River Recreation and Human Waste Some history, a review of strategies, and lessons learned

Doug Whittaker • Confluence Research and ConsultingExit Strategies: Managing Human Waste in the Wild

Golden, Colorado • July 2010

Origins: Grand Canyon• Bury in sand – wind uncovers – tp flowers or land mines• Dig large single latrine at site – dig up others• Port-a-potty – blue land mines• Realization: Grand Canyon is not big enough…

Some Numbers

• 500 to 17,000 visitors from 1965 to 1972• 6 to 18 day trips & 40 people per trip• Good camps used every night: 20 lbs. per night• >1 ton per year (before dehydration)• Glen Canyon Dam: No annual flood• Today: 25,000 visitors

Carry-out experiments

Pioneers: Steve Carothers, Roy Johnson, Larry Stevens @ MNASmart, creative, curious scientists – Grand Canyon “lifers”Many innovations and studies Main protocol:

Piss in the river Carry out solid waste

Carry-out paradigm shiftChanged some traditions (understatement)• Piss and poop in different places• Handle hazardous waste in diverse, rough environments• On boats that occasionally turn upside down• Need for some technology / equipment development• At personal, end-point, and community levels• Took some time…still on-going

Lessons learnedHavasu story

Use enough chemicalsPay attention to the heatBe careful how you relax

Lessons learnedDory story

Don’t use friction-top containersPay attention to the heatCareful storage is an issue

Lessons learnedBag story

No cheapskates – use good bagsBag in a bag OK?

Improved biodegradables

Lessons LearnedShow up with right gear

Explicit instructions(not just interpret the canyon)

User technologies

Agency / take-out infrastructureDump stations & “scat machines”User: Low fees (+ straps)Agency: $44,000Location is critical Partnerships with gatewaysFly-out issue~10 rivers nationally~5 “home grown” versionsCommunity overload?

Technology goal:Sanitize the experience

Trade-offs: weight, bulk, complexity

Diffusion & adoption

• Interagency Whitewater Committee RMS• ~50 rivers have regulations• Nearly all – multi-day trips where rafts are common• But it has spread – at least in the West

Why it works (sometimes)Room in the boat

Gear-intensive activityAgency support: infrastructure

Outfitter acceptance: professionalize gearNow in the “river culture”

Resistant populations

• Cat holes on low use rivers• Vault, pit, or composting toilets

• Floating or seasonally placed- portapotties• Mixed systems – Deschutes, Rogue, MF Salmon

•Veteran manager advice: don’t mix – commit!

The alternatives

Problems with pit toilets1980s Gulkana burn-outs and toilet digs

River carry-out systems work…• Enhance convenience & privacy• Hygiene – on-river at take-out• Easy to use• Easy and safe to carry• Not so expensive• Part of multi-day trip culture

Summary

There is much more to say about outhouses, but if you’ve ever used one you’ve probably already said it. Jay Hammond, Former Alaskan Governor

Comments and questions