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<br />Introduction
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<br />The following chapter provides infonnation on baseline
<br />conditions for the entire study area, lnfonnation
<br />contained in this chapter is divided into four sections;
<br />recreation, land use, terrestrial habitat and aquatic habitat.
<br />Additional infonnation can be found in a prior study
<br />(Yampa River Studies, 200 I), including a description and
<br />graphical representation of river geomorphology, analysis
<br />of streambed material and water quality. This plan also
<br />builds upon a number of other planning studies and
<br />reports. These are described below, starting with the most recent.
<br />
<br />2001 Summary Report, Yampa River Studies
<br />This report presents the results of extensive field studies of the Yampa and its main tributaries within the City
<br />limits, completed during the spring, summer and fall of2001 by Aquatic and Wetland Company. Significant
<br />conclusions of the study include:
<br />
<br />No major health-related concerns associated with the Yampa or its tributaries;
<br />
<br />No obvious detrimental impacts related to water quality were observed as a result of any fonn of
<br />recreational use at the use levels observed in 2001;
<br />
<br />Riverbank degradation and resulting siltation were observed as a significant issue in certain areas; and,
<br />
<br />The majority of some 1,300 recreational users surveyed rated their experience as satisfactol)' or vel)'
<br />
<br />satisfactol)'.
<br />
<br />Steamboat Springs Area Community Plan, 1995
<br />The 1995 plan describes several relevant statements regarding the management of the river, including:
<br />
<br />The Yampa River (and its associated waterways) is one of the main features that define the scenic and
<br />natural environment within the valley, By minimizing the environmental impacts to riparian areas and
<br />limiting development within the floodplain or in wetlands, these resources can be preserved.
<br />
<br />Commercial development along the river conidor should maintain the existing scale and character of the
<br />area
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<br />The Yampa River and its banks, as well as the area adjacent to the river, provide a unique scenic and
<br />natural resource within the community, Corridor planning along the river should be encouraged to
<br />enhance the Yampa River as a linear park and expand on the recommendations found in the Yampa River
<br />Conidor Plan.
<br />
<br />An update of the 1995 plan is currently under way. The community plan update proposes a number of
<br />measures to provide greater protection of the river, including limiting development within the 1 DO-year
<br />floodplain, increasing the width of the building setback from the river, and reducing non-point source
<br />pollution,
<br />
<br />Yampa River System Legacy Project, 1995
<br />In 1996, a diverse group of government agencies, private organizations and private individuals came together
<br />to propose the Yampa River System Legacy Project, a project aimed at conserving ranchland along the
<br />river and better coordinating recreational use of the river. The group fonned in response to a new funding
<br />opportunity created by Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO). In 1995, GOCO created a program
<br />to fund larger scale conservation projects, projects that would fonn a "legacy" for the communities that
<br />undertook them, The Yampa River System Legacy Project was successful and the group was awarded an
<br />initial grant of $6 million, These funds, as well as funds from subsequent grant cycles and other sources such
<br />as the Colorado Division of Wildlife's (CDOW) Fishing is Fun Program, have been used to protect a number
<br />of areas along the Yampa River conidor as well as provide fishing access in the Steamboat Springs vicinity.
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<br />South Steamboat Area Land Use Plan, 1991
<br />In 1991, a land use plan was developed for the south Steamboat area. Key statements about the river
<br />included:
<br />
<br />To preserve, protect and improve riparian areas along the Yampa River and its tributaries.
<br />
<br />To preserve, promote and improve the diversity of vegetation, and to encourage the re-establishment of
<br />natural plant communities along the Yampa River and its tributaries,
<br />
<br />To maintain natural stream flows in the Yampa River and its tributaries, identify minimum stream flows
<br />and establish standards that promote the intent of this and other goals,
<br />
<br />To preserve, protect and improve riparian areas and aquatic habitat along the Yampa River and its
<br />tributaries.
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<br />CHAJ'fER
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