Booby-Trapped Rivers Pose Additional Threat ('An act of Eco-Terror' U.S. Forest Service)

KATU-TV (Oregon) ^ | March 17, 2005 | Grant McOmie

[Stoat]

March 17, 2005

Booby-Trapped Rivers Pose Additional Threat

VIDEO

By Grant McOmie

 
katu.com

PORTLAND, Ore. - Fishing guide Phil Hawkins rows fishermen down the Sandy River for a chance to catch a steelhead.

He says this winter the unusually low water has meant that he's kept a sharper eye on frothy rapids, exposed rocks and something new.

"I have to worry about packing the right rods, the right flies, the right equipment and food - but never, ever would I dream that I'd have to worry about spikes or nails in the river that would tear my boat up," says Hawkins.

Nails or spikes - several inches long - have been drilled or pounded into the river's rocks. In recent weeks, the nails have ripped open two rafts, including Josh Linn's 16-foot pontoon raft.

Josh pointed to the 30-inch tear: "That's where the nail went in all the way. It's a huge gash and it was a scary moment."

Linn was floating through a dangerous rapid when the nail tore up his boat. But he was lucky and made it to shore where he was able to patch and repair his raft.

He and Hawkins say the incidents happened near popular Dodge Park. Hawkins pointed to a partially submerged rock: "See the three silvery, shiny looking things right there - those are all nails."

The nails were visible just under the water's surface. They were hammered into the rock and Hawkins said he thinks it was intentional and it could have killed someone.

"It could be a real dangerous situation," added Hawkins. "There's a lot of current here and the river is cold and the current is relentless. If you lose your boat, it could all be over."

Hawkins used a hammer and bent the sharp nails over so the rock wouldn't pose a dangerous risk. Now, he and other guides float the river to look for more rocks that are sporting nails or spikes.

We float past one huge rock in the middle of the river that looked suspicious with two thin and sharp spikes that looked like nails. If the water was higher, you'd never see the danger coming and you'd end up in bog trouble.

For longtime river rafters Judy Steigler and Vall Schaull, the most worrisome problem will hit this summer. That's when kids come to the Sandy River to float on inner tubes or small inflatable rafts. They might not see the problem until it's too late.

"In the summertime children play near Dodge Park." said Stiegler. "If some child goes out of their inner tube, goes through there and catches on a nail they could be seriously hurt."

Schaull added: "I'm worried about this - if it starts here, it could migrate to other rivers."

There are no clues to this crime, but Hawkins hopes they can find all of the nails planted in the rocks before the summer floating season starts.

But he admits the river is huge and they might not find all the unseen dangers before another boat goes down.

[arthurus]

Capture and trial of the perps will cause an explosion of such incidents. Proliferation is inevitible and will proceed faster after someone is killed or seriously injured.

[winodog]

This is the beginning of the fight against fishing. The envonuts are going to try to stop fishing next. They feel they have done a great job stopping hunting. Less and less people hunt every year and they want to do the same thing for the fishies.

[Route101]

If I have to go fishing with 45 ...no problem.

[Route101]

Eco terrorist's???...we don't need no stink'in eco terrorists....

[reformedliberal]

My normally mild-mannered and law-abiding husband agrees with you. Me, too.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Fred Hayek]

There are enviro wackos who even believe that hiking is evil. "Evil humans" should not set foot in nature's realm since "humanity is a virus infecting the earth mother goddess Gaia." It would be just if a grizzly bear had one of these wackos for lunch.

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!

[B4Ranch]

farmfriend probably posted you already but I wanted to make sure you saw this.

[tubebender]

This is going to be interesting to follow as the terrorist are turning against some of their own. While the fishing guides aren't as rabid as the white water rafters and kayakers about claiming the rivers as their private domain they all have a hate for any industry that may use the same territory and have supported each other.

Those nails look like they were set using a explosive powered nail gun and then the heads were cut off...

[dead]

It isn't people who do this, it's hippies.

Could be giggling stoners, but its more likely college know-it-all hippies.

[forester]

This is incredible. I shutter to think what that would do to some teenagers tubing down the river in summertime.

[forester]

college know-it-all hippies.

One of the best South Park episodes I have seen in a while...many classic lines.

[Grampa Dave]

"While the fishing guides aren't as rabid as the white water rafters and kayakers about claiming the rivers as their private domain they all have a hate for any industry that may use the same territory and have supported each other."

Some of the worse harrassment I have had as a fly fisher has come from the enviro white water rafters. Most kayakers wait upstream until you wave them down. I have been knocked down by the water rafters without any warning from them. They are like the concrete truck drivers who get paid per load. God help anyone who gets in their way as they head down stream.




"Those nails look like they were set using a explosive powered nail gun and then the heads were cut off..."

That is what they appear to be. Those nail guns make a lot of noise and one big enough to drive those nails in would be really loud.

[AppyPappy]

Eco-terrorists are mostly anti-capitalism.

[Delphinium]

WOW!, I have never heard of this yet. Wonder how to find out more?

[KurtAZ]

No...they are the "Feesh Slappers!"

Sorry, too many Veggie Tales movies...

[KurtAZ]

No, they are probably natice Oregonians. Most of the militant groups are.

[KingofQue]

The only way to fight them is to destroy something precious to them. If they destroy a car lot of SUV's poison a river and kill all the fish. If they burn down a housing development, girdle 5000 old forest trees. Tit for tat until they lose.