City of Durango Prehearing Statement Appendices 1-4

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APPENDIX 2 DESCRIPTION OF SITE AND ACCESS CITY OF DURANGO RICD PRESENTATION TO THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD Presented by Otha J. Rogers PE Director of Public Works City of Durango The site of the proposed boating park in Durango is located at Smelter Rapids in the heart of the community. The site is on the Animas River about 10 blocks from City Hall. Vehicular access to the site is gained from South Camino del Rio, a portion of the State Highway system that is common to Highway 160 which runs east -west across the southern part of Colorado, and Highway 550 which runs north south along the western slope of Colorado. The boating park site is visible from the State Highway which carries 30,000 vehicle trips per day during the summer months, and which is expected to carry over 50,000 vehicle trips per day in twenty years. Access from the highway to the boating park is through a private drive that serves the Durango Area Chamber Resort Association, Santa Rita Park and the Durango Wastewater Treatment Plant. Pedestrian access to the boating park is via the Animas River Trail, a ten foot wide concrete and asphalt path that extends along the Animas River nearly the entire length of the City. The path includes five bridges and a highway underpass. Over the last 10 years the City has invested over $10,000,000 in improvements to the path to make it a centerpiece of the community that attracts tourists as well as recreational bicyclers and joggers. While the east bank of the Animas River is accessible to the public from the highway and the Animas River Trail, access to the west bank is limited. The pumping station for the Animas -La Plata Project lies about 1000 feet downstream from the southernmost structure of the proposed boating park. Access to the west bank is limited as a result of the security needs for the pumping station. The City of Durango owns the property on which a majority of the boating park will be constructed. The west bank and to the center of the river of the southerly portion of the boating park is owned by Santa Rita Properties, LLC. Santa Rita Properties has been notified of the City's intent build a boating park in the future and has not responded to the City with any concerns. There are no improvements on the property owned by Santa Rita Properties and development potential for the property is limited by poor access and deed restrictions on the property.