Nimitz Lake Boating Center Study

December 2019 Project Purpose

To Study User Group Interest and Feasibility for a Boating Facility at Nimitz Lake Project Location

• West Side of Nimitz Lake • NE Corner of a 58 Acre Mixed Use Development by the MacDonald Companies • Located in the 100 Year Floodplain of the Guadalupe River Nimitz Lake • Surface Area 95 Acres • Approximate Length 6,935 FT • Width Varies Avg 600 FT • Depth Varies Avg 10 FT • Primary Use - City Water Supply • Recreational Use - Fishing - Non Fueled Boating - Triathlon Swimming - Swimming The Landing

• Overall Size 58 Acres • River Frontage 8 Acres • Boating Center 1.5 Acres • Mixed Use - Residential - Restaurant - Commercial - River Trails Progress to Date • Visited Nimitz Lake and Other City Parks • Gathered Input with Potential User Groups/Stakeholders - Kerrville Visitor and Convention Bureau - Schreiner University - John Anderson (Sailing Enthusiast) - Devan Musa (Collegiate Rower) - Kerrville Kayak and Canoe - MacDonald Companies - City Staff Potential Boating Activities for Nimitz Lake Small Boat Sailing • Boats Up to 15 FT Long w/ 5 FT Max Draft • Launch Ramp/Storage Required • Pros - Lifetime Sport - All Age Groups - Highly Visual - New Boating Use - Competitive/Collegiate Use • Cons - No Current Program - Boat Size and Costs - Spatial Restrictions - Facility Costs Crewing & Rowing • Racing Shells Up to 62 FT Long • Launch Platform/Storage Required • Pros - Lifetime Sport - All Age Groups - Highly Visual - New Boating Use • Cons - No Current Program - Boat Size and Costs - Spatial Restrictions - Launch Platform Length - Facility Costs Paddle Boarding

• Beach or Platform Launch • Seasonal Vendor Trailer Parking • Pros - Lifetime Sport - All Age Groups - Established User Group - Increasing Popularity - Low Cost - Established Rental Vendor

• Cons - Seasonal Kayaking & Canoeing • Beach or Platform Launch • Vendor/User Access and Parking Required • Pros - Lifetime Sport - All Age Groups - Established User Group - Increasing Popularity - Low Cost - Established Rental Vendor

• Cons - Beach Access Dragon Boat Racing • Boats Up to 39 FT Long • Launch Ramp/Staging Required • Event Promotor Permitted • Pros - All Age Groups - Highly Visual - Popular for College Age Users - New Boating Use - Tourist/Spectator Draw • Cons - Spatial Restrictions - No Established User Groups Example Boating Facilities Baylor University Marina Waco, TX

• Size 9.8 Acres • Boat House and Parking • Launch Ramp and Side Docks • Sailing (16 Sunfish) • Seasonal Spring to Fall • Seasonal Operations Budget $40,000 • Flooding Restricts Usage • Rowing/Canoeing/Kayaking • Campus Use Only • Cost $3M to $4M (2020) The Woodlands Rowing Center

• 1.5 Acres • 8,800 SF Boat House • Launch Ramp and Side Docks • Four Launch Platforms • Rowing/Canoeing/Kayaking • Operated by Rowing Club • Cost $2M to $3M (2020) Town Lake Boating Centers – Austin, TX

• 1.5 Acres • 7,000 SF Boat House • Launch Ramp and Docks • Launch Platform • Rowing/Canoeing/Kayaking • Operated by Rowing Club • Cost $2M to $3M (2020) Austin Rowing Club – Austin, TX

• 2.75 Acres • 7,500 SF Boat House • Boat Storage w/ Terrace • Launch Ramp and Docks • Rowing • Operated by Rowing Club • Cost $2M to $3M (2020) Dallas United Rowing Center – Dallas, TX • 1 Acre • 5,700 SF Boat House • Launch Ramp and Side Docks • Four Launch Platforms • Rowing/Canoeing/Kayaking • Operated by Rowing Club • Cost $1M to $2M (2020) Corinthian Sailing Club Dallas, TX

• 11 Acres • Launch Ramp and Side Docks • Sailing with Large Marina • Floating Club House 1,400 SF • Cost $3M to $4M (2020) • Approximately 269 Boats White Rock Rowing- Dallas, TX • 2 Acres • 24,500 SF Building • 5,000 SF Wedding Venue (The Historic Filter Building) • Docks • Rowing and Wedding Venue • Cost $2M to $3M (2020) Existing Guadalupe River Facilities Schreiner Park Swim/Boat Dock • Swim/Boat Dock w/ Seating • Size 1 Acre • Parking Lot • Uses - Fishing - Swimming - Canoes/Kayaks - Paddle Boards Knapp Boat Launch

• Boat Launch with Side Docks • Size 1 Acre • Parking Lot • Uses - Fishing - Swimming - Canoes/Kayaks - Paddle Boards Bistro 1011

• Concrete Landing and Boat Storage Locker • Size 1.5 Acres • No Parking Lot / No Ramp • Private Facility • Current Use - Restaurant - Tennis - Fishing - Swimming - Canoes/Kayaks - Paddle Boards User Group and Jurisdictional Findings Initial User Group Findings

• Nimitz Lake is an Important Resource to the City for Visitors and Residents • Increased Usage will Require Improved Access, More Attractions, and Parking • Recreational Usage is Highly Supported • Sailing and Rowing would Require Permanent Storage Facilities and Parking • Sailing and Rowing Are Not Currently in Demand by Users • Schreiner’s Current Priority is the Aquatic Center • Potential Local Funding, State and Federal Grants Initial Jurisdictional Findings

