Laserfiche WebLink
s <br />City of Durango: Economic Impacts of Whitewater Recreation Final Report 2006 <br />VII. FUTURE USE AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT PROJECTIONS <br />The future economic benefits of whitewater recreation on the Lower Animas are inextricably <br />linked to maintaining the existing value and further improvement of the asset. Acceptance of <br />the RICD application and attendant whitewater park improvements will functionally lengthen the <br />season of the park to 365 days a year - a significant increase over the current typical summer <br />season. The season increases are largely gained ensuring minimum flows and whitewater park <br />improvements that channel flows in such a way as to create interesting features even during <br />low flow months. Moreover, improvements to the park will inevitably add to the prestige and <br />reputation of the park as an attraction increasing commercial /non - commercial user days and the <br />likelihood that additional regional, state, and national events will be held at the site. <br />Recreation Engineering and Planning has prepared a report entitled Report on the Design, <br />Functionality, and Physical Characteristics of the Durango Boating Park as it Relates to the <br />RICD Application. This report outlines a number of improvements and recommended minimum <br />flow regimes for the various user groups discussed in this economic analysis. Relevant quotes <br />concerning the RICD application and improvements from the Recreation Engineering and Planning <br />Report follow: <br />• "There are many advantages to developing this site [Smelter] including historical <br />use, significant physical characteristics, and the significant amount of investment <br />that has already been made into the site. Improvements could be made at this <br />site that augment the current improvements, prevent further erosion, and create <br />a signature play feature that would establish the park's reputation as a freestyle <br />destination. These improvements could also be designed to enhance the <br />shoulder season /winter season paddling experience to provide for local <br />development and training." <br />• "The subsurface conditions at the site indicate that the River bottom has the <br />ideal conditions for boating park development." <br />• "Enhancements at Smelter are intended to provide a destination park and play <br />facility while preserving and enhancing the existing slalom facility. Enhancements <br />will also be tailored to improve the site characteristics for rafting, instruction, <br />and navigation." <br />• "The intention of this flow regime is to provide for the City's intended purposes <br />at the specific structures. The regimes were structured such that from January <br />until mid -March sufficient flow is available for winter freestyle, slalom and <br />recreational paddling. At these flows there will be sufficient depth in the main <br />channel and definition in the features and eddies to allow for fitness training, <br />skill development, and low end recreational boating." <br />• "...these flows, in comparison to alternative local and regional alternatives, <br />maintain Durango's reputation as an attraction. This is to say, in comparison to <br />alternative destinations, the Animas at the boating park will be a superior <br />' All projected dollar valuations in this section are in 2005 dollars. <br />IV C..N 970.3829153 <br />17 <br />