SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN RESERVATION – Outdoor recreation industries can remain resilient in the face of drought plaguing Colorado’s Western Slope. At least that’s the message from panelists at the Southwestern Water Conservation District’s annual water seminar Friday.
The daylong event focused on drought conditions across the Southwest U.S., and a midday panel on rivers, recreation and the local economy suggested the outlook is more nuanced.
The panelists included David Moler, owner of Durango Rivertrippers and Adventure Tours; Rica Fulton with Dolores River Boating Advocates; Blake Mamich with Colorado Water Trust; and Ryan Unterreiner with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
While lower river levels present challenges, they do not necessarily mean disaster for rural economies, panelists said.
The discussion explored how river health, water management and flow regimes affect outdoor recreation and rural economies.
Collaboration, creativity and innovation emerged as key themes, with panelists pointing to strategies businesses and communities can use in low-water years to support river health and the recreation economy.
In Durango, Moler pointed to the success of the rafting industry, even in low-flow years. While Durango’s roughly $12 million rafting industry is closely tied to river conditions, a low-flow year does not automatically mean a poor economic outlook, he said.
Economic success depends more on public perception than on precipitation totals, he said.
“Rivers are not just environmental resources,” Moler said. “They are economic engines that support jobs, small businesses, entire communities.”
About 30,000 people raft the Animas annually, spending roughly $164 per visitor, he said. That translates to about $5 million in direct spending and an estimated $13 million in local economic impact once that money circulates, he said.
It is a “lack of precipitation perception problem,” he said, describing how headlines about record-low snowpack, major fires or mine spills can overshadow the reality that trips can still operate safely and enjoyably.
Many guests are not seeking extreme whitewater. Instead, they are looking for fun, family‑friendly experiences on the river. That can be done with low water levels, Moler said.
The industry is also beginning to innovate to adapt to changing water patterns, he said. For example, one company is designing rafts that float in just inches of water, including larger multiperson boats.
The Dolores River, however, is in a different position. Recreational flow releases are dependent on high snowpack, so commercial boating conditions have occurred only three times in the past 10 years.
Instead of focusing on limited boating, Fulton said her group’s primary concern is ecological health. The native fish species that have inhabited the river system for thousands of years are increasingly stressed by low, steady flows that lack natural variability.
“The loss of boating is one thing, but seeing these dead native fish … is especially sad to see,” Fulton said.
Collaboration has been key to addressing those challenges, she said. An example is coordinated spill planning, which has allowed more strategic releases that mimic natural flow patterns when possible.
“A river thrives off variability,” Fulton said. “A flatline river is something you don’t necessarily want.”
Another approach to supporting rivers and the economies that rely on them is through voluntary water transactions.
Mamich, programs director with Colorado Water Trust, said the organization works with water rights holders to temporarily or permanently restore flows in depleted streams.
While those efforts have proven economically successful in other parts of the state – extending boating seasons by nearly a month in some areas – similar projects in Southwest Colorado have been slower to develop, Mamich said.
That is largely because of legal and cultural barriers surrounding water rights in the region. Mamich said the organization hopes continued outreach and trust-building with local communities will lead to more participation over time in ways that meet local needs.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
