Yesterday, for Independence Day, BPD posted an official BPD SUV and officer on Eckert Rd to monitor the parking on Eckert Rd- a favorite since Ada County does not have adequate parking at Barber. It was there when I arrived and when I left. So it was not there for an incident.

Let’s apply Guardian method to Boise Police on the river.
–Should BPD provide parking security to the Harris Ranch neighborhood, like they do NOWHERE ELSE?
–Is the Harris Ranch complaint legit since they ALL knew about the river parking when it was developed?
–Will the BPD have a crew on the river every day? Is it necessary?
–How much are regular BPD officers paid hourly? To be a meter maid?
–With so many illegal parking every weekend should the float be banned?

Extra points- sitting in Harris Ranch to be a METER MAID for the neighborhood! Where is that post?

EDITOR NOTE–Doubtful most BPD would agree with getting a “pass” from GUARDIAN. As for the Eckert Rd. parking issue, you just got it posted!!

If there is a few feet of travel on a property to the high water mark, as is the case at the put in on the Boise, with a well traveled trail, most just use that route.

If you are crossing private property and a land owner is unfriendly to the idea, and the river is closer than the public road, there’s nothing preventing you from leaving via the river.

If city/ county property, well, that is mine and yours. It was set aside for public use, and we paid/pay for it, so having some self-important jerk telling you that you can’t be on your land to run a river that the US Supreme Court says you can run is just ridiculous and unenforceable.

So either the State requires life jackets on the kiddos, or it’s more of a “suggestion” than a “requirement.”

Has the City ALWAYS provided rescue services? I’ve been floating the Boise River for at least 60 years; to the best of my knowledge, BFD river rescues are a fairly recent development.

It would be interesting to know how much public money is spent rescuing individuals who aren’t prepared for “use-at-your-own-risk”:
– hiking the back country
– floating the river
– skiiing outside the bounds of the resort
– mountain climbing, caving, hiking in slot canyons, etc.
Perhaps the bureaucracy is interfering with the Law of Natural Selection… ?

Editor, does an ambulance have to show up for heart-attack person who ate 1,001 BigMacs?
When the dumas puts hot coals in the garbage can and burns down his house, does Boise Fire have to save that house for the person who took the risk the coals were not too hot?

Terrible question! Bad attitude.
Now get off my lawn!

“… 8. State and local restrictions on use of navigable rivers have to be legitimately related to enhancing public trust value, not reducing it. Rivers cannot be closed or partially closed to appease adjacent landowners, or to appease people who want to dedicate the river to fishing only, or to make life easier for local law enforcement agencies.

9. State governments (through state courts and legislatures) cannot reduce public rights to navigate and visit navigable rivers within their borders, but they can expand those rights, and some states have done so…”

http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/caselaw.html

https://boiseguardian.com/2019/04/30/do-as-we-say-not-as-we-do/

Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue is a group mostly composed of outdoor enthusiasts who wanted a solution for people getting lost or trapped in difficult situations, but it’s just a courtesy.

Governments are supposed to protect citizens, but mostly seem much more interested in stealing from us.

If some would propose a ban on dangerous activities, let’s solve the biggest problem first by outlawing fast / junk food and sugar drinks. Next, we could ban cars. Those 2 things cause most of the monetary damage.

Federal Law prevents anyone from impeding navigable waterways in the United States.

That’s why the authorities can’t do anything when you want to go have fun in conditions that might be deadly for unskilled people.

So, the answer is a definitive NO.

EDITOR NOTE–Does anyone have to rescue those who take on the personal risk?

Nobody can ban anyone from floating the Boise River, based on their personal fears, or risk / benefit analysis, no matter the flow level.