Dear kayakers: We are having a big problem now in Spain with the spread of zebra mussel. In order to have tools to discuss with water managers for a more flexible way of regulating whitewater sports, from a group of whitewater clubs we are trying to gather info about permits for kayaking all around the world.

¿ Can anybody answer, in a few lines, these five questions about whitewater kayaking in your country?

a)Water ownership is mostly private or public?
b)Agencies that regulate navigation in rivers are basinwide or statewide?
c)Is a permit for kayaking obligatory or not?
d)How much cost an annual permit for kayaking?
e)Is the level of enforcement high or not (i.e. is likely that you will be asked for permits in the river)?
f)Have you any restrictions to whitewater kayaking because of zebra mussel?

Please answer in a very short way, just describing the rule, not the exception. For example, in Spain:

a)Waters are public.
b)The management of navigation is at a basin level (there is no statewide organism)
c)A permit is needed for kayaking
d)The cost for each major basin is about 20 euros/year
e)The degree of enforcement of permits is very low.
f)Some agencies are establishing important restrictions to whitewater sports because of zebra mussel.

I will summarise the answers I get and post them back.

Cheers,
Fernando Alonso
C.P. Las Grajas (Cuenca)
[mail address protected from spambots with javascript]
www.lasgrajas.com

In South Africa, under my knowledge:

a)Water ownership is mostly private or public?

Rivers are public property up to the high water mark. Anyone can paddle them. Getting to the river might be another story. Being friendly to a farmer, asking permission, using bridges on public roads to access rivers etc are methods used. Mostly not a problem.

b)Agencies that regulate navigation in rivers are basinwide or statewide?

Agencies? What agencies? No one regulates the paddling here. That's why I paddle. To be free and unregulated.

c)Is a permit for kayaking obligatory or not?

Usually not. That's why I paddle. It's free. Only on the Blyde river because it is such a protected area and a world heritage site. Sometimes one may pay a fee to conservation if it falls in a reserve (such as the Wit River near Cape Town) or money paid to a land owner.

d)How much cost an annual permit for kayaking?

No annual permit.

e)Is the level of enforcement high or not (i.e. is likely that you will be asked for permits in the river)?

No enforcement what so ever. This is Africa. No one cares and if you get in trouble, which you won't, then be friendly and/or make up a story if you have to.

f)Have you any restrictions to whitewater kayaking because of zebra mussel?

Never heard of this mussel... sorry

I hope this answers your question. I think Africa is a bad example for rules and regulations.

Thank you very much for your info, Adrian. I'm happy to hear that you don´t have to deal with permits and all other bureocracy!!

a) Rivers are public property (there are a few old leases where it's actually private, but this is very rare)
b) Don't really know what agencies do any type of regulating on our rivers. I guess the government looks after it?
c) A permit for kayaking? NO WAY!!
d) It costs no money. However, there is the 24/7 waiting for rain, and if it does rain, trying to find out which rivers rise enough to paddle, and trying to get there!! Drought's aren't fun !
e) No
f) Never heard of zebra mussell?

p.s. this is for Australia!

IN canada


a)Water ownership is mostly private or public?
95% public

b)Agencies that regulate navigation in rivers are basinwide or statewide?

statewide

c)Is a permit for kayaking obligatory or not?

no permit

d)How much cost an annual permit for kayaking?



e)Is the level of enforcement high or not (i.e. is likely that you will be asked for permits in the river)?

we have difficulty to have access to the river because of the private property

f)Have you any restrictions to whitewater kayaking because of zebra mussel?

not that i know

I'm from Canada too - we just have to check our boats for Zebra Mussels to make sure none hitched. Other species are controlled but that mostly for fishing.

I think you can get charged if you are caught with zebra mussles tho buts thats it

In USA

1 Water owner ship is public, except for large city drinking water supplies

2. Agencies are state wide

3. no permit to kayak (but every year several states try to change that)

4. no permit, not cost

5. no permit, no enforcement needed

6. Zebra muscles are a problem in some places so those places have rules for larger boats. There are also rules for large boats (larger than kayaks) for cleaning the boats when they take out of the water because of Eurasian Milfoil and some other plants. It is very difficult to enforce, but people can get in trouble if they have stuff left on the bottom of their boats and they try to put it in t anew lake or river.