Title
HEARING - To consider an appeal (RUPT-A-2026-01) submitted by Emmett Cartier regarding the Planning Commission decision to:
1) Approve River Use Permit (RUP) transfer request of user day allocations from Action Whitewater Adventures (AWA) RUP 13 to RUP 28; and
2) Approve a RUP transfer request of AWA’s RUP 13 to NorCal Whitewater Adventures submitted by AWA and NorCal Whitewater Adventures.
FUNDING: River Trust Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 13, 2026, the Planning Commission approved two River Use Permit (RUP) transfer requests, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15162 and subsection 15168(c)(2):
1) Approval of Action Whitewater Adventures (AWA) RUP transfer request of seventeen (17) weekend user day allocations and fifteen (15) weekday user day allocations from AWA’s RUP 13 to AWA’s RUP 28 (Legistar file 26-1276).
2) Approval of the transfer of RUP 13 held by AWA to NorCal Whitewater Adventures (Legistar file 26-1277).
On August 17, 2026, an appeal was received from Emmett Cartier appealing Planning Commission’s approval to transfer weekday and weekend user day allocations from AWA’s RUP 13 to AWA’s RUP 28, and appealing the Planning Commission approval to transfer RUP 13 from AWA to NorCal Whitewater Adventures.
Staff recommends denial of the appeal. The appeal packet, appeal memo from County Parks and Trails Division staff, and river use permit transfer application and exhibits are attached.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose to uphold the appeal and to overturn the decisions of the Planning Commission.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar file 26-1276 - August 13, 2026 - Approval to Transfer User Day Allocations from River Use Permit 13 to River Use Permit 28 for Action Whitewater Adventures
Legistar file 26-1277 - August 13, 2026 - Approval to Transfer River Use Permit 13 from Action Whitewater Adventures to NorCal Whitewater Adventures
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Planning Commission
Clerk of the Board
County Counsel
FINANCIAL IMPACT
County Ordinance Chapter 2.09 does not require an appeal fee for filing an appeal with Board of Supervisors. Staff costs associated with this appeal will be funded by the River Trust Fund.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
CONTACT
Zachary Perras, Parks Manager