However, according to a press release from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, this popularity has led to challenges.

“In addition to fishing, the DWR has allowed other recreational activities on the WMA through the years,” the release said. “One of those activities is recreational tubing, which started slowly but then exploded in popularity on the river about 20 years ago. Now, during weekends and holidays in the summer, the WMA’s 150-space parking lot is typically overflowing with vehicles driven by people coming to float the river in tubes.”

As a result, tubers will notice some major changes starting this summer.

“To help manage tubing at the WMA, the DWR has entered into an agreement with a private concessionaire to manage the WMA on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend,” the release states.

Among the updates for people wanting to park on the WMA to go tubing:

• The public will be allowed to enter the WMA for free Mondays through Thursdays, except for holidays that fall on a weekday, such as the Fourth of July. The new concessionaire won’t be at the site on those days.
• A fee of $10 per vehicle will be charged to park on the WMA on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and “other times of peak use,” according to the release. That fee rises to $15 for vehicles containing eight or more people. On those days, the concessionaire will be present to rent tubing equipment, sell snacks and drinks, and maintain the parking area and restrooms.
• Visitors wishing to fish in the area but not engage in tubing won’t be required to pay the fee because, as the release states, the area initially was paid for by fishing license funds. Some of the parking spots will be made available to anglers.

In an email to the Standard-Examiner, Faith Jolley — public information officer/outreach section assistant chief with the DWR — said several factors led the agency to hire a concessionaire.

“In the last few years, there has been an increase in outdoor recreation, including tubing in this area,” she said. “We began to see issues on the WMA as a result: lots of littering, congestion, and conflicts between anglers and tubers using this same area. Our staff were having to spend a lot of time cleaning up this area after busy weekends and holidays.”

Jolley said AMP Recreation, which has worked extensively with Utah State Parks in the past, received a concessionaire contract for five years.

She added that having a concessionaire on-site will help the DWR in its ongoing mission in addition to aiding users of the WMA.

“Not having to repaint lines in the parking lot, provide restrooms and pick up and haul garbage after every weekend and holiday will give our staff more time to do habitat work that will benefit wildlife,” she said. “The tubing experience should run more smoothly. (There will) now be people onsite to help with parking and garbage cleanup. The concessionaire will also offer equipment rentals and snacks and drinks.”

Jolley said the amount of space available for anglers will also depend.

“Visitors with a fishing license will be able to park for free if they are there specifically to fish,” she said. “Parking may be limited to first come first serve during busy times, but we anticipate there being few people interested in fishing during the busiest periods (mid-day, etc.).”

The press release also goes on to note that there will be increased law enforcement patrols in the area and warns visitors to be careful of adjacent properties.

“If the parking lot fills up, visitors should note that the nearby Walk-In-Access properties are not to be used for tubing or other forms of outdoor recreation, besides fishing,” the release said. “These are private properties that are leased to allow public access for fishing.”