Floaters: Rangers buckling down on bad behavior
By Tom Uhlenbrock
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/20/2007
Huzzah River
You'll see less of this on the Huzzah River.
(J. B. Forbes/P-D)
EMINENCE, Mo. — From the Huzzah and the Courtois in the Meramec Valley, to the Current and Jacks Fork deep in the Missouri Ozarks, there's a new theme for this float season: Take back the rivers.
On too many summer Saturdays, Missouri's glistening, gravel-bottomed streams favored by canoeists, rafters and kayakers have been surrendered to partyers intent on making them aquatic versions of Bourbon Street. But those party animals will be playing by a new set of rules this year on the rivers under federal jurisdiction.
Noel Poe said he has been hearing complaints since he took over five years ago as superintendent of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a national park that takes in the Current and Jacks Fork rivers.
"Abuse of alcohol, use of drugs, disorderly conduct, fighting, nudity in what I call the Mardi Gras syndrome, even some public sex on the rivers," Poe said. "The problem is that during the late '90s, we lost control of the rivers. They became known as party rivers.
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