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<br />i,' ,) po)~' <br />'<.;> ,..:.:... L..; i'v <br /> <br />represent the minimum cross-sectional width of the river and do not relate to any <br />calculations of the capacity at the actual Charlie's Hole and D-Hole structures. <br />Furthermore these claims were made without knowledge of the design of the <br />Boating Park, or accurate assumptions about the relevant cross-sections in the <br />river in the pre-construction condition. TheHEC-RAS Model is also based on <br />inaccurate survey data that appears to completely ignore the actual depth in the <br />middle of the river channel, and thus inaccurately reduces the flood carrying <br />capacity of the river to something significantly less than the returned condition. <br />. Mr. McLaughlin's and Mr. Browning's claims that the "diversion and control" <br />exhibited by the RICD structures cannot be adequately analyzed because the <br />CWCB does not have extensive pre-construction design documents and <br />calculations are without merit. The fact is the structures work as designed to <br />control the flow ofthe YampaRiver at all of the claimed flow rates to serve the <br />City's intended purposes. In fact, on May 8, 2004, the structures were witnessed <br />working as designed at flows over 1700cfs. The proper function and control <br />through "critical depth" at all of the claimed flow rates is demonstrated by as-built <br />observations, and as-built design analysis, and was in fact admitted by Mr. <br />McLaughlin to exist on the day of his field visit. <br />. It is my opinion, as an expert in the design and construction of white water boating <br />parks, that the flow rates claimed for the Charlie's Hole and D-Hole structures are <br />the minimum amounts necessary to meet the reasonable recreation experience <br />sought by the City of Steamboat Springs. These structures create a recreational <br />amenit'j attractive to beginner and intermediate usage for local boaters. At flows <br />that approximate the higher range of the requested flows, the Boating Park <br />becomes the attraction that it was designed to be and attracts all levels of users <br />both locally and throughout Colorado and the Nation. In short, the higher flow <br />rates at the Boating Park equate to greater use. <br /> <br />My more detailed response to the assertions made by Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Browning <br />in their respective reports is set forth below. <br /> <br />2 <br />