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Summary Testimony Provided by Gary Lacy, December 29, 2001, for the Eagle <br />River Water and Sanitation District. <br />The purpose of this summary is to provide an outline of my opinions regarding <br />the water rights application filed by the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District for the <br />Gore Creek Whitewater Park (the "whitewater Course" or "Course") on Gore Creek. <br />As the designer of the Whitewater Course and other courses, I have extensive <br />factual knowledge and expertise concerning how and why the course was designed and <br />built. I also have knowledge of how kayakers use the Course. I have extensive kayaking <br />experience, including many national and international titles, and will offer expert opinion <br />on how kayakers use the waves and whitewater features discussed below. <br />I have designed many such courses in Colorado, including courses in Golden, <br />Steamboat Springs, Aspen, and Boulder. I have also designed many such courses around <br />the country, including Reno, NV, and Asheville, NC. The courses I have designed have <br />hosted many national and international competitions. <br />Background <br />In December 1999, the Town of Vail contacted me regarding the planning and <br />design of a proposed whitewater Course on Gore Creek in town. The Town was <br />interested in re- constructing the existing channel to create drop /pools, eddies, currents, <br />and various whitewater features to create a world -class whitewater course that would <br />bring in top boaters and be capable of hosting national and international events. <br />A preliminary and final design was completed and approved through numerous <br />public meetings and Town approval in Spring 2000. The project as approved consisted of <br />3 drop and pool sequences. <br />Design and Construction <br />The project was built by Aquatic and Wetland Co. It took approximately 8 weeks <br />to construct. The intent of the design was to transform the existing uniform channel into <br />an area with a variety of structures of interest to whitewater paddlers of all abilities. <br />While the structures that were built were made to look as natural as possible, the river <br />through the Course no longer resembles the pre- course conditions. The flow of water has <br />been significantly altered both left and right on the horizontal plane, and up and down on <br />the vertical plane. In the location of the Course structures, Gore Creek is no longer a <br />natural environment. <br />The structures built within the Gore Creek Whitewater Course are significant <br />hydraulic improvements that completely divert and control the streamflow. These large <br />structures span the entire stream and are constructed using large boulders. <br />Approximately 600 c.y. of rock was used to build the project. The rock is secured in <br />place by anchoring the boulders well into the stream channel and banks of the stream. <br />Lacy Report <br />Page 1 <br />