FINAL Crystal Chapter 3
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3.3.2 Recreation 3.3.2 RECREATION 3.3.2.1 Introduction Of approximately 1.7 million acres on the MBSNF, the Forest Plan allocates about 288,300 acres (17 percent) to dispersed recreation, of which 45,300 acres are classified as primitive and 225,100 acres are classified as semi-primitive non-motorized. Approximately 8,400 acres (0.5 percent) of the MBSNF are allocated to developed recreation, of which 6,041 acres (0.35 percent) lay within ski resort SUP areas. Approximately 42 percent (721,700 acres) of the Forest is designated wilderness (USDA, 1990a). The study area for recreation emphasizes the portion of the SNOQRD formerly known as the White River Ranger District of the MBSNF. Due to its prominence as a key recreation visitor destination in the region, existing use levels and potential project effects to MRNP are also considered. Activities within the Crystal Mountain SUP area include alpine skiing, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Other activities within the SUP area and available to the public include backcountry and Nordic skiing, mountaineering/climbing, snowshoeing, driving for pleasure, picnicking, primitive wilderness experiences, lake and stream fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain and road biking, scenery and nature observation and photography, and other activities in both developed and dispersed recreation settings. 3.3.2.2 Overall Recreation Demand National Trends In order to gain an understanding of demand for outdoor recreation nationwide, several federal agencies have sponsored a series of national surveys over several decades. One of the most recent and complete of these surveys is the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE), which was sponsored by the USFS, the USBLM, the USACE, the USEPA, and the USDA Economic Research Services.9 The NSRE was accomplished by interviewing approximately Americans 16 years of age or older in random-digit-dialing telephone sampling. The primary purpose of the NSRE is to learn about the outdoor recreation activities of people 16 years of age or older in the United States. The results of the latest three surveys are summarized in Table 3.3.2-1, compared to the results of a similar survey that was done in 1982-83 and published in the NSRE (USFS, 1995, 2001). 9 The NSRE represents the continuation of the ongoing National Recreation Survey (NRS) series. Begun in 1960 by the congressionally created Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (ORRRC), the first NRS was a four-season, in-the-home survey of outdoor recreation participation in the United States. Since that time, additional NRSs have been conducted in 1965, 1970, 1972, 1977, and 1982/83, 1994/95 and 2000/01. Crystal Mountain MDP – Final EIS 3-156 3.3.2 Recreation Table 3.3.2-1 National Recreation Participation Trends, 1982/83, 1994/95, and 1999/00 Percent Millions of Percent Millions of Participantsa Activity Change between Participantsa Change from 1982-83 1994-95 1982-83 and 1994-95 1999-00 1994-95 Bird Watching 21.1 54.1 +156.4 84.9 +56.9 Hiking 24.7 47.8 +93.5 73.8 +54.4 Backpacking 8.8 15.2 +72.7 24.9 +63.8 Downhill Skiing 10.6 16.8 +58.5 19.7 +17.3 Camping – Primitive Area 17.7 28.0 +58.2 35.4 +26.4 Attending Outdoor Concert/Play 44.2 68.4 +54.7 N/Ac N/A Off-Road Driving 19.4 27.9 +43.8 40.2 +44.1 Walking 93.6 133.7 +42.8 180.6 +35.1 Motor boating 33.6 47.0 +39.9 58.9 +25.3 Sightseeing 81.3 113.4 +39.5 124.8 +10.1 Camping – Developed Area 30.0 41.5 +38.3 56.8 +36.9 Swimming/river, lake, ocean 56.5 78.1 +38.2 101.9 +30.5 Snowmobiling 5.3 7.1 +34.0 12.6 +77.5 Outdoor Team Sports 42.4 53.0 +25.0 43.5 -17.9 Golf 23.0 29.7 +29.1 N/Ac N/A Cross-country Skiing 5.3 6.5 +22.6 10.6 +63.1 Swimming/Pool 76.0 88.6 +16.4 N/Ac N/A Picnicking 84.8 98.3 +15.9 124.2 +26.3 Sledding 17.7 20.5 +15.8 31.2b +52.2 Running/Jogging 45.9 52.5 +14.4 73.6b +40.2 Water Skiing 15.9 17.9 +12.6 19.0 +5.8 Bicycling 56.5 57.4 +1.6 84.8 +47.7 Ice Skating 10.6 10.5 -0.9 14.6b +39.0 Fishing 60.1 57.8 -3.8 75.7 +30.1 Sailing 10.6 9.6 -9.4 12.4 +29.2 Horseback Riding 15.9 14.3 -10.1 23.6 +65.0 Hunting 21.2 18.6 -12.3 26.9 +44.6 Tennis 30.0 21.2 -29.3 N/Ac N/A Source: USFS, 1995 and NSRE, 2000 a Millions of participants 16 years of age or older. b These numbers are from the year 2000/01 c These numbers were not available for the 1999/00 study