From the Glenwood Springs Independent:
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on its environmental assessment of the proposed Gore Canyon Whitewater Park at the Pumphouse Recreation Site on the upper Colorado River.
Grand County was recently awarded historic water rights for constructing this water park. The county has submitted a right of way application with the BLM to build the feature across the full width of the river upstream of the Pumphouse boat launch 2.
The feature consists of engineered boulders and block-like concrete objects placed across the stream channel that are not visible at normal flows and allow for fish passage at all flow rates. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall.
“The project would provide a unique recreational experience for the 60,000-70,000 people that visit the area each year,” said BLM Kremmling Field Manager Stephanie Odell. “It would also provide permanent protection for water flows supporting recreational floatboating.”
Developing a recreational in-channel diversion below Gore Canyon implements part of the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement among Denver Water and more than 30 Western Slope entities.
The BLM is writing an environmental assessment of the proposal that addresses multiple alternatives for the waterpark’s location and construction.
A copy of the preliminary environmental assessment, including maps, is available at http://www.blm.gov/CO/KFO. BLM will accept written public comments through Feb. 28.
Comments should be addressed to Annie Sperandio, Realty Specialist, Kremmling Field Office, P.O. Box 68, Kremmling, CO 80459.
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