Chatfield Recreation Area to Become Chatfield Holding Pond

In this continuing series of posts over the concerns with the Chatfield Reallocation Study (http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pd-p/Plan_Formulation/GI/GI_Chatfield.html), one of the biggest concerns I have as a recreational user is the impact to all of the facilities and what makes it such a great place to go.  With over 1.5 million visitor days annually, I suspect many are not aware of the significant impact these changes could have on recreation.

On the surface, the planned flooding would seem to be a positive for the significant number of boaters that use it every summer that sometimes it looks more like a boating parking lot.    However, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, “The reallocated storage space is located at an elevation within Chatfield Reservoir with more gentle topography, creating shallow water levels with increased boating hazards. Consequently, no additional boatable acreage for motorized vessels is expected to be created within Chatfield Reservoir.” Higher target water levels would necessitate moving parking lots to higher ground. When water levels are low (at times as much as 21 vertical feet below target levels), people using hand-launched boats like canoes and kayaks would have to carry their crafts much further before they could launch them. Today riparian forests surround much of Chatfield Reservoir. During periods of low water levels, boaters would view mudflats where these forests now stand — hardly the scenery that users expect.

The flooding is likely to have the greatest impact on land-based activities.  The Reallocation Project would inundate 587 acres of land in Chatfield State Park.  People now use the land that would be inundated for activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, hiking, and jogging.  While mitigation plans are discussed, as I explained to a friend who had a question about cycling impacts the new roads and other facilities expected will be a long-term coming as Chatfield will be a construction zone for 3 years or more while these changes occur and many paths in low-lying areas will also be lost. Also biking, hiking and running around a mud bog rather than the current beautiful scenery certainly has a lot less appeal for me.

Finally something we just tried new this summer as a part of the State Parks and Recreation program, Let’s Camp is fishing.  There are expected to be significant impacts here as well.  According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, “Chatfield Reservoir’s walleye spawning program produces 30-40 million eggs annually, and will be negatively impacted if storage of water within the reallocated storage space results in larger or more frequent water level fluctuations during the spawning season. Additionally the smallmouth bass fishery is supported by natural reproduction which will be negatively impacted by larger water level fluctuations during the spawning season.”  Pictures like the one below of my daughter could become a thing of the past.

Daughter Fishing for the First Time at Chatfield this Summer

Here is what I submitted to the Chatfield Study on this topic:

Col. Robert Ruch, Commander
 US Army Corps of Engineers,

Omaha District
Re:  Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation

FR/DEIS
1616 Capitol Ave.


Omaha, NE 68102-4901

Dear Col Ruch:

I am submitting a comment today on the Chatfield Reallocation Study over my concerns about the impacts to the park’s recreation area.  My family and I enjoy using Chatfield State Park where we like to bike, run, camp, hike stand-up paddle board and fish.

I think that the impacts to Chatfield recreation opportunities have not been fully captured in the current study.  On the surface, the planned flooding would seem to be a positive for the significant number of boaters that use it every summer that sometimes it looks more like a boating parking lot.    However, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, “The reallocated storage space is located at an elevation within Chatfield Reservoir with more gentle topography, creating shallow water levels with increased boating hazards. Consequently, no additional boatable acreage for motorized vessels is expected to be created within Chatfield Reservoir.” Higher target water levels would necessitate moving parking lots to higher ground. When water levels are low (at times as much as 21 vertical feet below target levels), people using hand-launched boats like canoes and kayaks would have to carry their crafts much further before they could launch them. Today riparian forests surround much of Chatfield Reservoir. During periods of low water levels, boaters would view mudflats where these forests now stand — hardly the scenery that users expect.

The flooding is likely to have the greatest impact on land-based activities.  The Reallocation Project would inundate 587 acres of land in Chatfield State Park.  People now use the land that would be inundated for activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, hiking, and jogging.  While mitigation plans are discussed, as I explained to a friend who had a question about cycling impacts the new roads and other facilities expected will be a long-term coming as Chatfield will be a construction zone for 3 years or more while these changes occur and many paths in low-lying areas will also be lost. Also biking, hiking and running around a mud bog rather than the current beautiful scenery certainly has a lot less appeal for me.

