[env-trinity] Big Flat whitewater park eyed by supervisors

[Tom Stokely]

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/local/article_dc6adf7c-babd-11ec-98ab-33008657dbe8.html#tncms-source=login


Big Flat whitewater park eyed by supervisors
Initial scoping project approved
   
   - By Josh Cozine The Trinity Journal
    
   - Apr 13, 2022 Updated Apr 13, 2022
    
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Charles Loy   
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Surfing the Trinity River could become a reality if a study approved by the Board of Supervisors bears fruit.

Preliminary plans for a whitewater river park at the Big Flat river access parking area were discussed Tuesday, April 7, at the county Board of Supervisors meeting. The board approved $35,000 in funding to McLaughlin Whitewater for “consultation of the feasibility of in-river whitewater features.”

McLaughlin Whitewater is a Colorado-based engineering company that specializes in planning construction of whitewater parks and venues. Their resume includes the whitewater venue used for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games and more than a dozen other water features across the U.S., Canada and even one in Europe.

Included in the concept design were plans to develop three standing waves — constant waves that don’t move or dissipate — and a climbing wall, as well as better access to the river, trail improvements and habitat restoration.

The waves would be engineered by adding rocks to existing whitewater areas near the river access to shape the water until it forms the standing waves, allowing for surfing on the river and kayaking and other water-based activities without the need to either hike back to your vehicle or be picked up miles downriver.

The project is still very much in the scoping and planning phase with no immediate plans for any construction or alteration to the river.

“The work is focused on providing the county and project stakeholders key information to support planning decisions regarding if building a whitewater project should be pursued,” McLaughlin Whitewater said in a letter to Sup. Jeremy Brown who has been pursuing the project and agendized it for discussion and approval of the first step of planning.

“I’m super excited to have this item on the agenda, it’s been a couple years in the making, behind the scenes inquiries, reaching out and it’s finally gotten into a little bit of a tangible project now,” Brown said during discussion on the item.

According to Ben Nielsen, engineer with McLaughlin Whitewater, the project is several years away from any construction beginning, and McLaughlin would not be involved in doing any of the construction but would be designing plans only.

Nielsen said he could not estimate on what the cost of construction would be without completing initial studies, but that it would likely be into the millions of dollars. Sup. Brown said that he is hopeful much or all of the costs could be covered through grants and other forms of funding outside of the general fund. The initial $35,000 allocated came from the general fund, but Brown said that amount too could likely be reimbursed through grants once the scoping is completed.

During public comment a few residents asked about the possibility of placing the park somewhere else on the river. Near Junction City was the area most suggested during public comment due its nearby proximity to Weaverville with more services and amenities.

Nielsen said other sites were considered, but that the Big Flat access area was the best spot because of already existing whitewater conditions in multiple close-proximity locations that could more easily be transformed into standing wave features.

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