The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Pay attention to where you’re parking
By Aimee Eaton
The Crested Butte South Metro District will continue to allow individuals and groups to launch watercrafts from its Waste Water Treatment Plant into the East River.
This allowance makes the WWTP one of only a few possible places for the public to access the river in the stretch between Crested Butte South and Almont, as the majority of land bordering the river is privately owned.
While the Metro District said it has never had a problem with people using the WWTP land as a put-in, it has entertained community members’ concerns about parking, littering, safety and trespassing as they relate to river use.
“We’ve never been opposed to it, and I don’t see that we ever will be opposed to people accessing the river,” said Metro District board member Alan Gruber. “It only becomes an issue when other people bring it up.”
That was the case last month when a representative from the Reserve on the East River approached the district and asked if anything could be done to limit, or stop, people from launching their boats at the WWTP. The reason behind the request was first trespassing and second safety.
“Every few years someone brings up the question of access,” said recently retired district manager Jack Dietrich. “The last time was in 2008. We put up signs when the water gets too low to be passable, but they get ignored. I don’t like standing down there policing things.”
The district’s latest decision comes with a few contingencies. First, there have been problems with people parking in the WWTP lot and blocking access to the building. This is not okay. Should something happen at the WWTP, the district must have quick, ready access to all the doors, including the garage and bay doors.
To help with the parking issue, the district plans to post signs at the plant. However, the community should also plan to use common sense and not leave vehicles in the WWTP lot. Parking is allowed on the shoulder of Cement Creek Road, and Metro District manager Ronnie Benson said cars could also be left at the district office lot—again, as long as they are parked in a manner that does not block access to the building.
“If it becomes an issue we could put a gate at the turn into the WWTP, just so no one could pull in there,” said Gruber. “We would consider a closure to parking if people fail to be respectful.”
The majority of people launching boats from the WWTP pull briefly into the parking lot to unload, shuttle their crafts across the grass to the riverbank, then move their vehicles onto the road. Closing the parking area would force people to carry their boats along the road before entering the WWTP property—probably not a big deal for kayakers, but a heavy haul for rafters.
The second contingency is also parking-related, but has more to do with the general flow of traffic. During the peak season for floating, parked cars often stack up along the highway. It can create a safety issue for people walking to the river or crossing the street, or even other motorists driving through. While the answer here is not as clear-cut, district board member Tom Dill said he hopes people will use common sense both when they park and when they’re in the area.
Parking well off the shoulder, not blocking driveways, reducing speed, and looking both ways when crossing the street are all small things that can be done to enhance safety in the area.
And remember, said Gruber, “It’s going to be a short season. The river was so high and now it’s dropping so fast. Everyone is going to find access somewhere. At least this is off the highway.”
The East River is currently flowing at about 800 cubic feet per second. There are several bridges along the river with limited clearance, and many downed trees and snags are present in the water. Rowing is technical, and neither portaging nor anchoring are possible along the majority of the river due to trespassing laws.