Finally something we just tried new this summer as a part of the State Parks and Recreation program, Let’s Camp is fishing.  There are expected to be significant impacts here as well.  According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, “Chatfield Reservoir’s walleye spawning program produces 30-40 million eggs annually, and will be negatively impacted if storage of water within the reallocated storage space results in larger or more frequent water level fluctuations during the spawning season. Additionally the smallmouth bass fishery is supported by natural reproduction which will be negatively impacted by larger water level fluctuations during the spawning season.”  Pictures like the one below of my daughter could become a thing of the past.

Although the recreation impacts are supposed to be mitigated, I am still concerned with the significant impact the flooding would have. Please consider this when moving forward with plans for Chatfield State Park.  If the plans move forward similar to what is proposed, at the very least consider this as an opportunity to try and enhance the recreation opportunities through the creation of improved facilities, trails, roads and other changes that could enhance rather than diminish the park’s  recreation value.

Thanks you for your time and consideration

Todd Mosher

What Happened to the Beach?

One of the reasons I have become a community advocate with regards to the Chatfield Reallocation Study is very personal.  As someone who enjoys going to beaches around the world, the closest I often can get to in land-locked Colorado is the swim beach at Chatfield State Park across the street from my house.  Ever since I spent summers lifeguarding there while I was in college in the late 1980’s (I worked there from 1986-88), the swim beach has been a special place for me.

However, it already has been changed significantly since when it was a very active part of the park when I lifeguarded there.  It is now smaller and does not have lifeguards on duty.  While still popular, it likely will diminish further as a place to go with the plans that the Chatfield Reallocation Study (http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pd-p/Plan_Formulation/GI/GI_Chatfield.html) has planned for it.

The swim beach is one of the areas that would be most effected by these plans.  The flooding plans would inundate the concession stand, restrooms, and parking area at the current Swim Beach eliminating it as we know it.  New facilities would be created on higher ground that would be considerably farther from the shore at low water levels.  Trees in this area would die or be removed and replaced with younger ones.

Water levels in Chatfield Reservoir, which currently fluctuate by 9 feet, would be expected to fluctuate by as much as 21 feet. The target water level of 5444 feet above mean sea level would be attained in only 18% of years (see study, Table 2-9). Typical water levels in the reservoir would be considerably lower than the target level.  The mature trees near the beach would no longer offer their shade to hot beach goers.  Some new trees will be planted, but it will take years for them to reach the size of currently available trees.  They will be 600 feet or more from the shore.

The map below shows the Swim Beach at the relatively low water level of 5426 feet above mean sea level. At this level the shortest distance between the shore line and the restrooms would be approximately 600 feet with an elevation gain of 21 feet — a long way to walk for someone wanting to use the facilities!  Also due to the large water fluctuations it will be difficult to maintain the beach with the possibility of it having large mud flats between the beach users and the water when the water levels are low.

Because I like enjoy having a “beach” nearby in land-locked Colorado I am going to submit a dedicated comment on this issue to the folks at the Chatfield Reallocation Study.  The content of it is posted below if you would like to submit something similar.

Col. Robert Ruch, Commander
 US Army Corps of Engineers,

Omaha District
Re:  Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation

FR/DEIS
1616 Capitol Ave.


Omaha, NE 68102-4901

Dear Col Ruch:

I am submitting a comment today on the Chatfield Reallocation Study over my concerns about the impacts to the Swim Beach.  My family and I enjoy using this facility at Chatfield State Park and I personally served as a Lifeguard there from 1986-88.

I think that the impacts to this facility have not been fully captured in the current study.  .  The flooding plans would inundate the concession stand, restrooms, and parking area at the current Swim Beach eliminating it as we know it.  New facilities would be created on higher ground that would be considerably farther from the shore at low water levels.  Trees in this area would die or be removed and replaced with younger ones.

Water levels in Chatfield Reservoir, which currently fluctuate by 9 feet, would be expected to fluctuate by as much as 21 feet. The target water level of 5444 feet above mean sea level would be attained in only 18% of years (see study, Table 2-9). Typical water levels in the reservoir would be considerably lower than the target level.  The mature trees near the beach would no longer offer their shade to hot beach goers.  Some new trees will be planted, but it will take years for them to reach the size of currently available trees.  They will be 600 feet or more from the shore.

