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<br />001723 <br /> <br />the Test did not drop below approximately 800 cfs at the Bluff <br />gage, and, in fact, increased during the Test because of <br />thunderstorms upstream and flows from tributary washes <br />between Bluff and Farmington. <br /> <br /> <br />Optimum flows for rafting average 1,000 to 3,000 cfs and <br />rafters do not put in below 500 cfs because of safety <br />concerns. Between 500 to 1,000 cfs, they must use smaller <br />boats, reducing their efficiency and increasing costs. <br /> <br />Fewer rafters resulted in reduced business for restaurants, <br />motels, shuttle services, convenience stores, and gift shops. <br />Several business owners observed that tourism in general was <br />lower in the first week of July before the Test than it had been <br />in the past during the same time period. <br /> <br />Observations in the Bluff, Mexican Hat, and Clay Hills areas <br />point to the likelihood that long-term adverse impacts to <br />rafting will result from 250 cfs releases occurring in <br />conjunction with low levels of precipitation and return flow <br />from irrigated fields. As a result, related businesses, such as <br />motels, lodges, restaurants, and others will also be impacted. <br />Recreation use overall may decline. Additional review of <br />hydrologic modeling may be needed to totally assess impacts. <br /> <br />Method <br /> <br />Data were collected by interviewing anglers, fishing and <br />rafting outfitters, retailers, fishing and rafting lodges, <br />restaurants, motels, service stations, rafters, State and Federal <br />workers, and others. Interviewees were asked to fill out <br />\ <br />surveys; however, few completed surveys were returned to <br /> <br />Summer Low Flow Test Report - November 2001 <br /> <br />- 17- <br />