APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
RECREATION ASSESSMENT AND ANGLER USE CREEL SURVEY REPORT
LONDON/MARMET PROJECT (FERC NO. 1175)
WINFIELD PROJECT (FERC NO. 1290)
Prepared by:
APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
RECREATION ASSESSMENT AND ANGLER USE CREEL SURVEY REPORT
LONDON/MARMET PROJECT (FERC NO 1175)
WINFIELD PROJECT (FERC NO. 1290)
Prepared by:
APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
LONDON/MARMET PROJECT (FERC NO. 1175)
WINFIELD PROJECT (FERC NO. 1290)
RECREATION ASSESSMENT AND ANGLER USE CREEL SURVEY REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1-1 2.0 BACKGROUND ...... 2-1 3.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY...... 3-1 4.0 METHODOLOGY ...... 4-1 4.1 Data Collection ...... 4-1 4.1.1 Literature Review and Data Search ...... 4-4 4.1.2 Recreation Site Inventory ...... 4-4 4.1.3 On Site Monitoring ...... 4-5 4.1.3.1 Spot Counts ...... 4-6 4.1.3.2 Public Access Site/Creel Survey ...... 4-6 4.1.4 Traffic Counter...... 4-8 4.2 Analysis...... 4-9 4.2.1 Recreation Use Estimates ...... 4-9 4.2.2 Catch and Harvest Estimates ...... 4-12 4.2.3 Public Access Site/Creel Survey ...... 4-12 4.2.4 Traffic Counter...... 4-13 4.2.5 Recreation Needs Assessment ...... 4-13 5.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...... 5-1 6.0 RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ...... 6-1 6.1 Regional Recreation Opportunities ...... 6-1 6.1.1 National Parks and National Forests ...... 6-1 6.1.2 State Parks and State Forests ...... 6-3 6.1.3 Wildlife Management Areas ...... 6-4 6.1.4 Angling and Boating Opportunities ...... 6-4 6.2 Project Vicinity Recreational Facilities ...... 6-5 6.2.1 National Parks and National Forests ...... 6-5 6.2.2 State Parks and State Forests ...... 6-7 6.2.3 Wildlife Management Areas ...... 6-8 6.2.4 Angling and Boating Opportunities ...... 6-8 6.3 Project Recreation Facilities ...... 6-9
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6.3.1 London Development...... 6-9 6.3.2 Marmet Development ...... 6-12 6.3.3 Winfield Development ...... 6-14 7.0 RECREATION USE ...... 7-18 7.1 Existing Recreation Use ...... 7-18 7.2 Angler Effort ...... 7-24 7.3 Potential Future Recreation Use ...... 7-25 8.0 RECREATIONIST CHARACTERISTICS, PREFERENCES, AND OPINIONS ...... 8-1 8.1 Trip Characteristics ...... 8-1 8.2 Recreationist Characteristics ...... 8-2 9.0 CREEL SURVEY RESULTS...... 9-1 9.1 Angler Trip Characteristics ...... 9-1 9.2 Catch and Harvest ...... 9-3 9.3 Catch and Harvest Rates ...... 9-6 9.4 Fish Consumption Advisories ...... 9-8 10.0 ADEQUACY OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT ...... 10-10 10.1 Recreation Site Use Capacities ...... 10-10 10.2 Recreation Needs Assessments ...... 10-12 10.3 Adequacy of Facilities to Accommodate Existing and Future Use ...... 10-14 11.0 REFERENCES ...... 11-1
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 4-1. Angling Use and Creel Study Plan Objectives and Efforts ...... 4-2 Table 7-1. Public Recreation Use at Project Tailwater Angling Access Sites (March, 2010 to November, 2010) ...... 7-19 Table 7-2. Monthly Use Totals Reported by Recreationists ...... 7-22 Table 7-3. Traffic Counter Vehicle Counts by Month, Day Type, and Time ...... 7-23 Table 7-4. Angling Effort by Month and Day Type...... 7-24 Table 7-5. Estimated Future Recreation Days for the Tygart Tailwater Access Sites ...... 7-26 Table 8-1. Resident Angler Expenditures ...... 8-2 Table 9-1. Species Targeted by Anglers by Site ...... 9-1 Table 9-2. Species Caught and Released by Site ...... 9-4 Table 9-3. Total Fish, Lengths and Weights of Harvested Species ...... 9-5 Table 9-4. Catch and Harvest Rates by Site Month and Day Type ...... 9-7 Table 9-5. Questions Regarding Fish Consumption Advisories and Changes in Fishing Habits ...... 9-9 Table 10-1. Use Densities by Site, Month and Day Type ...... 10-11 Table 10-2. Recommended Improvements at Project Tailwater Angling Access Site ...... 10-13
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 5-1. Project Locations ...... 5-1 Figure 6-1. Regional recreation opportunities within 60 miles of the Projects ...... 6-2 Figure 6-2. Project Vicinity Recreation Facilities ...... 6-6 Figure 7-1. Recreational Use Trends by Month at the Winfield and Marmet Tailwater Angling Access Sites...... 7-21 Figure 9-1. Targeted Species by Month ...... 9-2
LIST OF PHOTOS
Photo 4-1. Road tube traffic counter located at the entrance to the Winfield recreation site...... 4-9 Photo 5-2. London Development...... 5-3 Photo 5-3. Marmet Development ...... 5-4 Photo 5-4. Winfield Development ...... 5-5 Photo 6-1. Overview of the London Development Tailwater Angling Access Site...... 6-10 Photo 6-2. London Development Tailwater Fishing Pier ...... 6-11 Photo 6-3. Retired Access Bridge at the London Development ...... 6-11 Photo 6-4. Overview of the Marmet Development Tailwater Angling Access Site ...... 6-12 Photo 6-5. