Land-based Activities

Family_2442 — Chatfield State Park offers residents of metropolitan Denver a convenient place to experience the natural world. The Chatfield Reallocation Project would destroy the habitat that this family is enjoying along this section of the South Platte River.

Hat on top of a post — The Reallocation Project would inundate 587 acres of land in Chatfield State Park, including the land behind this post, which is located near the South Platte River approximately 0.69 miles upstream from the current edge of Chatfield Reservoir. About a third of the section of river flowing within Chatfield State Park would be directly affected by the change.

Cmposite showing biking, hiking, jogging and horseback riding — People now use the land that would be inundated for activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, hiking, and jogging. An extensive network of social trails indicates that some sections of the Park are already overused for these activities. Removing 587 acres can only make the situation worse.

Fishing

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.”

The DEIS mentions in several places the increase in fish habitat and benefits for anglers who use boats, ice and the shore of the reservoir. There is little emphasis on the losses to fishermen who prefer to fish along rivers.

Fishing on the South Platte River — The place where this man is fishing on the South Platte River would be flooded when water is high and surrounded by mudflats when water is low.

Wildlife Watching

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 Survey of Colorado Wildlife-associated Recreation (the most recent available data), 1,800,000 people participated in wildlife watching in Colorado that year, spending a total of $1,388 million. Yet, the DEIS gives little attention to mitigating the lost opportunities for wildlife watchers, and to both the probable loss of non-Theatened wildlife species and the absolute number of watchable wild animals within the Park. Preservation of wildlife inside the Park is especially important because ongoing residential development outside the Park will reduce other opportunities to watch wildlife along the Front Range.

Bird watchers near the mount of Plum Creek — This family is watching birds near the mouth of Plum Creek, an area where vegetation would be removed by the Reallocation Project.

Swim Beach

The Chatfield Reallocation would inundate the concession stand, restrooms, and parking area at the current Swim Beach. Facilities relocated to higher ground would be considerably farther from the shore at low water levels, and 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 21 feet. The target water level of 5444 feet above mean sea level would be attained in only 18% of years (DEIS, 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 generous 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. And 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 with an urgent need!

Map of Swim Beach area — Chatfield State Park Swim Beach at a relatively low water level (DEIS, Appendix M, page 3-9). **Please click map to view a larger image.**

Boating

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 much of Chatfield Reservoir is surrounded by riparian forests. During periods of low water levels, boaters would view mudflats where these forests now stand — hardly something which would enhance their outdoor experiences.

Power Boat and Water Skier in Chatfield Reservoir — A power boat and a down water skier near the mouth of Plum Creek in Chatfield Reservoir. All the trees in the background would be destroyed by the Reallocation Project. The forested area would be flooded at times of high water. Much of the time it would be exposed as mudflats.

Picnicking

Existing picnicking facilities at Massey Draw, Deer Creek, the Swim Beach, Jamison Day Use Area, Catfish Flats Day Use Area, Fox Run Day Use Area, Kingfisher Day Use Area, the Marina Area, and Plum Creek would all be inundated by the Reallocation Project. In most cases, mitigation plans call for developing alternative picnic areas on higher ground. Mature trees in existing picnic areas would be lost. Picnic tables would bake in the sun until shade trees can be established in the alternative areas.

Deer Creek Picnic Area — The Deer Creek is one of the picnic areas that would have to be moved to a higher site because of flooding associated with the Reallocation Project. Mature shade trees like the one sheltering the picnic table in the center of this picture would be destroyed. Trees like this would take decades to grow in an alternative area.