The vision for the Yampa River Corridor Project is to create a cohesive park system along the Yampa River just south of Craig. The comprehensive project consists of three related components: 1.) Loudy Simpson Park improvements will include construction of a new concrete boat ramp, access road and parking area. 2.) A fish-friendly, in-channel recreational water feature to be constructed near Craig’s municipal water intake structure. The existing degraded municipal water intake diversion dam will be reconstructed to include two navigable whitewater drop structures with associated fish passage structures. Riverward improvements will also include two small bank-side amphitheater structures, bank stabilization efforts and integrated river access points. 540 linear feet of the Yampa River will be impacted and the project will require wetland/instream mitigation. 3.) Onshore amenities will be constructed adjacent to the in-channel water feature to create the beginnings of an integrated river park complex. This component will include access road, parking areas, walking trails, vault toilet and nature-based play areas. The YWF BRT Grant funding requested would be applied towards construction of the instream improvements only at the whitewater park location. The estimated costs for the instream improvements alone total $2,953,233. Construction is expected to begin September 2023 due to specific USACE permit restrictions.
Approved: May 2023