City of Durango, Colorado: Rafting and Water Flows: A Survey and Analysis of Lower Animas Commerical Operators

• Description: Durango RICD
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 9/1/2006
• Author: RPI Consulting Inc.
• Title: City of Durango, Colorado: Rafting and Water Flows: A Survey and Analysis of Lower Animas Commerical Operators
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

City of Durango: Flow Rates and Commercial Operators Finns Repot 2006
Ii. SURVEY TRENDS
RPI principals
personally interviewed every commercially
permitted
rafting operator on the Lower
Animas River.
Firms interviewed include the following:
July
30%
•
4 Corners River Sports
•
Mountain Waters
•
Outlaw Tours
•
Mild to Wild
•
Southwest Whitewater
•
Durango Rivertrippers
•
Adaptive Sports
•
Kanakuk Camps
•
Peregrine River Outfitters
•
Flexible Flyers
COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS TIMEFRAME
Generally, commercial operators on the Lower Animas River commence full operations in the
beginning of May with seasons commonly ending at the end of September - a minority of
outfitters begin their seasons in March (early season) and end in late October (late season).
Primary reasons for season beginning and end include (in order of priority): water flows,
available customers (i.e. high summer tourist season), and water /air temperatures.
Water flows are a key element of customer activity due both to the needs for minimum
boatable flows and the ability of those flows to fulfill consumer experience expectations. Most
operators noted that there is some consumer aversion to extremely high peak water flows (over
6,000 cfs) and colder earlier season temperatures (April & early May). Customer activity by
month as reported by commercial outfitters follows the general pattern shown in figure 1.
Figure 1. Estimated Commercial Client User Days by PercentagetMonth
Commercial operators reported that classes and "tune -up" clinics are often held in the early and
late seasons. Early season class /clinic customers includes both locals and visitors preparing for
the upcoming season. Late season clinic /class clients are often composed of locals /visiting
couples or singles without children. In order to make these clinics viable in the late and early
seasons, minimum water flows as discussed in the Water Flow section of this report are
required /desired.
CUSTOMER PROFILES & PREFERENCES
All operators agreed that customer groups essentially break out into three fairly distinct groups:
1) families with children, 2) organized groups, and 3) couples. Of those groups, two distinct
subcategories emerged under 1) and 2). Families with very young children (under 2 years of
970.382.9153 3
Percent( %) of Total Season Customer
May
10%
June
20%
July
30%
August
30%
Sep tember
10%
Commercial operators reported that classes and "tune -up" clinics are often held in the early and
late seasons. Early season class /clinic customers includes both locals and visitors preparing for
the upcoming season. Late season clinic /class clients are often composed of locals /visiting
couples or singles without children. In order to make these clinics viable in the late and early
seasons, minimum water flows as discussed in the Water Flow section of this report are
required /desired.
CUSTOMER PROFILES & PREFERENCES
All operators agreed that customer groups essentially break out into three fairly distinct groups:
1) families with children, 2) organized groups, and 3) couples. Of those groups, two distinct
subcategories emerged under 1) and 2). Families with very young children (under 2 years of
970.382.9153 3