HADLEY — White-water enthusiasts will have to continue the wait for long-anticipated rodeo holes in the Sacandaga River, according to the man behind the plan to add thrills to a river ride.

John Duncan said he hasn’t given up the effort for the rodeo holes, but he can’t finish the project alone.

Duncan is chairman of the Hudson Sacandaga River Advisory Council and the Sacandaga river manager.

Rodeo holes create the miniature whirlpools sought by thrill-seeking paddlers.

“I’ve been working on this for eight to 10 years and, in that time, 60 have been completed in other areas of the country,” he said. “This is the only private undertaking. All the rest have had municipal support.”

Whirlpools are created when currents hit areas in the river where there are obstructions. Two years ago, heavy equipment was used to move the boulders on the floor of the river when Brookfield Power New York had shut off a pair of dams in the Hudson River near Corinth and lowered the level of the Sacandaga.

Brookfield Power is an independent producer of hydroelectric power on the rivers.

Duncan said heavy rains made the river rise in May 2006 and the equipment was removed before the job was done. Lack of money has kept the project from restarting.

“In the meantime, we’ve hired an economic impact study consultant and a different group of engineers to look at the site,” Duncan said. “The engineers have come up with a different design to create the holes.”

He said the total cost of the project could be $500,000 to $600,000 and he’s received only $150,000 in private funding so far.

“Most of that has come from [Brookfield Power] and most of it has been spent,” he said. “I’m going to be looking to county organizations to help out now.”

He said the economy impact survey indicates the increased appeal of white-water improvements could bring about $2 million a year to the region.

“White-water paddling is one of the fastest-growing, human-powered sports in the country,” he said. “Look at the number of kayaks you see on the roofs of cars.”

He said five years ago kayaks were heavy and bulky and difficult for individuals to handle.

“Now we have a half-dozen models that even an 8- or 9-year-old can handle alone,” he said.

Duncan plans to take his economic study to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce next week and the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. shortly afterward with hopes of getting support for an appeal to the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.

He said he will ask elected officials to seek grant funds to complete the white-water project.