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SKOWHEGAN GORGE RUN OF RIVER PROJECT SKOWHEGAN, MAINE FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT June, 2004 Prepared by: SKOWHEGAN GORGE RUN OF RIVER PROJECT SKOWHEGAN, MAINE FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT June, 2004 Prepared by: SKOWHEGAN GORGE RUN OF RIVER PROJECT SKOWHEGAN, MAINE FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 2.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS................................................................................................. 4 2.1 Public Recreation Use............................................................................................. 4 2.1.1 Land Based Recreation Trends ................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Water Based Recreation Trends.................................................................. 6 2.2 Existing Recreation Facilities ................................................................................. 7 2.2.1 Land Based Recreation Opportunities ........................................................ 7 2.2.2 Water Based Recreation Opportunities..................................................... 11 2.3 Existing Environmental Conditions...................................................................... 11 2.3.1 Water Quality............................................................................................ 11 2.3.2 Fisheries and Wildlife............................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Habitat....................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Existing Cultural Resources.................................................................................. 13 3.0 PROPOSED PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................ 14 3.1 Liability Issues...................................................................................................... 14 3.1.1 Access ....................................................................................................... 15 3.1.2 Whitewater Boating.................................................................................. 16 3.2 Potential Environmental Impacts Assessment...................................................... 17 3.2.1 Water Quality............................................................................................ 18 3.2.2 Fisheries and Wildlife............................................................................... 18 3.2.3 Habitat....................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Cultural Assessment.............................................................................................. 19 3.4 Regulatory Compliance and Permitting................................................................ 19 3.4.1 State Permitting......................................................................................... 20 3.4.2 Federal Permitting..................................................................................... 21 3.5 Potential User Conflicts ........................................................................................ 22 3.6 Summary and Recommendations ......................................................................... 23 3.6.1 Liability..................................................................................................... 23 3.6.2 Environmental Impacts ............................................................................. 23 3.6.3 Regulatory Compliance and Permitting.................................................... 24 3.6.4 Potential User Conflicts ............................................................................ 25 4.0 DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF LAND-BASED RECREATION FACILITIES........................................................................................... 26 4.1 Existing Facility Improvements............................................................................ 26 4.2 New Recreation Facilities..................................................................................... 29 4.3 Summary and Recommendations ......................................................................... 30 - i - Table of Contents (cont'd) 5.0 WATER-BASED RECREATION FACILITY IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT............................................................................................................. 31 5.1 Whitewater Park Design....................................................................................... 31 5.2 Whitewater Park Construction.............................................................................. 33 5.2.1 Construction Access and Logistics ........................................................... 33 5.2.2 Water Management................................................................................... 37 5.2.3 Whitewater Park Features......................................................................... 37 5.3 Opinion of Probable Construction Costs .............................................................. 38 5.4 Summary and Recommendations ......................................................................... 39 6.0 FUNDING......................................................................................................................... 40 7.0 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION..................................................................................... 44 8.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 46 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Opinion of Probable Costs.................................................................................... 39 Table 2. Comparison of Use Estimates for US Whitewater Parks.................................... A-4 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of the Skowhegan Gorge ................................................................................ 2 Figure 2. Coburn Park ............................................................................................................ 8 Figure 3. Skowhegan Gorge Footbridge ................................................................................ 8 Figure 4. Debe Park................................................................................................................ 9 Figure 5. Canoe Portage Trail ................................................................................................ 9 Figure 6. Carry-in Boat Launch at Joyce Street ................................................................... 10 Figure 7. Philbrick Trail ....................................................................................................... 10 Figure 8. Skowhegan Gorge................................................................................................. 11 Figure 9 Coburn Park .......................................................................................................... 26 Figure 10. Skowhegan Gorge Footbridge .............................................................................. 27 Figure 11. Debe Park and River Access Trail........................................................................ 27 Figure 12. Carry-in Boat Launch at Joyce Street ................................................................... 28 Figure 13. Philbrick Trail ....................................................................................................... 28 Figure 14. Potential New River Access.................................................................................. 29 Figure 15. Site Plan I.............................................................................................................. 35 Figure 16. Site Plan II............................................................................................................. 36 Figure 17. Critical Path Timeline........................................................................................... 45 - ii - Table of Contents (cont'd) LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A – Sources of Economic Benefit Appendix B - Relevant Articles Hydro Review Article - Creating America’s Olympic River Journal Publications Article - Whitewater Offers Fresh Idea for Revitalization Herald Sun Article – Whitewater Parks Offer Thrilling Turn in City Planning Baltimore Sun Article - Whitewater Parks Finding Rapid Success - Colorado Cities Harness Thrills, Spills of River Kayaking - iii - SKOWHEGAN GORGE RUN OF RIVER PROJECT SKOWHEGAN, MAINE FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Skowhegan Gorge Run of River Project Feasibility Study assesses the feasibility of improving the Kennebec River and associated recreation facilities in the Skowhegan Gorge area in Skowhegan, Maine. The proposed improvements are being considered under the auspices of the Skowhegan Gorge Run of River Project, and fit into a larger plan for the economic development in the Skowhegan Area. The Project’s mission is “to preserve and enhance the Kennebec River environment to benefit the physical and economic well being of the greater Skowhegan Area”. As part of the study, Kleinschmidt Associates considered the technical feasibility and preliminary potential costs of options for completing the following improvements in the Gorge: • River Cleanup • Habitat Restoration • Increased Public Access • Improved