Canoe outfitters hurt by high waters on Illinois River

(Tahlequah-AP) -- High waters on the Illinois River are leaving canoe outfitters behind.<br><br>Flood-level waters are nothing new to the region in northeastern Oklahoma and it's hurt canoe outfitters

Monday, June 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tahlequah-AP) -- High waters on the Illinois River are leaving canoe outfitters behind.

Flood-level waters are nothing new to the region in northeastern Oklahoma and it's hurt canoe outfitters the last couple of years. So says Ed Fite, commissioner of the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission.

He says flood levels on portions of the river may have scared off most of their customers.

Brian Jenni is a co-owner of the canoeing company Hanging Rock. He says business has been off at least 50 percent, hurt especially when the state shut off a road at Tahlequah and up north in Kansas, Oklahoma.

He says canoe outfitters are self-regulated and don't put canoe sin the water when the river is above 6 feet. He says only rafting is safe above that level.