Field Reports: Payette guide drowns

An experienced Idaho river guide drowned July 1 after the raft he was steering with a group of tourists capsized in the Payette River and his foot got caught beneath a rock, the guide company owner said.

Dean Fairburn, 45, of Garden Valley, had been a guide for eight years for Whitewater Unlimited.

The accident occurred on a stretch of whitewater known as Staircase Rapids. Everybody else in the raft was able to swim to shore, but Fairburn couldn’t free himself.

River runners are trained to try to keep their feet up and downstream if they capsize to avoid foot entrapment. Once a foot is wedged under a rock or into a crevasse, the river flow can force a victim over and lock him in place underwater.

Staff and wire reports

FISHING

Fishing rules corrected

Corrections for 21 errors in Washington’s 2007-2008 Fishing in Washington sport regulations pamphlet have been issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Many of the errors relate to salmon fishing on specific stretches of rivers in Western Washington plus some restrictions for fishing and crabbing in Puget Sound.

Corrections for errors involving Eastern Washington waters include specifications for closed fishing waters on the Methow River as listed on page 80.

One of the corrections notes that the all-gamefish season has been extended to Sept. 30 from Gold Creek to Foghorn Dam (1 mile upstream of Winthrop). The catch-and release, and selective-gear rules still apply.

Details on all of the corrections and updates to state fishing rules are posted on the department’s Web site at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/ regs/fishregs.htm.

Rich Landers

OUTPEOPLE

Moore back to IFG

Virgil Moore, former fisheries chief for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is coming back to Idaho, 11 months after becoming director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Moore, 55, who left Idaho in August to take the job in Oregon, has been hired as deputy director of Idaho Fish and Game.

“He knows our operation inside out, having served in several regional positions, and as chief of two of our bureaus,” said Director Cal Groen. He was a highly respected and effective leader while here, and his experience in Oregon makes him even better.”

Moore spent 29 years with Idaho Fish and Game before taking the Oregon position.

Moore will replace Terry Mansfield who is retiring in mid-August. Moore’s letter of resignation to Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski cited personal reasons for leaving. His wife and family, including two grandchildren, are in Idaho.

Moore has lived in Pocatello, Salmon, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls and Boise.

Staff reports

BOATING

Boaters sign up for classes

Soon, virtually all Washington powerboat operators will have to pass a safety course, according to a law adopted by the state legislature two years ago.

The Spokane Sail & Power Squadron has been offering a U.S. Coast Guard-approved eight-hour classroom course that meets state requirements.

The next class is scheduled to start Aug. 6 and will run on four consecutive Monday evenings at the squadron’s clubhouse, 925 W. Jackson. Cost: $40.

Other four-session courses will start in October and November.

Info: (509) 328-6165.

Rich Landers