July 2010 River Meeting

Date: July 7th, 2010

Location: Kevin Jordan's Pad

Attendees: Jared, Vinny, Ryan, Natasha, Lam, Margery, Emilia, Bart, Bart, Sullivan, Shad, Kevin

Meeting called to order at 7:09pm

Trip Reports

• John Swett High School, June 19-20, Kings River

  • Flow was mid-5000cfs

  • Good river for participant trips!

  • Emilia led an environmental scavenger hunt

  • Significant surf and swims at Mule Rock on Sunday

    • No one was hurt, but many were scared. We continued down river and spirits picked up.

    • Lengthy discussion about methods to prevent and respond to on-river incidents.

• Oakland High School Environmental Science Academy, June 26-27, Trinity River

  • Flow was 2000 from Lewiston Dam, plus significant side-stream accumulation

  • ICO volunteers were great. Special thanks to Torn for helping out with food!

  • Mosquitoes were very bad

  • Water was cold, but few wore wetsuits.

  • Swimmers at Hell Hole.

    • It is not washed out at this flow.

    • Swimmers were rescued quickly.

  • Mis-communication and disagreement with Rangers. 

    • Rangers want groups capped at 30, and advanced notice that large groups are coming.

    • Our group was near 40, so they asked us to split into two flotillas

    • There were misunderstandings about how the two flotillas worked out.

    • Kevin called on Monday to "smooth things over."

  • Trinity Adventure Park (commercially-owned take-out) wants Certificate of Insurance to use the take-out.

Shad attended the National Youth Outdoor Summit in New York City.

• Two-day Youth summit to discuss how to get the next generation of Youth comfortable outdoors.

• 500 youth from across the country

• First time event

• Information collected was sent to Obama Admin, Outdoor equipment manufacturers, and others.

Standard Operating Procedures

• The Steering Committee has been formed. It has 15 members.

• Next steps: polish and clarification

  • Chairs call for volunteer to lead that effort.

    • Ryan Clark volunteers

  • Lengthy discussion about how ideas mature and progress.

• Specific Policies

  • Off-river volunteers. Mentioned, not discussed.

  • Untrained on-river volunteers

    • SOPs do not directly address this. 

    • Margery, as Volunteer Coorindator, would like to be involved in developing the policy. 

    • There were many concerns (fairness, safety, liability, cohesiveness, cost, vetting, fit, roles, responsibilities) about this among those present.

    • Chairs are concerned as there is a person (sponsored by a TL) volunteering in this capacity now.

      • After lengthy discussion, consensus of those present is that he should not continue in this capacity.

      • Margery will follow up with this person and the Steering Committee.

  • Guide Application

    • Some feel process is too cumbersome for well-experienced ATAs. 

      • Difficult to get South Fork check-offs when many Spring trips are away from the South Fork.

      • Methods to streamline the process

        • "Trust & Verify" -- commercial method

        • Significantly expand set of rapids, and require only a subset.

        • Need to have better mentorship of ATAs

          • Margery will work with Caroline (Mentor Coordinator) on pairing mentors with ATAs.

      • Many assert that current process is satisfactory and prudent.

        • Wide range of skills of ATA applicants. 

      • In the long term, consider per-river checkoffs.

    • Flip requirement. Safety and practicality concerns.

      • Intentionally flip with participants?

      • Demonstrate in moving water?

Swiftwater Rescue (SWR) Update

• Right now commercials guides are not required to have SWR

• El Dorado County is considering requiring SWR for commercial guides. This decision has not happened yet, but is considered imminent.

• El Dorado County is also, separately, considering requiring SWR for institutional guides (that's us).

Fundraiser Trip

• “Time to start thinking about a fundraiser trip.” –Jared

• Last year we raised over $7000 on two fundraiser trips.

• Jared wants to try the FOR model.

  • Two-day, higher-end trip on the Tuolumne.

  • Include guest speakers, environmental programs, and trip enrichment.

  • Jared is looking for ideas for guest speakers, evening programs, and general trip enrichment.

• Also offer one-day South Fork trip.

• Open Dates: 8/28-8/29, 9/4 – 9/6, 10/2 – 10/3.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.

Post-meeting addendum: We currently have 43 fully-compliant guides!

Notes by Ryan Clark