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<br />Chapter 2 - Identification of Problems, Opportunities <br />and Needs <br /> <br />Twenty-three individuals representing potentially affected interests attended <br />the July 1995 open public forum. They discussed issues, problems, <br />opportunities and needs associated with the Silt Project. The discussion <br />was limited to problems and opportunities that new or enhanced uses of <br />Silt Project facilities might address. The following text highlights the major <br />problems and opportunities identified and discussed at that session as well <br />as problems with the Colorado River diversion, which were identified during <br />subsequent discussions with the SWCD. <br /> <br />Recreational Use is Limited <br /> <br />According to the Colorado State Parks, visitation to Rifle Gap has increased to <br />almost 10 times the visitor load for which recreational facilities were designed and <br />constructed. Much of the recreational infrastructure is 30 years old and <br />improvements and rehabilitation are badly needed. In 1965-67, when the Sage <br />Campground was built, estimated annual visitation was 10,000 to 12,000. <br />Current visitation averages about 100,000 annually. As the reservoir is used for <br />its primary purpose, irrigation, pool levels drop during the summer months, <br />impacting the recreational user. It's estimated that in about 11 % of the months <br />of August since the reservoir was constructed, the bottom of the boat ramp has <br />been out of the water. Visitation levels drop significantly as reservoir levels drop. <br /> <br />City of Rifle representatives believe visitation to Rifle Gap during the Memorial Day <br />to Labor Day time period has a significant impact on the local economy. The July <br />4!!! to Labor Day period is even more critical as a larger portion of the project's <br />visitation is from outside the immediate area. Direct beneficiaries of increased <br />visitation are the retailers of gasoline, groceries, sporting goods, etc. <br /> <br />Reclamation and Colorado State Parks are cooperating in the planning, design, <br />funding and construction of rehabilitated and new recreation facilities at several <br />Federal reservoirs on the west slope of Colorado, including Rifle Gap. An <br />approximate $7 million investment in improved recreational facilities is scheduled <br />to begin at Rifle Gap in the year 2002. However, a major limiting factor affecting <br />the recreational experience at Rifle Gap is the drawdown of the pool in mid to late <br />summer for irrigation purposes. Recreational interests believe that higher pool <br />levels in the late summer could contribute significantly to the recreational <br /> <br />8 <br />