Stripping the raucous out of rides on Niobrara

If floating the Niobrara River were a movie, some past summer weekends would score R ratings.

Flashes of nudity, obscenity-laced chatter, drunkenness, littering and other boorish conduct spoiled for many the serene scenery and peaceful experience of floating one of the nation's top paddling streams.

The National Park Service hopes some new rules will scuttle such river rowdiness.

The goal is to increase safety, protect nature and ensure memorable experiences - ones closer to a PG if not a G rating - on the stretch of stream it manages as the Niobrara National Scenic River.

"We're not saying don't have fun, but have fun responsibly," said Dan Foster, river superintendent.

The proposed regulations include banning glass containers, Styrofoam coolers, beer kegs, beer bongs, Mardi Gras-style beads, stock tank watercraft, vessels lashed together to carry more than 10 people - and dry ice.

Mardi Gras necklaces and dry ice?

Park rangers across the country report increased complaints of people throwing plastic bottles of dry ice into lakes and rivers as mini-bombs. The explosion is unpredictable and dangerous, creates debris and disturbs fish and wildlife.

Niobrara park rangers and outfitters say Mardi Gras beads have been popular barter items, especially among young people, to solicit nudity and encourage alcohol use often mixed with obscene language and fighting.

"The ladies lift their shirts and the guys moon," said outfitter Twyla Graham, who has seen it all during a lifetime on the river. "Sometimes families are exposed to things they don't want to be exposed to."

The proposed regulations are under review by the National Park Service's Midwest regional office, in Omaha.

The rules would apply only to the 76-mile national scenic river stretch of the Niobrara downstream from Valentine, not to adjacent private land. The Park Service owns no land within the scenic river boundaries, but does maintain authority and jurisdiction on the river.

"The Niobrara is one of the most beautiful rivers in the country," said Foster, who arrived last fall as the park unit's first full-time superintendent. "It's been set aside for public enjoyment, but its unique values require protection."

Kalli Kieborz, executive director of the Valentine-based Niobrara Council that works with the Park Service to manage the scenic river, said many of the regulations echo a code of ethics adopted by outfitters about six years ago.

The code encourages floaters to respect other river users and discourages large flotillas of tubes for safety reasons.

Graham, co-owner of Graham Canoe Outfitters in Valentine, said businesses renting canoes, kayaks and tubes "can live with most" of the new regulations but wish they had more notice to alert customers.

Rich Mercure, who rents plastic stock tanks at Little Outlaw Canoe in Valentine, said some customers canceled trips down the river after hearing that new rules are on the way.

Foster has granted Mercure temporary use permits to continue renting stock tanks to accommodate customers this summer.

"I have a bad taste in my mouth," said Mercure, who added plastic stock tanks to his fleet of watercraft in 2007.

"I'm not ready to get out of business, but I might be getting out of business. We're a small community and we appreciate the river business. These new rules won't help Valentine. It won't be fun or easy to get through this."

Mercure said he understands the goals of the regulations, but he feels discriminated against.

"Not wanting stock tanks on the river is somebody's personal pet peeve," he said. "If the real problem is alcohol, why not address it directly? These rules skirt the alcohol problem."

Canned beer is not banned on the scenic river except in its upper reaches, where it crosses the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge also prohibits people using stock tanks to float through the refuge.

Graham said alcohol abuse by people floating the river has been out of control some hot summer weekends.

"The last two weekends of July have been just horrible," she said. "I dread those weekends. It's the last big hurrah of the summer for the college kids."

Graham said some customers have told her they won't return until alcohol abuse is curbed on the river. Others call seeking to book float dates when party groups are few. The Park Service and outfitters regularly advise customers to avoid summer Saturdays if they want to escape crowds.

"We want it to be a river for everybody to enjoy and have a good time, but we don't want one group's enjoyment to be the next person's bad experience," she said.

Stuart Schneider, chief ranger for the scenic river, said he and other law enforcement officers expect to have a busy summer.

Assuming the new rules win final approval, "We plan to do a very thorough job educating people," he said - including confiscating Mardi Gras necklaces and beer kegs.

• Contact the writer: 444-1127, david.hendee@owh.com

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