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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />arguably one of the most popular raft take-out areas in the state, and possibly the entire nation. <br />Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities related to the flood, but damages to the man-made <br />facilities and to the environment were quite significant. Immediately following the flood event, State <br />Parks personnel worked feverishly to repair the most critically damaged areas in order to restore basic <br />operations at the site, however the band-aid solutions are quite temporary in nature and a sustainable <br />mitigation project will be required to reduce future vulnerability. <br /> <br />The flood itself was caused by a rainstorm that dumped up to 3.5" in about 2 hours according to verbal <br />reports provided to the CWCB. The maximum point precipitation amount for the storm is considered to <br />be larger than a 100-year event. The Nathrop gage on the Arkansas River jumped from 700 cfs to more <br />than 4,000 cfs according to park manager Rob White. <br /> <br />An article in the Salida Mountain Mail (8/15/06) reported that a new "beach" (alluvial fan) at the raft <br />take-out site had been created by the flood. The alluvial fan extended at least 15 to 20 yards into the <br />River, causing a backwater condition that impacted the measuring capability and the rating curve of the <br />USGS gaging station located just upstream of the impacted site. <br /> <br />CWCB staff met with staff from Colorado State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management, and Lifezone <br />Ecological to discuss options for mitigation and flood protection within the damage zone. A mitigation <br />masterplan will be developed during the next several months, followed by final design and <br />implementation ofthe selected plan. <br /> <br />Army's Pinon Canyon Expansion Plans Delayed: The Army announced Dec. 7 that it will not be <br />pursuing the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) until late 2008 or 2009 because of <br />the federal budgeting process and the fact that the decision whether to expand the site northeast of <br />Trinidad will have to be made by incoming Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The Pentagon won't decide if <br />it needs more land around PCMS for several months. Local residents opposed to the expansion are happy <br />that the Army has delayed its plan to transform its 237,OOO-acre training range into what could be the <br />world's largest live-fire range. The PCMA extends from Las Animas County north toward Colorado <br />Springs. Last month, the Las Animas County commission adopted a resolution declaring its opposition to <br />the proposed expansion. An Army report issued December 7, however, does little to dispel concerns in <br />Las Animas County that Fort Carson, which oversees PCMS, is still eyeing private land for future <br />expansion. Nor does the report do anything to allay ranchers' fears that an expansion might happen <br />against their will. In fact, the report states, "It is highly unlikely that expansion of the PCMS to meet the <br />training requirements outlined in this report could be conducted solely through transactions with willing <br />sellers." The Army's insistence upon the use of eminent domain as a mechanism for wresting property <br />from unwilling sellers sets the stage for a showdown between it and Colorado lawmakers. Colorado's U.S. <br />Sens. Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard, as well as Reps. John Salazar and Marylyn Musgrave, have all <br />taken positions against the use of condemnation. <br /> <br />Allard Introduces Bill to Block Army Expansion: On Jan. 4, Sen. Wayne Allard introduced a bill <br />designed to prevent the Army from condemning land in order to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver <br />Site. <br /> <br />Allard, R-Colo., reintroduced a list of bills that he had been working on last year, but the Pinon Canyon <br />measure is dramatically stronger because it would prevent the Pentagon from expanding the 230,OOO-acre <br />PCMS through condemnation. <br /> <br />Allard stated that Fort Carson officials have repeatedly reassured them that they believe they can <br />accomplish the expansion through willing sellers, and that the new legislation would prevent them from <br />using eminent domain to adversely take private property. <br /> <br />Allard's bill also would require the Army to do a study of the economic impact on local communities if <br />PCMS is expanded and how any economic loss could be mitigated. <br /> <br />23 <br />