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. normally the peak tubing season. Tubers can rent tubes and be dropped off and picked up from several outfitters. The commercial trips last approximately one hour, and start below the 5" Street Bridge and presently end at the James Brown Bridge. --------------1 e."'.....uaITul>lnll'Uw.o V~" :117.)01.1 ~~ Based on numerous tube counts over the last few years, Open Space and Trails Staff estimate that approximately 1/4 to 113 of all tubing use is by private tubers. The average annual number of private tubers would therefore be estimated at 7.000 users for the same period (1997-2002). Total tubing use may range from as little as 3,000 during a low water year ,',. "'" (2002) to as much as 40,000 users during a peak year. This use occurs from mid-June to September, with peak use in July and August as low flows occur and water temperatures warnl up. Following the peak use year of 1998, increasing public feedback emerged concerning overcrowding on the river by commercial tubing. The City of Steamboat Springs and several commercial outfitters recognized that, if left unchecked, increasing use would eventually result in a negative visitor experience and/or possible detrimental impacts to the health of the river, Several actions were taken to address these concerns, including limiting the level of use, time and location of commercial tubing activities. Permitted commercial tubing numbers are shown in Table 2-1. Based on a three-month peak use period, the total number of tubing trips allowed under current regulations is approximately 50,000. Comparing this total permitted capacity with historic levels indicates that the average annual number of tubing trips is currently less than the maximum permitted use level. However, demand on peak weekdays, weekends and holidays can exceed daily permitted levels, forcing commercial operators to turn away some users. Again, it should be noted that very low flows in 200 1 and 2002 resulted in fewer trips than previous "nomlal" water years. Permitted Commercial Tubing Use -~eekda~_ Fridays -r-- 203 227 ---------+------- --- i 25 35 =t=:: -I ~:: 433 500 Company Backdoor Sports Bucking Rainbow Blue Sky West lockhart's One Stop Ski ShOp Tolals Weekend 440 -35-- 190 190 60 915 Table 2-1 Pennitted Tubing Use A r\~ II. ("; A -I ) j' !\ I :\4 C :; l! i. l) i" f"' 1) Commercial tubing activities can only occur below 5'" Street Bridge between J 0:30 a.m, and 4:00 p.m. Even though private tubing levels continue to increase, there are currently no limits on private trips, ~ I' /\ N ri 1 \.! 1 d. Other Activities In addition to fishing, paddling and tubing, other uses occurring along the river include swimming, pedestrian uses, dog walking and swimming, and wildlife viewing. The Yampa River Core trail and its various access points are the focus points for these uses. This primarily concrete trail runs along the majority of the river within the study area and is planned to eventually extend through the entire reach. Periodic trail user counts performed by or for the Open Space and Trails staff suggest that well over a thousand people per day use the core trail on a busy summer day, During peak hours, more than 200 trail users per hour are not uncommon, with the majority being bicyclists. The core trail also provides residents with a year-round alternative to motorized transportation. Access User counts and casual observation indicate that use levels are not evenly distributed along the river and generally increase as you move downstream. Use levels are also highly correlated with the availability of developed public access points. Official access points include: River Creek Park (Polumbus) Rotary Park Fetcher Park Emerald Park Dr. Rich Weiss Park Downtown Areas (such as the library/community center, etc.) Multi-Modal Center James Brown Bridge Core trail along Yampa o o <::> ~ en ~ ~~ S::= -:s.;. ~ ....... .. ~. - For several key access points, such as Fetcher, Rotary or the library/community center parking lots, parking restrictions are in place, including a two-hour limit on parking during summer months. These measures help ensure the appropriate turnover in parking and provide an opportunity for all recreationists. To help alleviate downtown congestion, exterior parking lots have been developed. The multi-modal center provides parking at the edge of the study area with bus transportation to other locations. Substantial parking capacity is also available at other locations, such as Howelsen Hill. Additional parking adjacent to the river will also soon be available at the River Creek Park though it is within a designated "low use" zone and intended to serve primarily core trail users. CH/\I'TE [' \. x C e, \i