Gold Hill Has (Olympic) Gold Dreams
The City of Gold Hill in Southern Oregon is attempting to transform their town into a mecca for world-class Olympic athletes by constructing a whitewater park along their stretch of the Rogue River. Long a destination for serious rafters, kayakers and stand-up paddlers, Gold Hill hopes to facilitate an experience for recreation-minded visitors and serious athletes alike. The City sees this to be a catalyst for improvement projects and future economic growth for the city while still staying true to their rural, small-town charm.
Just up-river from Powerhouse Rapids.
Plans for a kayak park have been in the initial stages for years, spearheaded by local resident and former Olympian rower Steve Kiesling (King of the Rogue). But this past November the city took a step forward by backing a project to map the river bottom; a prerequisite to the planning of a full-scale park. This map, which measures elevation as accurately as 2mm, allows engineers to understand the hydrologic functions of the river to better predict its flow changes seasonally as well as potential effects of intervention (i.e. moving or placing a rock). The process involved the arduous task of holding a raft stationary in the rapids while a GPS meter (which looks like a shorter pole-vault pole) is placed in contact with the bottom, yielding a single data point. Taking the hundreds of data points together reveals previously un-realized channels, dips and rocks, which will be instrumental in designing the park.
Folks from the River Design Group working on mapping the Rogue River
Engineers say that this site is well-equipped as-is to construct such a park; with a 25-foot drop and an average summer flow of 1,978 cubic feet/sec (CFS), the canvas is perfectly white. For reference, most other whitewater parks around the world have a vertical drop of around 18-21 feet an a flow of around 450-600 CFS, and the US National Whitewater Park in North Carolina boasts a modest flow of 530 CFS over 21 feet of elevation loss.
With the minimal options for kayakers in the region, Gold Hill hopes to capitalize on what makes this place truly special: The Rogue River. It’s wet, wild, wonderful and its tons of fun. To learn more about the project and get involved:
Could Gold Hill Become A National Whitewater Destination?
About the Author: Nicolas received a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy with a Minor in Sustainable Design from Western Washington University. As a student, Nicolas participated in the Sustainable Ithaca Study in Greece where he analyzed and recommend policy routes for locally based sustainable development.
Nicolas is serving with the City of Gold Hill, where he is building upon a wide array of planning related projects. Using existing momentum, he is helping administer and implement a newly adopted Surface Water Management Plan as well as working with a local consultant on the development of a Parks Master Plan with an extensive portion being focused on water quality. During his year with the RARE AmeriCorps Program – Resource Assistance for Rural Environments, Nicolas hopes to broaden his depth of experience while building a relevant skill set that will make help him succeed throughout his career.