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II 1-4 Roatina - -- ... Signage that identifies life developed and displayed at appropriate locations. vest requi rements access points, for water sports should be boat landings, and other WATER RECREATION The South Platte River through the metropolitan area is a valuable boating resource. The river can be navigated by rafts, canoes, kayaks and tubes. Row boats are basically restricted to the adjacent gravel lakes. Motorized boats are not used on the river. Obstructions are classified into three general types: Currently, river boating is hampered by man-made in-channel obstructions Such as concrete dams, weirs and rubble dams. The best method for achieving safe boating on the river is to construct a boat chute through the impediments and to build portage facilities that enable the boater to carry around the obstruction. Providing boat chutes (whitewater channels) is the preferred method from the standpoints of safety, flooding and fish habitat improvement. Safety: Chutes allow the boater to negotiate the drop safely if the portage area is inadvertantly bypassed. However, it should be noted that whitewater boating presents inherent dangers. As such, particularly during higher flows, boat chutes should be negotiated only by experienced boaters. Fun and Excitement: Chutes form whitewater drops that create a sense of excitement similar to running natural rapids. Flooding: Chutes provide added flow carrying capacity for the river without harming the integrity or purpose of the structure. Recreational Amenity: Chutes create pleasing whitewater and enhance the great recreatlonal opportunities of the river. Fish Habitat: Chutes create pools, eddies and riffles in the river which enhance its fishery potential and contribute to healthy, abundant aquatic life. Large Concrete Structure: 6' to 12' high and normally used to divert irrigation or municipal water. Medium Sized Dams: Generally constructed of rubble or sheet piles, 3' to 6' in height and used to divert water or to prevent upstream eros i on. Small Check Dams and Utility Crossings: l' to 3' high and normally used to prevent erosion or to protect utility crossings. Each impediment or dam has characteri sti cs unique in its structure and location. A detailed field investigation of each drop structure should be conducted before final design is undertaken. Typical preliminary design solutions for each type of obstruction are shown below. & ~ ~ ~ ~ --~ --- - ~ -- ,(,0 ~_ ;. . ",. . .' ~..,~ ,;:.. ~ . ~d? "" .... " .. - " .,,_, _'k' ~~.. ~ :~;:;~-;; Warning signage and portages should be provided at each obstruction even if a chute or modification is constructed. The design of portages (boat landings) should be of a stepped configuration to allow for water level fluctuations. _if" WHITE-WATER RAFTING IN THE HEART OF DENVER. COLORADO