Loud and obnoxious behavior, drug use, beer kegs and obscene scenes of public drunkenness and nudity will soon be a thing of the past on the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers. The favorite play ground of Missouri’s floaters and campers has not been friendly to a G-rated crowd for several years now. Lynett Peters of Rivers Edge Resort near Eminence, Missouri says, "The bad behavior hurts business during the Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Our guests are a little bit different clientele. We charge higher fees and that detours that kind of behavior. We are a family resort, we live here and raise our children here. Our rules prohibit such behavior here. We are also a bit farther from St. Louis and the majority of younger party goers are not willing to drive as far."

Still that does not keep those who venture into the area from floating by along that section of the Jacks Fork River with all unrestraint and lewdness.

Lynett says, "That is the responsibility of the Parks Department. They did make quite a few arrests last year and word gets around quickly. Just knowing that the patrols are out there on the river doing their best makes me feel better."

The unabashed party crowd will now be scrutinized by the authorities who will enforce a new code of ethics on both land and water recreation along the scenic water ways of the Jacks Fork River and the Current River. The new regulations signed Wednesday, March 14, 2007 by Noel Poe, Superintendent of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, will take effect May 1^st. The specific provisions will address limiting the use of alcohol and limiting behavior that is of a profane nature by fining and arresting those who choose to do such unlawful acts.

The beer bongs, kegs and jell-O shots are prohibited from the water and at specific land locations prohibited to 50-feet from the waters edge as well as a restriction of large volume alcohol containers on camp grounds in the park itself.

Noel explains the expansion of this compendium into law. "If passed, this would be a federal law as the National Parks are federal areas governed by the federal government. Under the law use of and management of such natural parks give the superintendent authority to designate specific uses and regulations. In the current need for restriction of the abuse of alcohol on the troublesome areas that have muddied the Current and Jacks Forks Rivers, the designation for defining a receptacle for drinking alcohol has been set forth in the ‘07 Compendium."

A Compendium is like a step gap or a temporary regulation. Currently the process to make the temporary regulation into a federal law is a three-year series of internal review, then a public review that leads to a decision of denial or permissible law. This will depend on how the program is viewed by the progress of eliminating the problem of excessive abuse of alcohol and the need to expand the program to include the entire riverway and all the National park locations in Missouri or no longer needing the Compendium to enforce each specific problem along the Current River at the Jacks Fork confluence.

Noel explains, "The education of the public will begin in May as Rangers and Parks employees offer specific instructions about what is and is not allowed and where the regulation applies in the form of alcoholic receptacles and how much alcohol is permitted on and near the riverway, as well as other specific regulations concerning safety and specific behavior in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Oral and written warnings will be given for those who attempt to enter the area with Styrofoam coolers and large volumes of alcohol. In repeated offences or acts of mis-appropriateness federal citations will be issued with the offender appearing before a federal judge in Cape Girardeau, Missouri or choosing to pay the citation. A $50 fine will be issued for offences of each beer bong and equal receptacle violation, a $100 fine will be required for each disorderly conduct issuance and an arresting Park Ranger authority will transport all respondents of drunkenness, fighting, threats and similar misconduct to a county jail until they are sober and released with a federal citation or transported to Cape Girardeau to face the judge. The system is in place to handle each regulation that is violated with oral warnings up to a physical arrest."

Both Jack’s Fork and Current Rivers are a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The park is one hundred and thirty-four miles of the Current with its tributary the Jacks Fork winding through four adjacent counties, Shannon, Carter, Texas and Dent.

According to Mr. Poe, "The National Parks Service lost control of the rivers in the late 1990's due to budget cuts that resulted in not as many Parks Rangers. People who visited the park did not appreciate that they were in a National Park and the area became a party spot. In these regulations and in educating the public we are attempting to regain control of the rivers. We have made lots of progress in the last three years and the next few years will do more to bring a stop to the party goers. They will just have to find some other place to take the party. It is just not appropriate in the National Parks system."

Nearby the famous Johnsons Shut ins invite visitors for unique views and enjoyment of the one of a kind vista along the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Another problem that is addressed in the regulations that cover behavior along the Current and Jacks Forks is jumping and diving into the waters. On a visit to the Shut ins several years ago I witnessed a teenage jumper dismount the cliff and dive into the waters only to return again for another cliff diving exhibition. Noel stated, "It is more than a safety hazard due to lower water levels after a few years of drought. It has become a part of the party scene where people jump into waters where canoes are passing to upset and overturn them. People may be hurt, they can lose their belongings or worse."

Noel Poe has called for a return to the waters by Missouri families and out of state visitors, "We want the partying to stop we want families and organizations like the Boy Scouts to come back to the state park and enjoy the safety of playing and recreation in and by the Ozark National Scenic Waterways."

The tell tail signs of trash litter and beer can stacks explain the derogatory war whoops of boatloads passing in obscurity of the trees upon the fast-moving waters. In plain sight of campground visitors, the handful of rowdies who say and do whatever they wish has caused complaints and distress. One year during vacation we set out to a favorite camping location along another popular Missouri riverway to fish and enjoy a quiet peaceful retreat along the river. After touring the local campgrounds for a select spot to pitch a tent at the waters edge we finally found a clean campground and set camp. We were treated to a visage of the boaters cursing rallies from upstream and watched as several boatloads drifted past with drunken occupants so course in behavior and disrespect that they gave us cause to question our safety. In curbing the behaviors of the boaters and campers along the Ozark National Scenic Waterways there may be hope for peace like a river along other Missouri waterways soon.