A kayak park near downtown Basalt is one step closer to being created. The Pitkin County Commissioners agreed Wednesday (8/26/15) to purchase a strip of land necessary to develop it.
The county will plunk down $115,000 plus closing costs, to acquire the land. The small parcel is actually underwater in the Roaring Fork, not far from its confluence with the Frying Pan River. Such a park would include a special diversion right that would put water in a stretch of river that sees low flows in drought years.
"The idea for a kayak park began right after the 2002 drought, so the primary motivation for it was to protect streamflows," says County Attorney John Ely.
With a park, fish and riparian habitat would improve because of increased water levels there. The Town of Basalt is scheduled to make a decision on whether to approve the kayak park project on September 22nd. If approved, construction could start this fall.
Also on Wednesday, the commissioners gave initial support to language for a ballot question that would exempt the county from state limitations for broadband service. If voters passed it, the county could pursue broadband infrastructure, possibly with partnerships. The county’s been studying how best to provide high-speed internet to rural areas, like Old Snowmass.