The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) on Colorado's Arkansas River have decided to discontinue counting use in Browns Canyon for the remainder of the 2002 boating season. The decision was made "due to the extreme low water conditions in Browns Canyon & the corresponding low number of private boaters using this section of the Arkansas River."

This is good news for the boating community as the AHRA Managers were conducting the counts to determine whether triggers would be hit this year requiring private boater permits next year.

AW received the following reponse from the AHRA River Manager regarding the effect of this decision on future visitor counts:

Since private boater use in the Browns Canyon section of the Arkansas River did not exceed prescribed carrying capacities more than five times in a season (posted numbers show that private boat carrying capacity numbers were never exceeded this season), use allocation (a private boat permit system) will not be implemented any where on the Arkansas River for the 2003 boating season. In addition, at this time, it is the intent of the Private Boater Education Team & AHRA to continue our education efforts next season in Browns Canyon in hopes of eliminating the need for a private boat permit system for as long as possible.