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The Seedhouse Road Coalition and Andy Wirth's opposition to the Bucking Rainbow's commercial, river rafting operation on the Elk River has brought the "right to float" issue close to home.

The Friends of the Yampa disagree with the SRC and Wirth's opinion and think that if commercial rafting is denied access on the Elk River, precedent will be set, opening up a Pandora's Box that can shut off access to many rivers across Colorado, not only for commercial operations for private use as well.

The arguments of SRC and Wirth are typical from the anti-float group. They are upset about neighbors making money off the river while they are not. Their fears of yelling and screaming guests, boatmen peeking in their windows or waving to them as they drift by their property are unjustified. Sure, there will be the bumped rock or the occasional rescue of someone who has fallen out of the boat, but honestly, how much of a burden is this to landowner's property?

This isn't a private property trespass issue, it's an emotional property issue based on smokescreen from antiquated legislation. Colorado's laws regarding boating on its rivers and creeks are out of date and imply a false expectations for those who have property along our rivers and creeks.

Their claim that they own the banks of the river and the riverbed are legitimate. We need to respect this, as a boaters gospel. But to claim they own the river surface and the air above it borders on hilarity. We'd love to see the SRC and Wirth put up the fight to stop airplanes from flying through the air above their property.

This fight is not only about river access and our right to float Colorado's rivers and creeks; it's about recreation as a whole and the ability for tourism to help drive Colorado's economic future.

Wirth, of all people, must understand that tourism is now, and forever will be, a healthy component of our regional economy. Those few hundred guests the Bucking Rainbow takes down the Elk River every year bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to our community. Where's the love, Mr. Wirth? Don't you recognize the importance of summer tourism to our valley, or do you have blinders on only for skier days? Making money off Mother Nature's grandeur is what you do best, so why are you trying to stop it here? Seems fairly hypocritical and a poor example of leadership when marketing the entire Steamboat experience.

Rivers are for everyone and owned by no one: They are as important to humanity as the air we breathe, and nobody owns that, either.

Let's hope the Routt County Commissioners understand the scope of their decision. Either way they vote, this right to float issue will not go away until our State Legislature updates the law.

Kent Vertrees, manager of the Blue Sky West rafting and tubing company, represents the Friends of the Yampa.