Water Report: CO Whitewater Courses and Water Rights

Home Browse Search

s J new_. ix a.� ®ryr .�1 2, 'k.9Y +Y!l.. ♦ ♦��``tt _.i�� pi's. ~? TA 1 tt�� fy P'' r ' �/ �✓ :r�.i TM Wester /2iyhts, Water Quaff ;ty c Water .So/ut;ons ;n the Wes7` f, COLORADO WHITEWATER COURSES In This I ssue: AND. WATER RIGHTS by Kenneth W. Knox, Ph.D., P.E., Colorado Division of Water Resources (Denver) Colorado Recreational Water Rights ............ *as 1 Introduction The State of Colorado, similar to many other regions throughout the United States, is ^ Federal Wetlands blessed with rivers and streams of exquisite beauty. Many of these streams cascade � : Jurisdiction 8 through the mountains and flow toward the oceans with sufficient slope to offer rafting, v ................ kayaking, canoeing, and other types of boating opportunities from early spring through the summer and autumn months until winter ice encroaches. Individuals have enjoyed river Y: boating opportunities for decades in the natural stream channels throughout Colorado. Water Utility Within the last few years, the number of whitewater enthusiasts has increased dramatically k Conservation Project and prompted an expanding demand for defined courses that include structures designed Analysis ....................... 13 to enhance whitewater features. Local munic and count officials have responded by P Y o constructing whitewater courses or river parks in their quest to capture the economic incentives from this burgeoning recreational interest. A map (page 2) and a table Rights -of- -Way Across (spanning pages 4 and 5) have been included to help illustrate the range of existing and Federal Lands Pending whitewater courses within Colorado. 9th Circuit Ruling 22 This article provides a measure of practical insight into the legal, technical, and ..... administrative disciplines relevant to water resource management that are impacted by whitewater courses. To begin, it is important to establish the terminology and physical characteristics that pertain to a whitewater course. As to terminology, a "recreational in- Water Briefs ............... 23 channel diversion" (RICD), "whitewater course" and "kayak course" are used interchangeably and considered to be synonymous. These terms refer to the physical Calendar ..................... 27 characteristics of a "whitewater course" and are distinct from the water rights that seek to provide a protected source of water to flow through these structures. Whitewater courses are constructed within a predefined stretch of a natural river Upcoming Stories channel or stream corridor. These courses include drop structures and other flow - altering structures constructed within the stream to provide near- instantaneous course changes, elevation drops, standing waves, and other turbulence - inducing features that enhance the Instream Flow "ride" within a predefined stretch of a stream corridor. The structures are typically Science constructed of large boulders placed in accordance with a professional engineering design to retain their structural integrity under high flows and provide varying Ievels of Water Planning whitewater challenges to enthusiasts with different degrees of proficiency under changing In Phoenix river flows. The hydraulic structures are keyed (i.e., anchored), into the banks of the river and the river channel for stability. They are often grouted or cemented for additional structural strength. Construction activities within the natural stream channel are subject to = federal compliance with the "dredge and fill" requirements in Section 404 of the Clean & More. I j Water Act (33 U.S.C.A. § 404). As previously mentioned, these whitewater courses are constructed within or adjacent to municipalities, therefore they often include spectator ° seating along the river corridor to offer unobstructed views to friends, families, and others . enjoying the aquatic athleticism of whitewater enthusiasts. Issue #30 August 15, 2006