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River access elicits lots of opinions

Wildlife, after-hours disturbances among concerns

Protecting and using the Animas River brought Durangoans together to give thoughts and voice concerns.

Durango Parks and Recreation held a public meeting Thursday evening to hear from residents about improving four river-access points, including the undeveloped Oxbow Park and Preserve.

Design is expected to start around June on river access at Oxbow, as well as on established sites on 33rd Street, 29th Street and at Santa Rita Park. The community meeting was the first in a series during the next few months that will help the city develop plans to enhance the areas.

Design concepts are expected to take into account conservation, habitat protection and user amenities.

Oxbow is divided into two parts: 38 acres of undeveloped land for conservation and habitat protection and 6 acres for future river access, extension of the Animas River Trail, park structures and restrooms.

The preserve currently is closed through June while environmental studies are underway. Fort Lewis College is monitoring on-site wells, the Durango Bird Club is looking at bird species, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is using cameras to monitor wildlife.

Tim Ford asked city consultant Ann Christensen of DHM Design how it plans to minimize impact at Oxbow and the downstream corridor from river use, especially commercial use.

“This is a very special corridor – there’s a great amount of wildlife up there,” Ford said. “There’s no doubt there’s going to be impact.”

Christensen said balance is something the community needs to keep working on.

Susan Ulery also questioned using Oxbow for commercial use. City staff members have recommended limiting the site, which has slower water, to paddling and kayaking.

“My understanding was that was not a given, and that, in fact, that would be determined based on the constraints and opportunities identified, as well as carrying capacity,” Ulery said, “because we’ve been reassured that those were things worth considering.”

One resident who lives on 29th Street said traffic at the 33rd Street and 29th Street put-ins causes headaches and disturbs the people living in those areas. The park used to have room for families, but now it’s full of commercial rafting companies and tourists, Jim Sumrall said.

It’s important to balance conservation and convenience in all the designs, Jeff Pillus said. All of the plans call for improving vehicle flow and better-organized parking.

“Be careful about the spaces you create, specifically the private spaces you create where people might congregate at night in conflict with the residential uses,” he said. “That’s usually when you have the problems – when you have people hanging out after-hours.”

The city will develop two design concepts for each river-access location and hold site visits in early May. Meetings and site visits will be:

May 1, Oxbow Park and Preserve River Access.

May 5, 33rd Street River Access.

May 7, Ninth Street River Access.

May 8, Santa Rita Park River Access.

A preferred concept plan will be developed for each location and presented during a community meeting at 5 p.m. June 11 at Durango Community Recreation Center. Construction depends on available funding.

smueller@durangoherald.com



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