The map provided in the report shows the Swim Beach at the relatively low water level of 5426 feet above mean sea level. At this level the shortest distance between the shore line and the restrooms would be approximately 600 feet with an elevation gain of 21 feet — a long way to walk for someone wanting to use the facilities!  Also due to the large water fluctuations it will be difficult to maintain the beach with the possibility of it having large mud flats between the beach users and the water when the water levels are low.

Although the swim beach has changed significantly since when it was a very active part of the park when I lifeguarded there, I am still concerned with the significant impact the flooding would have.  While it is now smaller and does not have lifeguards on duty, it remains a popular spot.  Please consider this when moving forward with plans for Chatfield State Park.  If the plans move forward similar to what is proposed, at the very least consider this as an opportunity to try and enhance this popular recreation spot through the creation of improved facilities and other changes that could enhance rather than diminish this spot’s value.

Thanks you for your time and consideration

Todd Mosher

Last Day

Today September 6, 2012 is the last day to comment on the Chatfield Reallocation Study planned by the Federal Government.  So in an unusual flurry of activity I am going to write a series of blog posts that tell how to comment and share my own comments to inspire others to submit their own concerns on this plan that could have long-term damage.  I have written about this issue several times (http://www.alohafridays.net/2012/06/spreading-word.html, http://www.alohafridays.net/2012/06/let-your-voice-be-heard.html, http://www.alohafridays.net/2011/12/drought-ends-with-talk-of-flood.html, http://www.alohafridays.net/2011/08/taking-cause-to-facebook.html) dating back to August 6, 2012.

So how can you comment today?  The folks that have created a wonderful web page on this topic have written a great piece that explains how to do it that I will paraphrase here (http://www.savechatfield.org/content/how-to-write-a-letter/).

First, where should your comments go.  If you get them postmarked today you can mail them to the following address: 

Col. Robert Ruch, Commander
 US Army Corps of Engineers,

Omaha District
Re:  Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation

FR/DEIS
1616 Capitol Ave.


Omaha, NE 68102-4901

But the easiest way is to just email them to chatfieldstudy@usace.army.mil

 so that is what I am going to do.

In your comments you should do five things:

1. Identify yourself: “I am a frequent user of Chatfield State Park.  My family (hikes, bikes, bird-watches, water-skis, canoes, camps, etc) there many times a year.   I would like to submit the following comments on the Chatfield Reallocation FR/DEIS.”
2. Take a position:  For example, “I recommend that you NOT approve this project because the impacts to Chatfield State Park are so substantial.  Less damaging alternatives to water supply exist.”
3. Give your reasons:  For example:

· Massive impacts:  The resulting mud flats will destroy forest habitat and impact the recreation that depends on the current state of the reservoir.

· Some impacts can’t be mitigated, such as the loss of century-old cottonwoods and free-flowing stream segments on the South Platte River,  Plum Creek and Deer Creek.

· Alternatives are not given serious consideration.   Examples:  aquifer storage and recharge, increased water conservation, gravel pit storage and/or expansion and use of existing water storage facilities in the vicinity of Chatfield such as Reuter-Hess reservoir or some combination of these.

· The preferred alternative (#3) is the MOST environmentally damaging alternative, whereas federal law – the Clean Water Act – specifies that only the LEAST damaging alternative is allowed.    See Table 2-9 in Chapter 2 of the report.

· The full value of Chatfield for recreation and wildlife is not considered.  Example:  it has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.  The DEIS however leaves out a number of bird species that occur there and contains several misstatements about bird species that breed there.  A survey of breeding birds was done at inappropriate times of year and day.

· Tell what kinds of recreation you enjoy there and its value to you.

4. Summarize:  Example: Chatfield State Park is a unique recreational and habitat.  We must find an alternative that meets water supply needs but preserves the Park’s integrity.  The recommended alternative causes too much damge and I recommend you reject it.
5. Thanks:  Thank them for the opportunity to comment.

So use this nice formula to submit comments of your own.  That is what I am going to do next and I will share those comments as I do.  Also thanks again to the folks running the Save Chatfield website for giving us such straightforward advice on how to comment on this study.