Colorado rafting outfitters, who contribute $142 million to the state'seconomy every year, won their first battle in securing rightsto float in-state rivers, reports . Developers want to prohibit rafters from providing trips on some historically paddled rivers. A Class III section of the , which passes through private property, has brought the issue to the forefront. On Monday, February 8, the passed the , clarifying outfitters' rights to operate on historically run rivers. The bill is currently in smooth water before it faces the .
“It is a very important step in a sensitive issue,” says guide andriver advocate Danny Andres. “If you’re a private boater or commercialrafter, there’s the potential of losing access to many of Colorado'srivers; if you’re a retailer selling paddlesports gear there’s apossibility that your sales will be impacted due to fewer rivers topaddle.”
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–Stayton Bonner