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<br />APPENDIX A <br /> <br />Whitewater ParksIPark and Play Whitewater Recreation: <br /> <br />South Main Site Analysis: The stretch of river selected for the South Main River Park is <br />located just south of Buena Vista, within the planned South Main development. The lower end <br />ofthe project area is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property; however, the <br />Town of Buena Vista is pursuing a lease on this property in order to provide public access from <br />the Midland Trail Bridge to just above the Ramsour Bridge. Currently, this stretch supports a <br />limited amount of private kayaking and wade fishing; however, it is often included at the start of <br />commercial Brown's Canyon raft trips and sees a substantial amount of downstream raft traffic <br />from mid-May through August. <br /> <br />The river and surrounding land has outstanding natural qualities and are generally undisturbed. <br />The river banks are steep and congested with overgrown trees, deadfall and brush. Past this thick <br />tangle of undergrowth, along the riparian corridor, the land becomes dry and dotted with cactus, <br />sagebrush and an occasional juniper tree. Access to the stream corridor, from the top of the bank <br />is currently very limited through the project area. <br /> <br />The river itself is swift and narrow; largely class II in character with an existing class III rapid <br />known as BV Falls. This narrow section is dotted with small hydraulics and boulders that range <br />in size from five to fifteen feet in diameter; The high gradient and slight curving of the river add <br />to its natural feel. <br /> <br />Description of General Types of In-Stream Structures: In-stream whitewater improvements <br />create Park and Play whitewater recreation, improve downstream pass through traffic as well as <br />aquatic habitat. Self scouring plunge pools and slack-water adjacent to the bank will also <br />improve the interface between bank based users and the in-stream environment. Due to the <br />appealing natural state of the stream it is critical that the project preserve the natural appearance <br />of the area. <br /> <br />A general understanding of what types of structures are typically employed during recreational <br />in-stream enhancements is helpful when considering the proposed improvements on the <br />Arkansas. The structures detailed below are typically constructed using a steel track excavator, <br />carefully placing large native boulders into the stream bed to create a structure. This is often tied <br />together using a concrete grout, increasing the structural stability, safety, and functionality of <br />these underwater features. These improvements are inherently multi-purpose and can be used in <br />order to accomplish a variety of goals. <br /> <br />· Whitewater recreation <br />· Aquatic habitat enhancement <br />· Environmental restoration <br /> <br />Each structure is designed to be multifunctional and typically falls into four main categories: <br />