Rafters return to Lower Rogue Canyon

Aug. 24—GALICE — The popular and remote Lower Rogue River Canyon reopened to boaters Wednesday under strict conditions one day after access was closed due to the lighting-caused Rum Creek Fire, which has burned to the river's southern edge.

The opening means 120 kayakers, rafters and driftboaters will be back on the water on this 34-mile Wild and Scenic stretch during the height of the floating season, which safeguards permitted outfitters' more than $60,000, collectively, each day in business.

The access status will be reviewed daily by the team battling the 676-acre Rum Creek Fire and the Bureau of Land Management to determine whether conditions allow for boaters to safely paddle past the flames.

"We were able to come up with some agreements, some sideboards, to operate on the river right now," BLM spokesman Kyle Sulllivan said. "And they're significant sideboards."

Those sideboards include that all those holding a permit to launch on a specific date must get their permit at the BLM's Smullin Visitor Center between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. that day, without exceptions.

Also, all boats must launch or pass by 10 a.m. the Grave Creek boat ramp just upstream of the main fire area around Rainie Falls, which is about 2 1/2 miles from the Grave Creek ramp.

The plan is to get all boats through the fire area by noon due to increased fire activity and helicopter use of the river.

River users must stay in their boats until they complete the 5 river miles from Grave Creek to Russian Creek, which is just below Wildcat Rapids, according to BLM. That's the downstream boundary of the Rum Creek Fire closure area.

A BLM river ranger in a boat will be posted on the river, and another will be at a pool upstream of Rainie Falls, where firefighting helicopters will be collecting water as part of firefighting efforts, according to BLM.

Additional information about safety measures will be given to float leaders when they pick up their permit at the visitor center.

The quick about-face on the floating closure means big business for outfitters who charge anywhere from $1,000 to $1,600 for four-day floats set to launch on specific days based on the outfitters' permits and bookings.

Michael Hughes, who is the fire liaison for the Wild Rogue Outfitters Association, said a Tuesday meeting with fire managers and BLM officials helped show river and fire managers that such a plan can safely keep this peak of the rafting season in place.

"As outfitters, we've been in this position before, and we were able to show how we can manage risk," Hughes said.

Hughes said the one-day closure might have been sidestepped if that Tuesday meeting had happened the day before, but he respects the decisions and process as it played out here.

"It was quick; it was fast, but it was like, 'Whoa, we're ready for this,'" Hughes said.

But it's not all blue skies and blue water ahead quite yet.

BLM will consult daily with the Rum Creek Fire management team, and BLM, which manages this stretch of the Lower Rogue Canyon, will make the call on whether boaters can launch that particular day, Sullivan said.

Updates on the daily river status will be posted at 6 a.m. on the fire's Facebook page facebook.com/rumcreekfire2022.

Those who had permits for Tuesday's scuttled launch at Grave Creek were encouraged to work with visitor center staff to get a permit for later this season, Sullivan said.

BLM is looking into a way to perhaps prioritize permit draws next year for those who can't reschedule this year, Sullivan said.

The Lower Rogue Canyon permit season runs May 15 through Oct. 15.

The lightning-cause fire ignited one week ago in remote and rugged terrain 5 miles northeast of Galice.

Logan Taylor, 25, a firefighter from Talent, was hit by a falling tree while fighting the blaze Thursday and died from his injuries at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Close to 450 people are assigned to fight the fire, with most action coming from helicopters dropping buckets of water.

Mark Freeman covers the outdoors and environment for the Mail Tribune. Reach him at 541-776-4470 or email him at mfreeman@rosebudmedia.com.