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<br />II
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<br />Visitation
<br />According to the 2000 US Census, Steamboat Springs
<br />had a population of9,8l5, In addition to residents, it is
<br />estimated that 300,000 -350,000 people visit during the
<br />winter months and 200,000-250,000 people visit during
<br />the summer months, A large percentage of summer
<br />visitors participate in activities on the Yampa River. An
<br />estimate of total annual visitation on the river by each
<br />user group is not available, An examination of known
<br />use levels:(primarily tubers) suggests that total, water-
<br />based visitation levels range between 20,000 - 40,000
<br />user days annually, This estimate does not account for
<br />non-water based recreational activities adjacent to the
<br />river, Le" trail users. Based on permitted levels, annual
<br />user days could eventually exceed 80,000, According
<br />to the Yampa River Study visitor surveys (2001), three-
<br />quarters of these users are non-residents. Of these
<br />users, only half were recreating on the Yampa River
<br />for their first time, indicating a high level of repeat Figure 2-1 Resident vs. Nonresident Use
<br />visitors, The survey also indicates that the largest
<br />single user group is tubers, This is followed by a category
<br />labeled "Other," which consists of users who participated
<br />in multiple activities or other land-based activities such as
<br />biking, The remaining 20% of users consists of anglers (14%)
<br />and paddlers (6%), Of those surveyed, approximately 60%
<br />of users were customers ofa commercial outfitter (Figure 2-1
<br />and 2-2). It should be noted that surveying in 2001 did not
<br />begin until prime kayaking season was over so paddlers, most
<br />of whom are private users, may have been under-represented
<br />in the survey,
<br />
<br />
<br />As described in Figure 2-3, recreational activity occurs year-
<br />round, with peak use occurring in July and August. These
<br />months provide the most suitable weather and flow for the
<br />greatest number of recreational activities, The seasonal
<br />distribution of visitation varies by type of user. In general, Figure 2-2 Use Levels
<br />optimal use periods for most activities can be correlated
<br />directly to river flow, For example, large boat rafting occurs during peak flow periods in May and June,
<br />General kayaking (wave play) makes use of both high and moderate flows from April through July, Optimal
<br />conditions for tubing usually occur in July and August.
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<br />Period
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<br />Figure 2-3 Optimal Use Periods by Recreation Activity
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<br />Au ust
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<br />September October November December
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<br />The natural seasonal distribution of uses helps to reduce conflicts, User conflict primarily occurs during
<br />overlapping periods, as one use ends and another begins, The exception to this pattem is fishing, Though
<br />optimum fishing conditions exist early in the year, this use occurs year-round, except during spring runoff
<br />when kayaking is most popular. Fishing, especially fly fishing, can be incompatible with other uses such as
<br />tubing during late afternoons and evenings,
<br />
<br />Commercial River Operator Guidelines restrict commercial use under certain flow conditions, These
<br />guidelines are presented in Appendix B.
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