BOISE, Idaho — Boise River Outdoor Opportunities designated agent Adam Bass testified in front of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board (OGLB) Thursday morning raising two complaints against the City of Boise and how they have managed the Boise River through Esther Simplot Park.
The city hung multiple signs over the river and along the riverbanks to warn people about potential dangers ahead. Signs tell rafters "Do Not Proceed" and to "Exit River."
The City of Boise does not have the authority to regulate the instruction printed on these signs, according to Bass. He has observed the signs for three years. Bass offered a 62-page document to the OGLB outlining his concerns with signs and river flow managed by the City of Boise:
"The licensing board is my boss. Basically, they give me the authority to be able to take guests on the river because the state has the authority to issue license authorities to guides and outfitters like myself to be able to determine what is safe and what's not," Bass said. "When there's signs that say hazardous areas ahead, [my customers] start paddling worse. It has psychological impacts on the trip dynamics. We're navigating through it because our operation is safely navigating through it and I've deemed it safe. It questions that authority that has been given to me by the state, it causes a worse experience for guests. "
The signs, according to Bass, violate state law under code 36-2101 for overstepping their authority in attempting to regulate beyond their authority. However, the city is not in violation of this - any other navigability law, according to a City of Boise spokesperson.
Bass further detailed an alleged violation of state code 36-1601 for impeding travel along the river through their surfing wave feature.
"They use up all the water for the wave shaper and barricade access to that water, which means our typical route through that feature becomes completely dewatered which has safety concerns for guests," Bass said.
The OGLB has a legal team that will review Bass' complaints, according to a statement made in the board meeting.
The city of Boise emailed KTVB a statement from the Director of Parks and Recreation Doug Holloway:
“Boise Parks and Recreation and the City of Boise’s legal team are aware of Mr. Bass’ concerns regarding the signage and setup of Phase 2 at the Boise Whitewater Park. Safety is and always will be our top priority when it comes to river recreation. Due to the current unpredictability of the wave feature, portage signs were installed at Phase 2 in March of 2023 to encourage floaters of all abilities to exit the river for their own safety. The City of Boise has operational authority at the Boise Whitewater Park and will continue to make decisions as needed or required with user safety top of mind. The current phase 2 adjustable wave feature is not a final design. Engineers contracted by the city are preparing a modification plan for the Phase 2 wave shaper to make it more predictable and reliable for all users, including the adjacent pass-through for boaters. We look forward to continuing to communicate with the public and interested stakeholders as the project gets underway this winter.”
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