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APPENDIX 4 <br />CITY OF DURANGO RICD <br />PRESENTATION TO THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />Presented by Casey D. Lynch, CPA <br />President, Mountain Waters Rafting <br />Over the last 30 years commercial rafting has grown into one of the top summer tourist <br />attractions in the Durango area. The Animas River in Durango accommodates 35,000 to <br />50,000 guests each summer. Rafting in Colorado has grown by 4% per year over the past <br />16 years and is expected to continue to grow. Tourist traffic on the Animas River in <br />Durango is the third busiest in Colorado, trailing the Colorado River and the Arkansas <br />River. <br />Our guests spend an extra night, eat a few extra meals and buy a few additional <br />souvenirs. According to the Colorado River Outfitters Association (CROA's) annual <br />economic study commercial rafting on the Animas River in Durango had an economic <br />impact of $14,089,867 in 2005. <br />Ten rafting companies employ 400 to 500 employees each year. These employees are <br />students, teachers, ski area employees and retired individuals who love to share the <br />Durango area with our guests. <br />Rafting is a non - polluting industry on a renewable resource that utilizes mass - transit. Put - <br />ins and take outs need to be maintained but the river itself is not environmentally affected <br />by rafting tourists. <br />The City of Durango's future planning includes the Animas River as a center piece of our <br />downtown. The river path was considered the highest recreation priority among Durango <br />residents. A river center piece would not be much without water in the river. The city <br />must do everything possible to ensure water in the river for our enjoyment, local <br />businesses and for our children. <br />Who better to control the LOCAL water than LOCAL ELECTED officials? Durango <br />should secure its future by protecting one of our greatest assets, our water, and our river. <br />Casey D. Lynch CPA <br />President, Mountain Waters Rafting <br />P.O. Box 2681 <br />Durango, CO 81302 <br />(970) 247 -0171 <br />25 years rafting commercially in Durango <br />