• Combustion Engines & Pollutants Not Permitted in Lake • River Characteristics (Droughts, Flooding, Sedimentation, and Debris) Impact Development and Associated Costs • Lake was Last Dredged by UGRA in 1998 • High Velocities During Flooding Limit Dock Size On Channel/Lake • Building Improvements Must be 1 FT Above the Flood Level and Be Armored for Flood Protection • Permitting is a One to Two Year Process Initial Concepts for Discussion Current Concept

• Restaurants and Commercial Sites Above Floodplain with River Views • Parking Lot • Riverfront Trails Concept A Parking with Boat Launch

• Size 1.5 Acres • Parking • Trail Connections • Boat Ramp • Cost $500K to $1M (2020) Concept A - Section Concept B Mini Marina

• Size 1.5 Acres • No Parking • Trail Connections • Boat Ramp • Boat Slips • Cost $1M to $3M Concept B - Section Concept C Breakwater Marina

• Size 1.5 Acres • Parking • Boat Ramp • Trail Connections • Boat Slips/Kayak Launch • Cost $900K Concept C - Section Floating Kayak Launch Dock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g2Nlxv8C1E Additional Comments and Considerations

• A Boat House and Seasonal Boat Storage could be Provided at an Offsite Location • Racing Events of Sailboats and Sprint Kayaks could be Club- Organized Fun Races, Community-Organized Festivals, or Small Invitational Regattas of 10-20 Boats • A “Nimitz Lake Invitational” could Attract Competitors, Visitors and Media from the Region, and be a Visually Appealing Sporting Event for Kerrville residents • Additional Parking at the Proposed Nimitz Lake Boating Center would Increase Access for Local Users and Events Meeting Notes Potential User Group - Meeting One • Friday, June 28th (Schreiner - Charles McCormick & Bill Raleigh)

- Recreational Rowing of Interest (Not Competition) - Sailing Requirements (Varsity NCAA Division 3) 13 FT Boats 3.5 FT Draft - Non-Governed Sports Focus (Shooting, Wrestling, Equestrian, E Sports) - Interested in Collegiate Kayaking or Canoeing - Students Provide Coaching for Summer Camps - Looking to Added Value to Attract Students - Cost and Teams to Compete Against are Entry Barriers to New Sports - Current Priority to Redo Pool and Aquatic Center - University Funds are Limited to Address Many Needs - Would Consider Sharing Operational Costs (Swimming/Boating) Potential User Group - Meeting Two

• July 8th (Visitor and Convention Bureau – Charlie McIlvain) - Population 23,000 - More Quality of Life Activities Needed - Guadalupe River Underutilized - Lots of Summer Camp Activities - Rowing/Sailing Program Could Open Scholarships - Potential Users (Wounded Warriors, Cancer Survivors, Youth Groups) - Potential Uses (Sailing, Paddle Boards, Kayaks, Canoes, Electric Boats) - Talk to Kayak/Canoe Rental Company and Sports Commission - Triathlon Training Occurs at Nimitz Lake Potential User Group - Meeting Three

• July 8th (John Anderson – Sailing Enthusiast) - Sailing May be Feasible Due to Orientation and Winds - Tight Turn Courses Good for Training - Kayak Concession Once Tried Sailboats at Lake (More Activity Needed_\) - 5 FT Depth Required for Small Sailing Craft - Boats to be Lightweight for Easy Access - Bistro 1011 Has a Boat Storage Facility on the Lake - Paddle Boarding is Fast Growing - Ease of Access and Storage Out of Floodplain Needed - Sailing Memos by John Provided to Planning Team Potential User Group – Meeting Four

• July 8th (Devan Musa - Schreiner Staff & Collegiate Rower) - Brush and Trees in Lake a Concern - Lake May be More Suitable for Training vs Meets - Schreiner Hasn’t Determined if Competitive Rowing is Viable. - Recreations Boating Could Benefit Students - More Activities for Students are Needed - Rowing Can Start as Adults Without Prior Experience - Lake Could Supplement Competition Venues in Austin - Dragon Boat Racing Competitions Intriguing - Verify Length Requirements for Rowing Events City Staff - Meeting Five

• July 8th (Public Works and Engineering) - October 2018 River Flooded 6 FT Over the Dam - Flood Waters Rose Up to Edge of Road on Proposed Site - Structures in Floodway Must be 1 FT Above FEMA Base Elevation - Consider a Canal From a Boat Launch (Gravel Pit Area) - Consider Structural Storage with Downstream Doors (Like Bistro1011) - Research Similar Facilities Along the River for Examples - Floating Docks on River are Typically Small - Review Existing Data on Nimitz Lake Depths City Staff - Meeting Five (Cont.)

• July 8th (Public Works and Engineering) - Lake was Dredged by UGRA Prior to City Acquisition (1998) - River has High Velocities During Flooding (230,000 CFPS) - Floods Scour Lake and Deposit Debris (Gravel, Trees, Etc.) - Need to Map Existing Underwater Tree Stumps and Gravel - Floodplain Modifications Require Agency Approvals (1-2 Years) - Jurisdictional Agencies (USACE, TCEC, TP&W, UGRA) - Large Trees/Debris Can Damage Fixed Structures in the Floodway - Lake is a Reserve Drinking Water Source for City - Combustion Engine Boats and Sewage Not Allowed in Lake City Staff - Meeting Six

• July 9th (Parks and Recreation) - Supportive of Recreational Uses (Summer Camps, Regattas, Individuals) - Lake and River Need More Access (Visual and Physical) - Boat Storage and Launch Would Expand Usage - Any Boating Operations Would Be Concession Operated - Kayak Chutes for Overall River Connectivity are Being Evaluated - Grants are Available from TP&W for Boats (Kayaks, Canoes)