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<br />II
<br />
<br />normally the peak tubing season, Tubers can rent
<br />tubes and be dropped off and picked up from several
<br />outfitters, The commercial trips last approximately
<br />one hour, and start below the 5th Street Bridge and
<br />presently end at the James Brown Bridge.
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />Based on numerous tube counts over the last few
<br />years, Open Space and Trails Staff estimate that
<br />approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of all tubing use is by
<br />private tubers, The average annual number of private
<br />tubers would therefore be estimated at 7,000 users for
<br />the same period (1997-2002), Total tubing use may
<br />range from as little as 3,000 during a low water year "."""
<br />(2002) to as much as 40,000 users during a peak year.
<br />This use occurs from mid-June to September, with peak use in July and August as low flows occur and water
<br />temperatures warm up.
<br />
<br />Following the peak use year of 1998, increasing public feedback emerged conceming overcrowding on the
<br />river by commercial tubing. The City of Steamboat Springs and several commercial outfitters recognized
<br />that, ifleft unchecked, increasing use would eventually result in a negative visitor experience and/or possible
<br />detrimental impacts to the health of the river, Several actions were taken to address these concerns, including
<br />limiting the level of use, time and location of commercial tubing activities,
<br />
<br />Permitted commercial tubing numbers are shown in Table 2-1. Based on a three-month peak use period, the
<br />total number of tubing trips allowed under current regulations is approximately 50,000. Comparing this total
<br />permitted capacity with historic levels indicates that the average annual number of tubing trips is currently
<br />less than the maximum permitted use level. However, demand on peak weekdays, weekends and holidays
<br />can exceed daily permitted levels, forcing commercial operators to turn away some users, Again, it should be
<br />noted that very low flows in 2001 and 2002 resulted in fewer trips than previous "normal" water years.
<br />
<br />Permitted Commercial Tubing Use
<br />
<br />Company Weekday Fridays Weekend
<br />Backdoor Sports 203 227 440
<br />Bucking Rainbow 25 35 35
<br />Blue Sky West 85 100 190
<br />Lockhart's 85 100 190
<br />One Stop Ski Shop 35 38 60
<br />Totals 433 500 915
<br />
<br />Table 2-1 Permitted Tubing Use
<br />
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<br />Commercial tubing activities can only occur below 5th Street Bridge between 10:30 a.m, and 4:00 p,m. Even
<br />though private tubing levels continue to increase, there are currently no limits on private trips,
<br />
<br />Id. Other Activities
<br />In addition to fishing, paddling and tubing, other uses occurring along the river
<br />include swimming, pedestrian uses, dog walking and swimming, and wildlife
<br />viewing. The Yampa River Core trail and its various access points are the focus
<br />points for these uses. This primarily concrete trail runs along the majority of
<br />the river within the study area and is planned to eventually extend through the
<br />entire reach, Periodic trail user counts performed by or for the Open Space and
<br />Trails staff suggest that well over a thousand people per day use the core trail on
<br />a busy summer day, During peak hours, more than 200 trail users per hour are
<br />not uncommon, with the majority being bicyclists, The core trail also provides
<br />residents with a year-round altemative to motorized transportation,
<br />
<br />Access
<br />User counts and casual observation indicaie that use levels are not evenly distributed
<br />along the river and generally increase as you move downstream. Use levels are also
<br />highly correlated with the availability of developed public access points, Official
<br />access points include:
<br />
<br />River Creek Park (Polumbus)
<br />Rotary Park
<br />Fetcher Park
<br />Emerald Park
<br />Dr. Rich Weiss Park
<br />Downtown Areas (such as the library/community center, etc.)
<br />Multi-Modal Center
<br />James Brown Bridge
<br />
<br />
<br />Core trail along Yampa
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />For several key access points, such as Fetcher, Rotary or the library/community center
<br />parking lots, parking restrictions are in place, including a two-hour limit on parking
<br />during summer months, These measures help ensure the appropriate turnover in
<br />parking and provide an opportunity for all recreationists, To help alleviate downtown
<br />congestion, exterior parking lots have been developed, The multi-modal center provides parking at the edge
<br />ofthe study area with bus transportation to other locations, Substantial parking capacity is also available at
<br />other locations, such as Howelsen Hill. Additional parking adjacent to the river will also soon be available at
<br />the River Creek Park though it is within a designated "low use" zone and intended to serve primarily core trail
<br />users,
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