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<br />001195 <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />In October 2001, the City of Steamboat Springs, in cooperation with the Friends of the <br />Yampa (FaY) joined efforts to develop a boating park. As a result, the recreational in- <br />channel diversion known as the "D-Hole" was constructed during the fall of2001. The <br />City of Steamboat Springs modified the river upstream and built a second structure (the <br />"C" Hole, also known as "Charlie's Hole") during the spring of2003. <br /> <br />Thereafter, the City of Steamboat Springs filed an application for a recreational in- <br />channel diversion (RICD) for the Boating Park which was opposed by the Upper Yampa <br />Water Conservancy District, the Board of County Commissioners of Routt County, the <br />Town of Oak Creek, the Town ofYampa, and the Morrison Creek Metropolitan Water <br />and Sanitation District (known as the "Opposer Coalition"). <br /> <br />In October 2004, Vital Resources was contacted by Ernst Corser Associates, who <br />provided services to the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, to conduct a study of <br />kayaking activities at both structures. In June 2005, the Opposer Coalition and the City of <br />Steamboat Springs settled the litigation over the RICD application by agreeing to lower <br />the flow rates than that originally claimed as the minimum stream flow necessary for a <br />reasonable recreation experience. Vital Resources was then hired by the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board to continue the study and complete this report. <br /> <br />Methodology <br /> <br />Prior to the 2005 kayaking season, Vital Resources researched freestyle kayaking moves <br />and scoring systems by consulting with local and national freestyle kayaking experts and <br />professional kayakers, and by referring to popular handbooks and videos in order to <br />understand the objectives and challenges oftop level freestyle kayakers. <br /> <br />Beginning April 1st, 2005, Vital Resources initiated a series of observations in order to <br />quantify the number freestyle kayakers at the Yampa River boating park recreational in- <br />channel diversion structures and identify the common freestyle kayaking moves <br />performed. At these RICD structures, the "c" and "D" holes, kayaking activities were <br />observed at different periods throughout the day several times a week, both during week <br />days and weekends until July 6,2005. <br /> <br />Field interviews were conducted in order to capture kayakers' evaluations of conditions <br />and preferences (Appendix A). The interviews were formulated in order to identify the <br />range of flow that provides quality freestyle kayaking at the C-Hole or the D-Hole. Visits <br />to local kayaking outfitters were also conducted. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />Yampa River Freestyle Kayaking Study - August 2005 <br />Vital Resources <br />