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IOWA STATEUNIVERSITY Digital Repository Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1974 Patterns of recreational use and characteristics of users of the Upper Iowa River William Kerlin Seitz III Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Agriculture Commons, Animal Sciences Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, and the Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Seitz, William Kerlin III, "Patterns of recreational use and characteristics of users of the Upper Iowa River " (1974). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 6307. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/6307 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. 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When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. V ou will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from left to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again - beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. XeroxUniversity MicrofUms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 . I . I 74-23,765 SEITZ, William Kerlin, III, 1944- PATI'ERNSOF RECREATIONALUSE AND CHARACTERISI'ICS OF USERSOF THEUPPER IOWA RIVER. Iowa State University, Ph.D., 1974 Agriculture, forestry &wildlife University Microfilms, A XEROXCompany , Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. Patt~rns of recreational use and characteristics of users of the Upper Iowa River by Willia·m Kerlin Seitz III A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOP.OF PHILOSOPHY Department: zoology and Entomology Major: Wildlife Biology Apprg_y;ed: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of '!1ajor york Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Major Department Signature was redacted for privacy. For t~e Graduate Cbllege Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1974 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 The National Wild and Scenic Rivers system 1 Scenic River Status of the Upper Iowa River 2 Historical Review of Proposed Recreational Development of the TTpper Iowa River 3 Privatg landowners 3 Citizen conservation organizations 5 Iowa conservation commission 6 Present status 8 Objectives 12 LITEFATURE REVIEW 14 DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA 18 METHODS 28 Data Collection 28 Data Analysis 30 Sample Siz~ 30 RESULTS 32 canoeing and camping 32 Canoeing 44 canoeing us~ patterns 45 Aircraft counts of canoeing activity 59 Access areas used for launching and taking out canoes 63 canoeing trip [email protected] 66 Experience levels 71 Camping 71 camping use patterns 74 Lan~ ownership of camping areas 83 Methoos of camping 85 iii Fishing 87 Fishing use patterns 90 Past and present fishing habits 92 creel success 94 Method of fishing 96 Fur Trapping 97 Other Recreation Activities 103 Feelings and Attitudes 104 crowded canoeing conditions 106 Desired recreation facility development 109 Willingness to pay a user fee 114 Restriction of canoeing and camping numbers 119 The importance of a river recreation experience 120 Socio-economic Characteristics of River Users 122 Age 122 sex 123 Occupation 124 Education 129 socio-economic characteristics: river users versus the Iova population 129 Social and formal composition of the recreation parties 132 Expenditures 133 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 138 Levels of Use 138 Recreational Use Patterns 140 Recreation Facility Development 142 Recommendations 149 Recreation use patterns 149 Recreation facility development 150 LITERATURECITED 151 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 154 iv APPENDIX I: WATERRECREATION SURVEY 156 APPENDIX II: CANOERSURVEY 167 APPENDIX III: CREEL CENSUS 170 APPENDIX IV: TRAPPER SURVEY 172 APPENDIX V: HOMETOWNS OF IOWA CANOEISTS AND CA~PERS CONTACTEDALONG THE RIVER IN 1972 AND 1973 174 APPENDIX VI: AREAS ALONGTHE RIVER AND THE NU~BER OF PARTIES USING THEM TO LAUNCHOR TAKE OUT CANOES IN 1972 AND 1973 179 APPENDIX VII: DECORAHCITY CAMPGROUNDACTIVITY (1971-1973} 184 APPENDIX VIII: AREAS ALONGTHE RIVER WHEREPERSONS CAMPEDIN 1972 AND 1973 185 APPENDIX IX: HO"E TOWNSOF IOWAFISHERMEN CONTACTED ALONGTHE RIVER IN 1972 AND 1973 189 APPENDIX X: AREAS ALONGTHE RIVER WHEREFISHING ·PARTIES WERE CONTACTEDIN 1972 AND 1973 191 1 INTRODUCTION The National Wild and Scenic Rivers system In October 1968 the President signed Public Law 90-542 creating.a Na~ional ~ild and Scenic River~ System. This law declared as ~he policy of the United States " ••• that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstanding remarkable scenic, recr~ational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values, shall be preservep in free-flowing condition, and that they and th~ir immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of pres~n+ and future generations" (~ublic Law 90-542 1968). Th~ Act specified three classes of rivers: wild, scenic, and recrea+ional. A wilo river is generally inaccessible except by trail, its shore lines are primitive and its waters are unpolluted. A scenic river can he accessible in places by roads and may have some development along its shore lines, so long as the essentially primitive character is retained. A recrea~ional river can be readily accessible by road or railroad, it may have development along the shore lines, and it may have had impoundments or diversions in t~e past. Nationwioe, P.ight ~ivers were s~lected by Congress to form th~ initial compon~nts nf thA wil~ ~nd ~~~ni~ riv~rs syst~m: 2 Cl=arwater (Middle Fork), Idaho Eleven Point, Missouri Feath~r, California Rio Grande, New Mexico Rouge, Oregon Saint Croix, Minnesota and Wisconsin Salmon (Middle Fork), Idaho wolf, Wisconsin. In addition to these rivers, 27 other rivers were designated by C0ngress for potential inclusion in the National System, including the Opper Iowa River in northeast Iowa. Scenic River Stat.us of the Upper Iowa River During the preliminary inventory and evaluation period for the proposed na~ionwide system of wild and scenic riv~rs, a brief surv~y and analysis was made of the Upper Iowa in 1963 (U. s. Department of the Interior 1972:1). In the early 1960's and in 1967, the State of Iowa ·initiated inventory studie~ to evaluate scenic and recreational qualities of th~ river (Taylor 1969:1). After passage of the Wild and scenic Rivers Act, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, u. s. Departm~nt of the Interior (USDI), initiated an extensive 2-year study of the Upper Iova to determine whether the river qualified for inclusion in the system. In 1970 the USDI study Team concluded that the river possessed values which qualified it for inclusion in the scenic rivers system, and nrn+or~4nn ~n~ ~ovolnnmon+ "~ ~~o Onno~ T~u• r ____.._ ____ -··- --·---r--·•- -- -••- -.t"r-- _.....,...~ could be achieved by the state of Iowa, in cooperation with 3 local governments (USDI 1972:70). The Governor of Iowa proclaimed the river. as part of the Iowa Scenic Rivers System in 1970 (Code of Iowa 1971). The Secretary of the Interior in 19?2 recommended to the President that the river be includ?.d in the national system, however, the President has not acted upon the recomm~ndation. Historical Review of Proposed Recreational Development of th~ Upper Iowa River There are several groups, in addition to the recreationists, that have an important interest in present and future plans for development and management of the Upper Iowa River for recrPation: owners of private land along th~ river, citiz~n conservation organizations, and the Iowa Conservation commission (ICC). To place results of this study in proper perspective, roles that these major groups have played in recreation development of the Upper Iowa River since the USDI made its scenic river proposal are reviewed~ frixa!~ l~il2!n~£2 ~~on completion of its 2-year stuoy, the USDI announced in Aqgust 1970 that pu~lic h~arings would be held in Decorah, w~ukon, and Cresco, county seats of Winn~shiek, Allamakee, ai1J HuwctLJ counties on August 25, 26, ana 27, i97G.

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