The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) also conducts an annual survey of sports participation. Table 3.3.2-2 depicts the increase/decrease for certain activities that are popular in mountain settings from 1991 through 2001. Crystal Mountain MDP – Final EIS 3-157 3.3.2 Recreation Table 3.3.2-2 Comparison of 1991, 1996 and 2001 Sports Participation Millions of Participantsa Sport 1991 1996 2001 Exercise Walking 69.6 73.3 71.2 Bicycle Riding 54.0 53.3 39.0 Fishing 47.0 45.6 44.4 Camping 47.1 44.7 45.5 Hiking 22.7 26.5 26.1 Hunting with Firearms 17.1 19.3 19.2 Mountain Biking - on road 10.5 11.3 14.0 Backpacking/Wilderness Camp 10.4 11.5 14.5 Alpine Skiing 10.4 10.5 7.7 Mountain Biking - off road 4.6 7.3 6.3 Snowboarding 1.6 3.7 5.3 Nordic Skiing 4.4 3.4 2.3 a Participated more than once, seven years of age or older. Source: National Sporting Goods Association, 1996 and 2002. Though the NSGA data shows nominal growth and decline for alpine skiing, snowboarding has witnessed significant increases in participation. More than alpine skiing, Nordic skiing participation is affected by fluctuations in the weather, as snowmaking is rarely utilized to cover trails. Nonetheless, Nordic skiing, which reached a peak of 5.8 million participants in 1988, has not surpassed an estimated four million participants since 1991 (NSGA, 1991-1996). Differences in the NSRE and NSGA data are not readily explainable. However, it should be noted that the NSRE data represents participation estimates only for those 16 years of age or older, while the NSGA data includes estimated participation for those 7 years of age or older. Also, the NSRE data includes those who may have participated in a particular activity only one time during the year, while the NSGA data includes only those who participated two or more times. On this basis, the NSRE data are likely more representative of total participation for those 16 years of age or older and may be a better predictor of potential latent or unmet demand. Nonetheless, the NSRE data do not reflect the size of the market under the age of 16. For example, the 1997 NSGA survey found that seven to 17 year olds account for about 25 percent of those who alpine ski and 56 percent of those who snowboard. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest The methodology for counting and/or calculating recreation use on the MBSNF has changed radically several times over the past decade. As a result, consistently reliable data on recreation use trends for the Forest are unavailable. National Visitor Use Monitoring Report In September 2001, the US Forest Service published the National Visitor Use Monitoring Report (USFS Region 6, 2001). According to this document, on a national basis, there were 209 million national forest visits in 2000, including 14.3 million Wilderness visits. Additionally, another 258 Crystal Mountain MDP – Final EIS 3-158 3.3.2 Recreation million people enjoyed viewing national forest scenery from non-Forest Service managed travel ways (USFS Region 6, 2001). Region 6 (the Pacific Northwest region) includes national forest units in Oregon and Washington. It received 33.9 million national forest visits in 2000, including 3.1 million Wilderness site visits. Five national forests in Region 6 were sampled in the first year of the project. The results from these Forests were then expanded to estimate total regional recreation use (USFS Region 6, 2001). The MBSNF participated in the National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) project from January 1 through December 31, 2000. During the first winter of the sample (January 2000), the Forest experienced the highest snowfall in 100 years. This meant snow closed trails, and wilderness access and some campgrounds were not available until later than usual. Winter use was more sporadic because of access to the ski areas and poor weather for recreation (USFS Region 6, 2001). According to the NVUM report, recreation use on the MBSNF for calendar year 2000 was 5,006,932 national forest visits, with 5,379,362 site visits, for an average of 1.1 site visits per national forest visit. Included in the site visit estimate are 700,814 Wilderness visits. Table 3.3.2-FEIS1 presents a summary of participation on the MBSNF based upon the results of the NVUM. Crystal Mountain MDP – Final EIS 3-159 3.3.2 Recreation Table 3.3.2-FEIS1 Activity Participation for the Mt.