(a)(1)(vi) All watercraft use in all tributaries (watercourses) in the park, including the Virgin River, requires a backcountry permit. The types of watercraft permitted are those specifically designed and manufactured for whitewater use. Operators must be equipped with USCG approved personal flotation safety devices (PFD) and helmets. The above watercraft will be allowed by permit only on the North fork of the Virgin River during periods of he year when the flow exceeds 1.50 ft gage height, 140 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the stream gage east of headquarters. This level may be determined by the minimum flow on the day prior to the day a permit to boat the river is requested during spring runoff, or the instantaneous flow during storm events in summer and fall. Further restrictions may apply due to water level fluctuation during the Virgin Spinedace spawning season. Recreational inflatable tubes are not allowed on any watecourses within the park boundaries.

Justification: While the use of watercraft is generally not considered appropriate, it is recognized that during certain times of year and under certain conditions, runoff through the North Fork of the Virgin River makes floating this stretch of water a unique, challenging, and rewarding recreational experience. As such, the use of watercraft as defined above, in the North Fork of the Virgin River (and other tributaries in the park) are allowed by permit only when the flow in the river exceeds 1.5 ft gage height or 140 cubic feet per second (cfs). The use of personal safety devices as indicated above is also required.

Permits provide a means to assess the amount of use a particular canyon is receiving, as well as providing management with a tool to limit the number of users, so that the resource is protected, and a pristine experience is maintained.

During busier visitation months, conflicts with other park users have indicated that watercraft use is not in keeping with the unique and spiritually refreshing qualities afforded by a quiet desert stream such as the North Fork of the Virgin River. The average stream flow during the summer, when swimmers and waders typically use the river, is well below the minimum levels (40-90 cfs) required for those whitewater users noted above.

The Virgin Spinedace spawning season is from mid-March to July 1st. Water levels during significant runoff events in late spring would be high enough that spinedace would not likely be affected by the type of watercraft mentioned above.