Northview School Grand Rapids

Northview School Grand Rapids

Northview School Grand Rapids

Posted on: December 21, 2011 - 9:13 pm
by Admin

The dawn of the 1970s brought evolution to North Central Oregon's Lower Deschutes as the river started to become known for the chills and thrills offered whitewater enthusiasts. By 1990, the river had become a mecca for white water adventurers in all types of craft, including rubber rafts, kayaks, canoes, drift boats, jet boats, and even float tubes.

Prior to the Oregon Scenic Waterway designation in 1970, most of the boating activities on the Deschutes were limited to fishermen accessing their favorite fishing holes by drift boat. However, there really wasn’t much drift boat usage at that time, because the river was known to have dangerous undercurrents and some major rapids that required advanced skills to navigate. Drift boats are known to be incredibly unforgiving in whitewater situations.

By 1990, the river had become over crowded with white water enthusiasts from all walks of life, each looking for their own brand of river experience, each in their own way. As a result, user conflicts followed. Concerns were rising about how the crowds of people were affecting the fragile, high desert river system. There were also public safety and sanitation issues. In response to those issues, the Lower Deschutes Management plan was developed in the early 1990s.