WCP Online Newsletter

French Broad River - Ledges Whitewater River Park Hazard
by David Carter (email)

Contributed 07/08/2005  Responses:  0

Below you will find the request for assistance from Buncombe County followed by their initial response. Please contact me by email if you would be willing to participate in a communication meeting and/or the effort to eliminate the hazard. It will take the involvement of the paddling community to resolve this. David Carter

Dear Mr. Carter,

Thank you for your concern and interest in the Ledges River Park. The French Broad River is an integral part of our areas recreation system.

I also want to thank you for alerting us to the possible hazards with the slalom course. While Buncombe County is responsible for the land side park, we do not maintain any areas within the waterway. When this project began, there was a non profit spearheaded by the Nantahala group
to design it, construct it and maintain it. This group has since disbanded.

However, with that said, I agree with you that any hazard that exists should be corrected for the safety of our residents and visitors. Buncombe County Parks and Recreation is ready to assist you with this
problem. While we do not have the man power to undertake such a project, we can coordinate efforts, provide meeting space etc.

I suggest we set up a meeting to discuss what kind of action is possible to undertake. Feel free to e-mail me or call me at 250-4265.

Thank you,
Annette Wise (Buncombe County)



Subject: Ledges Whitewater River Park Hazard
Dear County Officials,

The general scope of this email is a request for assistance from Buncombe County in removing safety hazards from Ledges Whitewater River Park. The hazards being loose cables submerged below the surface of the water. The cables in the water are a result of a previously constructed slalom gating system, one branch of whitewater kayaking, being downed by flood waters. An expected part of the sport of kayaking is to occasionally end up "upside down". For a more experienced kayaker, the response to being flipped is to right oneself and continue paddling. For a less experienced kayaker, it may result in having to exit the boat while upside down and swim to a safe spot to re-enter the boat and continue paddling. In either case, submerged cables pose a serious and possibly fatal entanglement threat. A suggestion in dealing with this situation might be to initiate the cable removal as an exercise for an adequately trained, skilled, and equipped rescue group. This might be an approach where the safety hazards are removed while providing swift water rescue training for those who would benefit from the experience. Just a suggestion. Whatever the
approach, this extremely unsafe condition needs immediate attention. For those of us who frequent the whitewater at Ledges, most are aware of, and avoid the suspect areas. However, with the cables being submerged, I doubt anyone really knows the extent of the hazard and certainly not visitors to our area who would have no idea. I realize this is not a small undertaking and expect that the kayaking community would be willing to assist in any way possible.

Sincerely,
David Carter
Asheville, NC
828-654-2579