Code of Maine Rules › 09 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › 137 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL › Chapter 14 - Commercial Whitewater Rafting › Section 137-14-08 - Commercial OutfitterOrder of Launch

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. The
				department shall maintain and update as necessary an "Commercial Outfitter
				launch schedule" to protect public health and safety for the Kennebec River and
				West Branch of the Penobscot River, to be made readily available to the public
				on the Department's website or through the Whitewater Boating Office in
				Augusta.
Commercial trips started at other than designated launch
				  sites shall yield to trips started at designated sites. The order of launch for
				  trips starting at Nesowadnehunk will apply when the second part of the trip is
				  started in the afternoon at McKay Station.
The launch order on the KennebecRiver assumes a water
				  release at Harris Station beginning by 10:00 a.m. Any release other than 10:00
				  a.m. will result in the launch times being rescheduled from the time the
				  release actually occurs. This rule in no way obligates Brookfield Renewable to
				  release water if system conditions dictate otherwise.
B. The Commissioner will designate a launch
				director for certain days who will have authority to supervise the order of
				launch and authorize changes in the order of launch when a company is absent,
				unable to launch in the appointed order, or fails to launch in a timely manner
				or the launch is delayed or disrupted by timing and level of releases,
				accidents, or other related factors. The launch director may establish a
				starting location where trips must wait fully prepared for their
				launch.
C. The order of launch
				shall apply on allocated days, and at all other times when two or more
				outfitters contest the order in which to launch. Nothing in the launch order is
				intended to prohibit outfitters with later launch positions from utilizing an
				earlier position not used on a particular day. The filling of a vacant launch
				position shall be based upon the existing order of launch, allowing the next
				available company in the launch order to utilize the vacant position.
D. No company may be at the launch site on
				the KennebecRiver with passengers more than 25 minutes before their assigned
				launch time.
E. Companies must be
				completely away from the launch site and vicinity of Harris Dam on the
				KennebecRiver by the start of the next launch time.
F. Companies assigned to a launch time may
				exchange positions by mutual consent but any company missing their launch time
				must wait until the next unused launch position.
G. It shall be unlawful for any commercial
				outfitter, guide, or designated trip leader to fail to follow the instructions
				on launching provided by the launch director.
H. It shall be unlawful to make multiple runs
				of a rapid or rapids which interferes with or postpones the order of
				launch.
I. Non-commercial trips
				have priority and may launch before any commercial trip which has not begun to
				launch.
J. Licensed Commercial
				Whitewater Outfitters renting commercial rafts to non-commercial users must
				cover up the outfitter's assigned raft display number and fleet number issued
				by the department.