Laserfiche WebLink
Abstract <br />This report was prepared to support the application for water rights by Chaffee County <br />for two Boating Parks (hereinafter the "Boating Parks"). These parks aze the Buena Vista <br />Boating Park and the Salida Boating Park, both of which are located in the Arkansas River. This <br />repoR details the qualifications of the author as the parks designer, as an expert kayaker, and as <br />an expert witness with respect to the uses of boating park generally, and to these two boating <br />parks in particular. It further details the design process, objectives, and structures used in these <br />Boating Parks. It also discusses the attributes of the Boating Parks at varying flow levels. The <br />report concludes that the sites chosen for the Boating Parks were appropriate and that these <br />structures aze used to capture and control the Arkansas River in order to create a recreational <br />attraction for Chaffee County and for the Towns of Buena Vista and Salida. It further concludes <br />that these courses will attract the desired level of use, expert boaters and large events, thereby <br />meeting the goals of the Ciry, if the flows are at, or above, the claimed levels. <br />Introduction <br />The purpose of this report is to provide information regazding the water rights application <br />that has been filed by Chaffee County. As the designer of these Boating Parks, I have extensive <br />factual knowledge of and expertise regarding how and why the Boating Parks were designed. As <br />an avid kayaker, I also have extensive knowledge of how these Boating Parks have and wil] be <br />used. <br />I have designed many such boating pazks azound the country, including boating parks in <br />Salida, Golden, Vail, Breckenridge, Gunnison, Aspen, and Boulder, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; <br />Ogden, Utah; and Green River and Casper, Wyoming. The boating parks I have designed have <br />hosted numerous national and internationa] competitions. Based on my experience as an avid <br />kayaker and a whitewater course designer, it is my opinion that these Boating Pazks will be two <br />of the best in the region. <br />It is my opinion that both of the Boating Parks will function best at the flow rates <br />claimed. These flow rates will turn the Boating Parks into a facility capable of holding <br />whitewater events, and will result in the highest amount of use of these Boating Pazks for <br />boating, kayaking, tubing, rafting, floating, canoeing and other such general recreation uses by <br />the general public. The Boating Parks will be used by mar�y boaters at the lower claimed flow <br />rates. However, the quality ofthe Boating Park will be enhanced, and use will increase, as flows <br />increase. In fact, the claimed flows make the Boating Park the recreational attraction it was <br />designed to be. <br />-1- <br />