Trial Brief Case No. 02CW38 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-. ? ? and presented at a number of public meetings. Various feasibility studies were ? conducted, funds were raised for the project, and the necessary permits obtained. Constntction has been commenced. (Testimony of John DeVore and Gaty Lacy.) Tourism is an important industry in Gunnison County, and the whitewater pazk is expected to be an attraetive tourist draw far both beginners and the more experienced boaters and kayakers who make up the booming paddling indushy. (Testimony of John DeVore, Gary Lacy, and Mazk Gibson). Indeed, Paddler Maguzine, which bills itself as the "World's No. 1 Canoeing, Ka.yaking and Ra$ing Magazine," has already identified the Gunnison Whitewater Park as an "upcoming whitewater pazk guaranteed to put more play in your paddling." (See Exlu'bit F.) The wlutewater pazk will also be a desirable amenity for local citizens. . Westera State College, located in Gunnison, has a populaz outdoor recreation program that will be enhanced by the. availability of a nearby professional quality whitewater pazk. (Testimony of Mark Cribson.) L,ocated just outside the city limits of the City of Gunnison, the park is ideally situated for easy access by both tourists and locals, as well as the Western State College program. (Testimony of Mark Cri'bson and John DeVore.) The pazk, which will be free and open to the public, is nevertheless expected to generate revenues in the County and the City of Gunnison. (Testimony of John DeVore.) II. The Water Court Application. The District filed an A lication for Surface Water Rights for Recreational In- channel Uses or?,Mar"ch 29, 200 with the Water Court, Water Division No. 4. The application seelts on water rights for six separate dam structures and water deflector devices that will capture, concentrate and control the flows of the Gunnison River for kayaking, boating, rafting, tubing and other recreational uses. The application was the result of a cooperative effort between the District and Gunnison County to provide a water-based recreational amenity to the Gunnison community and its visitors. . The application seeks conclitional water rights in varying flow rates for the months of May through September of each year. The flow rates vary in twaweek intervals, as follows: May 1 -15 570 cfs May 16 - 31 1190 3une 1-15 1460 June 16 - 30 1500 July 17 15 1100 - July 16 - 31 530 August 1-16 ' 450 August 16 - 31 390 September 1-15 300 September 16 - 30 270 2