Durango Exhibit 7: Report on the Design, Functionality, and Physical Characteristics of the Durango Boating Park

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sufficient to provide a hydraulic of sufficient size and power to begin to attempt more powerful and dynamic moves. This size of hydraulic will be appropriate for the aforementioned pre- season paddling in preparation for later flows. At the lower structures, these flows will provide users a lower power and lower dynamic region of the park. This section will allow for easier recovery, less difficult to surf features, and larger gaps between drop structures. This type of layout is more appropriate for novice to mid -level boaters but will also attract some usage from all types of boaters. The May through the end of June flows provide for Durango's tourist and run -off season. These flows will provide for powerful and dynamic boating at the boating park for boaters of many abilities. These flows are also an ideal attraction for instructional and regional to national level events. At these flows there will be relatively powerful play features, sharply defined and relatively powerful eddylines, drop features, and jets of current. There will also be some variety to the features. Rafters will also seek out these seasonal high flows for the increased power, bounciness, and dynamics of the river. The large features in the boating park will form the key attraction on the rafted section of the river and will help attract both first time and return customers. Lower structures will continue to provide the relative usage that was seen at earlier flows. The required flow regime for these structures is less than that at the upper structures but is relatively more than earlier in the season. It is the intention that these structures, at the requested flows, provide for novice and intermediate uses, provide an extension to the upper part of the course, provide increased variety in the rafting and float through boating experience, and serve as an attraction to alternate users than the upper structures. Included in the May June flows is a two -week period of higher flows that are reserved for Durango's marquis international level events. This flow will provide an attraction for major international freestyle and slalom events that will have a dramatic impact on tourism to Durango as well as Durango's reputation as a whitewater destination. At these levels the features, particularly the play features, will be larger, more powerful and defined, and will provide for dynamic aerial freestyle maneuvers that are particularly challenging and attractive to elite level boaters. The hydraulics formed will create ideal foam piles and will create 39