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X II 1-8 Boati ng The South Platte River through the metropolitan area is a valuable boating resource. The ri ver can be nav i gated by rafts, canoes, kayaks ,and tubes. Row boats are basically restricted to the adjacent gravel lakes. No motorized boats should be permitted on the river. Small Check Dams and Utility Crossings: l' to 3' high and normally used to prevent erosion or to protect utility crossings. See diagrams at the end of the Criteria sub-section for schematic designs of the three cl asses of whitewater boat chutes. Each impediment or dam has characteristics unique in its structure and location. A detailed field investigation of each drop structure should be conducted before design is undertaken. 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/or 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: portage chutes allow the boater to negotiate the drop safely if the area is inadvertantly bypassed. Fi s hi ng/ Aqua ti c Li fe High quality fishing lakes should be maintained separately from the river channel, although some of the existing breached lakes offer added recreational boating benefits. Deep lake bottoms provide improved fish habitat and help to prevent eutrophication by permitting a bi-annual transfer of water vertically within the lake. Fun and Excitement: chutes form whitewater drops that create a sense of excitement similar to running natural rapids. An ongoing water quality improvement effort will greatly enhance fish opportunities. Thermal pollution affects the varieties of fish that can inhabit the South Platte River. Flooding: chutes provide added flow carrying capacity for the river without harming the integrity or purpose of the structure. Recreational Amenity: and enhance the great chutes create pleasing whitewater in the river recreational opportunities of the river. Fishing in the river channel proper and the adjacent gravel lakes can be improved by: .creating deep random holes in the river bottom .boulder placement to create plunge pools, riffles and resting areas .providing overhanging banks which allow for protected areas .whitewater boat chutes which create pools and riffles for fish habitat. 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. Si gnage that identi fi es 1 i fe vest requi rements for water sports should be developed and displayed at access points, boat landings, and other appropriate locations. Wading/Swimming Water quality along the river should be improved to prevent harm to people using the river for unsupervised swimming and wading. Where supervised swimming areas are recommended, the following criteria should be used: . marked boundari es .1 ifeguards . smooth, sandy bottom . gentle side slopes for easy wading entrance . good water quality (tested to meet health standards) Obstructions are classified into three general types: LargeCEncrete Structure: 6' to 12' high and normally used to divert irrigation or municipal water River Access Medium Sized Dams: 3' to 6' in height erosion generally constructed of rubble or sheet piles, and used to divert water or to prevent upstream Boat Landings: The design of landings should be of a stepped configuration to allow for various flow levels. The steps are to be 6" to 8" in height to accomodate easy boat access. The landings need to be within boat carrying distance of parking lots and trail systems.