Colorado Parks and Wildlife has authority to place rafting outfitters on probation or suspension, or revoke a license to operate. An outfitter also is required to have a permit and follow the rules of its local management agency, such as the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area in Salida.
Rangers have discretion in determining probation, suspension or revocation, but in general, probation lasts for one season and a company is suspended on its third season of poor performance. The duration of a suspension varies and sometimes lasts just a few days. Float trips are rationed and outfitters pay the state based on river usage.
These are actions taken by regulators against Colorado river outfitters for 2012-15, based on records obtained through an open-records request. The state does not disclose these actions as a matter of routine and outfitters are not required to do so.
2012
Canyon Marine Whitewater, Salida: suspension decreased to one-year probation after failure to pay balance for river usage
2013
Canyon Marine Whitewater: suspension for insufficient funds to pay $1,192.79 in fees owed to the state for river usage
U.S. Air Force Academy Outdoor Adventure Program, El Paso County: suspension decreased to probation for operating without an approved usage agreement
2014
Rock N Row, Cotopaxi: probation for violations the previous year, including rafting with an unqualified guide and no first-aid kit
The Adventure Company, Buena Vista: probation for eight violations the previous year for failure to maintain guide qualification records
Canyon Marine Whitewater: application for permit renewal denied after violations including operating without a valid river outfitter license
Breckenridge Adventure Tours, Breckenridge: revocation for operating without a river outfitter license and without permission from state Parks & Wildlife
2015
U.S. Air Force Academy Outdoor Adventure Program: probation for boat rationing violation
Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting, Idaho Springs: revocation for “material breach of special use agreement” for failure to submit end-of-season reports, trip logs and payment
Buffalo Joe’s Whitewater Rafting, Buena Vista: probation for failure to submit end-of-season paperwork for third year in a row, failure to report accurate rafting trips, then a notice of non-renewal of application
Boy Scouts, Rocky Mountain Council, Pueblo: probation for making money from image sales without an agreement
Blue River Anglers, Frisco: probation for failure to advise state Parks and Wildlife of change of ownership, suspension for not providing insurance records
ArkAnglers, Salida and Buena Vista: probation for boat rationing violation
Rock N Row: probation for failure to maintain trip logs, operating without one qualified guide, a warning for two passengers wearing improperly sized life vests; then suspension for not providing worker’s compensation insurance
Colorado Surf Factory, Colorado Springs: probation for making money from image sales without an agreement
2016
The Adventure Company: suspended until discussion with state officials regarding past violations and communication during search-and-rescue operation, suspension lifted following meeting
Rock N Row: suspended after audit of rafting trip logs finds inaccurate recording of commercial trips
