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Chapter 2 - Identification of Problems, Opportunities and Needs Twenty-three individuals representing potentially affected interests attended the July 1995 open public forum. They discussed issues, problems, opportunities and needs associated with the Silt Project. The discussion was limited to problems and opportunities that new or enhanced uses of Silt Project facilities might address: The following text highlights the major problems and opportunities identified and discussed at that session as well as problems with the Colorado River diversion, which %vere identified During subsequent discussions with the SWCD. Recreational Use is Limited According to the Colorado State Parks, visitation to Rifle Gap has increased to almost 10 times the visitor load for which recreational facilities were designed and constructed. Much of the recreational infrastructure is 30 years old and improvements and rehabilitation are badly needed. In 1965-67, when the Sage Campground was built, estimated annual visitation was 10.000 to 12.000. Current visitation averages about 100,000 annually. As the reservoir is used for its primary purpose, irrigation, pool levels drop during the summer months, impacting the recreational user. It's estimated that in about 11 % of the months of August since the reservoir was constructed, the bottom of the boat ramp has been out of the water. Visitation levels drop significantly as reservoir levels drop. City of Rifle representatives believe visitation to Rifle Gap during the Memorial Day to Labor Day time period has a significant impact on the local economy. The July 0 to Labor Day period is even more critical as a larger portion of the project's visitation is from outside the immediate area. Direct beneficiaries of increased visitation are the retailers of gasoline, groceries, sporting goods, etc. Reclamation and Colorado State Parks are cooperating in the planning, design, funding and construction of rehabilitated and new recreation facilities at several Federal reservoirs on the west slope of Colorado, including Rifle Gap. An approximate $7 million investment in improved recreational facilities is scheduled to begin at Rifle Gap in the year 2002. However, a major limiting factor affecting the recreational experience at Rifle Gap is the drawdown of the pool in mid to late summer for irrigation purposes. Recreational interests believe that higher pool levels in the late summer could contribute significantly to the recreational 8