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Saturday, May 24, 1997

River outfitters, tubers expect better summer after last year's drought

By KELLEY SHANNON / Associated Press Writer

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (AP) - Along the Guadalupe River, shop owners who supply rafts and inner tubes are happy - downright delighted - and summer hasn't even officially begun.

"It looks like it's going to be good," said a smiling Steve Abbott, owner of Abbott's River Outfitters Inc.

"Wonderful!" said Dusti Blalock, who works at the nearby Tube Haus.

Where shallow water and exposed rocks dominated the scenery a year ago because of the drought and low stream flow, the picture now is one of a rolling Guadalupe River near New Braunfels.

Rainfall late last fall and this spring have kept the level of Canyon Lake high enough so that the popular stretch of the river below the lake's dam has an abundant, steady flow.

And as the Memorial Day weekend began Friday, river outfitters, along with area restaurateurs and hoteliers, hoped the improved conditions translate into the start of a profitable summer season.

"It is the biggest tourism weekend of the year," said Jim Scheele Jr., director of New Braunfels Convention and Visitors Bureau. He predicted this city of about 30,000 will be swarming with 150,000 people this weekend.

The visitors bureau has established a toll-free "water hotline" and launched a statewide ad blitz to tell out-of-towners that drought conditions aren't a problem now, "letting people know, 'Hey, yes, we do have water - come down and see us,' " Scheele said.

Zero Rivers, owner of Rockin' R River Rides, one of the largest outfitting companies along the Guadalupe, expects a good season.

"The key to this business has never been sunshine and heat. The key has always been water," Rivers said. "You can knock me over with a feather if anyone in the outfitting business doesn't set a record this year."

In fact, at some points this spring the river has been so swift tubing was out and only rafting trips led by experienced guides were encouraged. Now the Army Corps of Engineers is working with Guadalupe River businesses to adjust the river's flow so that on weekends it is more suitable for tubing, a flow of around 700 cubic feet per second.

When the flow is higher than 1,000 cfs, the river is considered OK for rafting, but river-goers are warned some areas may be too rough for inner tubes, Scheele said.

By contrast, the flow this time last year was around 130 cfs. Tubers sometimes scraped bottom, and river rides that normally took an hour to complete could last four hours.

Despite the "bad publicity" last year, river enthusiasts across Texas seem to be getting the message things are different now, Rivers said.

"The phones have been unbelievably busy," he said, explaining that customers are calling to check on water conditions and make plans for this weekend's launch of the summer season.

"It's going to be a real good year," he said.

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The water hotline operated by the New Braunfels Convention and Visitors Bureau is (800) 572-2626. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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