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<br />RECREATION <br /> <br />Affected Environment: The Arkansas River is one of the most popular boating rivers in <br />the country. The river is managed by the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). The <br />river is broken into 6 segments each with its own carrying capacity for both commercial and <br />private boaters. Commercial boating companies are required to hold an agreement with AHRA <br />to operate on the river. Commercial boaters have reached their capacity in some sections ofthe <br />river and are now managed through a rationing system. Private boaters are not required to have a <br />permit since they have not reached their capacity in any of the river sections. <br /> <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: With the popularity of play boating in these <br />constructed whitewater parks there is strong indication that the private boating capacity may be <br />exceeded in the section of river where the whitewater park is to be built. The proponents of this <br />proposal have requested to (AHRA) that an exception to the capacities be granted for the <br />whitewater park. This exception has not been granted yet and it is not known at this time if it <br />will be granted. A private boater permit system may be needed ifthis exception to capacity is <br />not granted and private boater capacities are reached. The installation ofthe whitewater park is <br />not anticipated to cause anything more than minor impacts to the overall recreation situation in <br />this portion of the river. The project will make more of the river available for a variety of <br />recreation users and will enhance the recreation opportunities being provided by both the AHRA <br />and the Town of Buena Vista. <br /> <br />SOCIO-ECONOMIC <br /> <br />Affected Environment: The Town of Buena Vista is very tourism oriented, with a large <br />focus on river recreation. The town has previously developed other facilities upstream of the <br />project area for the purpose of river related recreation, including a rafting put-in. The river park <br />is heavily used by a variety of recreationists and residents from both Buena Vista and outside the <br />area. Some ofthis use also goes onto the property to be developed, primarily fishing and <br />boating. <br /> <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: The installation of the developments on the <br />private lands adjacent to the river will enhance the overall economic situation in Buena Vista. <br />The whitewater park will attract more boaters to the area, thereby generating recreation related <br />revenues in the community. The portion of the project on public lands is only a minor portion of <br />the overall project and the economic impact ofthat development is proportionately minor. <br /> <br />TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS <br /> <br />Affected Environment: Public access to the BLM lands involved in the proposal is <br />currently very limited. No public easements exist through the Selby Property for directly <br />accessing the BLM lands on the west bank of the Arkansas River. Currently, the only ways that <br />the public can legally access the west bank are either by floating down the river or fording across <br />it from the eastern side. <br />