to help another poster reconnect a recovered boat with the rightful owner, I was discussing the subject with one of the rangers from the Tyler Bend district.

She informed me there is now a regulation on the Buffalo that says recovered boats MUST be turned into the Park Service. She was very nice about it and said the only time they would really write a ticket was if they thought someone was intending to keep the boat, which of course is not the case here.

I thought this was worth passing along since I know there are a lot of opinions around about "salvage laws" and such; but for the Buffalo National River, the rules are apparently different than what you might expect. It is also good to know the NPS folks are taking an active role in trying to get boats reconnected with owners. She said that in the most recent high water, about a week ago, they had not just one, but three boats abandoned and reported lost in just that one event.

Those wishing to have good river karma will always try to get a boat back to the rightful owner anyway, so this will have minimal impact on most of us.

And those who would like to make the process easy will grab a laundry marker or sharpie and write their phone number in their boat, just in case!