What Happened to the Beach?

One of the reasons I have become a community advocate with regards to the Chatfield Reallocation Study is very personal.  As someone who enjoys going to beaches around the world, the closest I often can get to in land-locked Colorado is the swim beach at Chatfield State Park across the street from my house.  Ever since I spent summers lifeguarding there while I was in college in the late 1980’s (I worked there from 1986-88), the swim beach has been a special place for me.

However, it already has been changed significantly since when it was a very active part of the park when I lifeguarded there.  It is now smaller and does not have lifeguards on duty.  While still popular, it likely will diminish further as a place to go with the plans that the Chatfield Reallocation Study (http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pd-p/Plan_Formulation/GI/GI_Chatfield.html) has planned for it.

The swim beach is one of the areas that would be most effected by these plans.  The flooding plans would inundate the concession stand, restrooms, and parking area at the current Swim Beach eliminating it as we know it.  New facilities would be created on higher ground that would be considerably farther from the shore at low water levels.  Trees in this area would die or be removed and replaced with younger ones.

Water levels in Chatfield Reservoir, which currently fluctuate by 9 feet, would be expected to fluctuate by as much as 21 feet. The target water level of 5444 feet above mean sea level would be attained in only 18% of years (see study, Table 2-9). Typical water levels in the reservoir would be considerably lower than the target level.  The mature trees near the beach would no longer offer their shade to hot beach goers.  Some new trees will be planted, but it will take years for them to reach the size of currently available trees.  They will be 600 feet or more from the shore.

The map below shows the Swim Beach at the relatively low water level of 5426 feet above mean sea level. At this level the shortest distance between the shore line and the restrooms would be approximately 600 feet with an elevation gain of 21 feet — a long way to walk for someone wanting to use the facilities!  Also due to the large water fluctuations it will be difficult to maintain the beach with the possibility of it having large mud flats between the beach users and the water when the water levels are low.

Because I like enjoy having a “beach” nearby in land-locked Colorado I am going to submit a dedicated comment on this issue to the folks at the Chatfield Reallocation Study.  The content of it is posted below if you would like to submit something similar.

Col. Robert Ruch, Commander
 US Army Corps of Engineers,

Omaha District
Re:  Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation

FR/DEIS
1616 Capitol Ave.


Omaha, NE 68102-4901

Dear Col Ruch:

I am submitting a comment today on the Chatfield Reallocation Study over my concerns about the impacts to the Swim Beach.  My family and I enjoy using this facility at Chatfield State Park and I personally served as a Lifeguard there from 1986-88.

I think that the impacts to this facility have not been fully captured in the current study.  .  The flooding plans would inundate the concession stand, restrooms, and parking area at the current Swim Beach eliminating it as we know it.  New facilities would be created on higher ground that would be considerably farther from the shore at low water levels.  Trees in this area would die or be removed and replaced with younger ones.

Water levels in Chatfield Reservoir, which currently fluctuate by 9 feet, would be expected to fluctuate by as much as 21 feet. The target water level of 5444 feet above mean sea level would be attained in only 18% of years (see study, Table 2-9). Typical water levels in the reservoir would be considerably lower than the target level.  The mature trees near the beach would no longer offer their shade to hot beach goers.  Some new trees will be planted, but it will take years for them to reach the size of currently available trees.  They will be 600 feet or more from the shore.

The map provided in the report shows the Swim Beach at the relatively low water level of 5426 feet above mean sea level. At this level the shortest distance between the shore line and the restrooms would be approximately 600 feet with an elevation gain of 21 feet — a long way to walk for someone wanting to use the facilities!  Also due to the large water fluctuations it will be difficult to maintain the beach with the possibility of it having large mud flats between the beach users and the water when the water levels are low.

Although the swim beach has changed significantly since when it was a very active part of the park when I lifeguarded there, I am still concerned with the significant impact the flooding would have.  While it is now smaller and does not have lifeguards on duty, it remains a popular spot.  Please consider this when moving forward with plans for Chatfield State Park.  If the plans move forward similar to what is proposed, at the very least consider this as an opportunity to try and enhance this popular recreation spot through the creation of improved facilities and other changes that could enhance rather than diminish this spot’s value.

Thanks you for your time and consideration

Todd Mosher