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City of Durango: Flow Rates and Commercial Operators Fral Report 2006 <br />commercial rafting conditions. "' These improvements directly coincide with customer expectations <br />and should facilitate the Lower Animas River's total commercial traffic volumes and generate <br />additional interest in the run as a whitewater destination for rafting consumers at the regional, <br />state, and national level. Operators with experience on other whitewater river attractions nation <br />and world -wide, noted, unsurprisingly, that rivers. with consistently high /quality flows such as in <br />Ottawa Canada and South Africa enjoyed heavy year round destination traffic by boaters from <br />throughout the world. <br />WATER FLOW <br />Commercial operators were asked what the desired, minimum, and maximum water flow rates <br />are for consumer rafting. Many operators agreed that approximately 300 cfs was the absolute <br />lowest for commercial rafting - with several citing flows of 500 cfs as their low threshold; it is <br />stressed that these water levels generally offered little to no whitewater given existing features <br />and were suitable only for swimming /sightseeing trips. However, swimming/sightseeing trips are <br />an important, although minority, component of the industry as a market segment exists for this <br />activity among families with very small children and /or seniors at advanced ages. <br />All operators agreed that 1000 -2000 cfs represented desired flows meeting all of the consumer <br />preferences and provided the expectations of the wide majority of user groups discussed in the <br />Customer Prori/e section of this report. <br />Moreover, 1000 -2000 cfs flows allowed maximal boat loading and thus facilitated operational <br />efficiency in terms of consumers per rig (lower cfs require reduced boat loading and lower client <br />to guide ratio's to navigate shallower /slower moving water), and relatively quick and trouble free <br />trips allowing for higher per day volume of boats moving down the River. <br />Finally, 1000 =2000 cfs levels were said to generate the highest quality rapids through the River's <br />existing features while still maintaining a recreational experience wherein a qualified guide could <br />easily manage risk to safe levels for nearly all consumer profiles. These water flows present <br />the desired whitewater /rapid experience many consumers are seeking and consequently facilitates <br />word of mouth advertising and subsequently higher short term booking rates according to <br />operators. One major operator said simply that "more water equals more customers." <br />Conversely, operators agreed that lower flows negatively impacted business for the biggest user <br />group pursuing "controlled adventure" and appealed only to the, relatively smaller, market segment <br />of families with very small children and seniors at advanced age. <br />6,000+ cfs was described by several operators as being the maximum flow rate for most <br />commercial guiding. Although noting that many experienced recreational boaters and avid <br />commercial customers enjoyed these high flow rates, they are somewhat intimidating to the <br />average /casual or recreation oriented customer. <br />' REPORT ON THE DESIGN, FUNCTIONALITY, AND PHYSICAL CHARACTER ISTICS OF THE DURANGO BOATING PARKAS IT <br />RELATES TO THE RICD APPLICATION 2006 prepared by Recreational Engineering and Planning <br />KYt: 970.382.9153 5 <br />