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<br />October in a good water year. Private boating, particularly rafting, will generally being in mid-
<br />April as the river starts rising and tapers off as water levels drop in late June or early July.
<br />However, kayaking and canoeing will continue all summer long through October if water levels
<br />are sufficient.
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<br />Economic Impact
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<br />Recreational use on the Yampa River is a mainstay of the local economy during summer months
<br />and is a major reason why visitors from across the country and around the world come to
<br />Steamboat Springs in the summertime. Although the City has not performed or commissioned a
<br />formal evaluation of economic impacts from river-related recreational activities, some
<br />approximations can be derived from available information. Commercial outfitters are required
<br />by City ordinance to pay a 5% fee based on the rental of flotation devices (i.e. tubes, kayaks,
<br />canoes, rafts) or other river recreational equipment. In 2003, a mediocre year for river recreation
<br />activities due to low flows after mid-July, those 5% fees amounted to about $10,400. Calculating
<br />the revenues from this 5% fee indicates that total revenues to commercial river outfitters iust
<br />from rental equipment (no sales, no guiding services, no instruction) were approximately
<br />$208,000. Revenues from the sale of kayaks, boating gear, fishing gear, licenses, inner tubes, etc
<br />would exceed this amount. Additional substantial revenues are generated from the provision of
<br />guides or instructors for river recreational activities such as kayaking lessons. These local
<br />recreation oriented businesses are critically dependent upon water flows in the Yampa and
<br />suffered badly in the drought of2002 due to extremely low flows. During such times, the City
<br />suffers negative economic impacts as well because the City's budget is funded almost entirely
<br />from sale taxes. The commercial outfitters also employ significant numbers oflocals during the
<br />spring, summer and fall months as store clerks, guides, paddling instructors, shuttle drivers, river
<br />monitors, etc.
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<br />... Without" doubt, the largest economic impact would be the expenditures of visitors or tourists who
<br />engage in some form of river recreation when in town. The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort
<br />Association estimated the summer visitation population is over 200,000 people. These visitors
<br />are generally staying for several days while renting condos or motel rooms, eating in local
<br />restaurants or buying groceries, buying fuel, sporting goods, general goods and services, etc. and
<br />engaging in the many forms of outdoor recreation that Steamboat offers. The Chamber estimates
<br />the average stay at 2.5 to 4.5 nights with average expenditures of $70 to $90 per day per person.
<br />Using a very conservative figure of $80/day, according to the Chamber, total direct summer
<br />visitor expenditures can be estimated at a minimum $50,000,000 to $72,000,000 per year.
<br />Conservatively assuming that only half of the over 200,000 summer visitors engage in some form
<br />of recreation on theYampa (i.e. kayaking, tubing, canoeing, swimming, wading or simply
<br />enjoying the Core Trail along the Boating Park), one could conclude that some $20,000,000 to
<br />$35,000,000 per year in direct revenues are ast least partially attributable to the presence and use
<br />of the Boating Park and the associated recreational water use.
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