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Colorado Water Conservation Board Members <br />Mr. Thomas Browning, P.E., CWCB <br />Review of Lacy Report for Chaffee County Whitewater RICD <br />May 10, 2005 <br />Page 8of9 <br />Conclusions and Limitations <br />The Lacy Report is inadequate to substantiate the planning and engineering for the whitewater parks <br />proposed, their suitability, minimal and optimal flows for a reasonable recreation experience and many <br />other conclusions presented. On page 3 of his report, a brief section "Boating Park Design" is <br />presented which describes some of the work necessary to formulate and design a whitewater facility. <br />None of the information cited is provided, such as about users, meetings, balancing between various <br />users groups, engineering, constraints, budgeting. Further in the last paragraph, the following <br />statement is given: <br />"Once the layout of the course is established the design of the particular features are tailored to the <br />existing riverbed. In- stream modifications are difficult and require careful planning. The structures <br />placed in the stream must be stable yet create the desired feature without decreasing the capacity of <br />the existing streambed or hindering the stream's natural sediment transport mechanisms. The <br />structures are also designed to create a navigable stream at water levels that vary from typical (f)lows <br />to extreme floods. Within this spectrum of potential water levels the structure must not create a <br />dangerous hydraulic feature. Additionally, flow control needs to be established and maintained <br />throughout the boating park in order to prevent bank erosion or flow conditions that are hazardous to <br />in- stream navigation." <br />There are no facts or analysis to assure that the engineering to achieve these overall design objectives <br />and satisfy the concerns has been done. No objective analysis with supporting data is provided to <br />substantiate the requested flows, the design of the parks, and the economic and other benefit <br />conclusions presented. <br />We have conducted such work at other sites. The claim for 1,800 cfs is beyond that needed for very <br />enjoyable commercial rafting, private boating, and other activities common to the Arkansas. Further, <br />competitive whitewater boating can be satisfied at lesser flows, and there are numerous examples. <br />Boating and other usages of the Arkansas River are critically important to Chaffee County. The <br />Arkansas is well recognized as a top boating experience in the State and the west. We believe that the <br />design is deficient if it cannot provide for good boating for the greatest number of boaters, including <br />C13 <br />12596 WEST BAYAUD AVENUE, SURE 200, LAKEWOOD, CO 80228 <br />303.458.5550 FAX 303.480.9766 <br />