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001155 rafting trips. Although the City does not currently formally track non-commercial use levels (other than occasional spot counts), observations suggest that dozens ofkayakers float the river through the Boating Park at all hours of the day until dusk from April through the end of the high water season. Private kayaking during a good water year exceeds several thousand user days and attracts boaters from through the country, particularly the West. The end of the high water season is when the aforementioned tubing season begins in earnest and is at its highest use levels. Another indicator of demand for river-related recreational activities within the City limits is the fact that the City has invested nearly $200,000 of taxpayer's money in river studies, management plans and improvements since 2001. A breakdown of the major expenses is shown below. 2001 D-Hole & Rock Vanes Construction Baseline River Study (A WC) Monitoring Equipment Bank Stabilization D-Hole Repairs River Mngmt. Plan (EDA W) Hydraulic Feature Construction $ 36,500 $ 50,000 $ 3,500 $ 3,000 $ 6,700 $ 40,000 $ 57.300 $197,000 2002 2003 Times of Use Boating activities usually take place from early morning until dark, beginning as soon as snow melt starts in the spring and continuing until substantial snowfall begins in the fall, in a good water year. Kayakers, in particular, are a very hardy breed and can be seen in the play holes from ice-out on the Yampa until the start of ski season. Note the snow pack on Mt. Werner in the background of one photo on page 2 of Exhibit C. In recent years it has become de riguer to "follow the flow" (as snow melts) among the more hardcore boating community and with modem dry suits and equipment boaters are able to tolerate weather and water conditions that would have been prohibitive a decade ago. One of the prime attractions of white water rodeo events is the night-time "play wave" competition that attracts good-sized crowds for evening entertainment. In the past, this event in Steamboat has run from about 8:00 p.m. to almost midnight, under artificial lighting, so occasionally boating will occur until midnight. Exhibit B includes an article from Paddler magazine describing the nighttime event held during the Fat City Showdown in Steamboat Springs in June 2001. Because Steamboat Springs is a resort destination, demand for commercial tubing and boating is constant throughout the summer, regardless of weekday or weekend. Private tubing use occurs through the day but typically peaks in early evenings, especially on weekdays when many locals hit the river after work on hot summer days. Tubing generally doesn't begin until the Yampa River drops to 300 cfs and will continue throughout the rest of the summer until the end of -2-