What’s new with the whitewater park?

Whitewater!

The word conjures images of excitement, fun, thrills, and spills. In Palisade, it inevitably leads the conversation to the question, “What’s happening with the whitewater park?”

The answer is, a lot!

Original plans called for the town to build the whitewater park at the location of the Price-Stubb irrigation dam in conjunction with a Bureau of Reclamation endangered fish ladder. Many obstacles were overcome, such as acquiring multiple easements, railroad right-of-way, and state and local permits and licenses. In addition, the town successfully navigated the project through a sea of federal regulations, site limitations, design constraints, and bureaucratic red tape. Ultimately, in spite of raising more $1 million through the hard work and generosity of many individuals and organizations including the Western Association to Enjoy Rivers (W.A.T.E.R.), the project was dealt a death blow by the $2.9 million price tag. However, the town of Palisade has not given up.

Planners have returned to the drawing board and have prepared a proposal to build at an alternative site downstream and adjacent to Palisade’s Riverbend Park. The new plan calls for three drop structures at two locations on the Colorado just below where the river turns west at approximately 38 Road and Highway 6. The park employs a “park and play” approach and will consist of 300 yards of whitewater features allowing kayakers and boaters to launch from the park, surf waves and play in eddies, before returning to sandy beaches for rest or to go into town for refreshment.

So you might be thinking, “This so sounds good, get on with it, what’s the delay?” At first it seemed very few barriers would stand in the way of building at the new location. The cost estimate was around the budget of $1 million. Donors and granting agencies agreed to the change. The new site is at property owned by the town.

Public access exists. Adjacent property owners are cooperative and supportive.

Many river users, irrigators, citizens, and businesses think the new site is even better due to its proximity to Palisade. So what barriers stand in the way of this proposal? Federal regulations!

The last obstacle appears to be the need for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit. The process involves submission of an application, a 30-day public comment period, a determination on the acceptability of the project and issuance of the permit.

The Army Corps has had the original application since mid-July but continues to insist on more information. The Town acts promptly in responding to Corps requests. The latest is submission of wetlands designation by a certified wetlands specialist (this in spite of the fact that all construction will be in the river, most below the waterline.) Palisade, recognizing the fact that the project is in the 150-mile reach of the Colorado River that is critical habitat for endangered fish species and the importance of facilitating fish passage, has also been working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Town officials are confident that the design not only facilitates fish passage but also creates improved habitat.

With wetlands designation being completed this week, Palisade expects acceptance by the Corps on Sept. 4 and release for public comment shortly thereafter.

We are optimistic, though perhaps naďve, in thinking that the permit could be issued by early to mid October and work in the river underway shortly thereafter.

With perseverance and luck, visitors and locals could be enjoying the park by next spring.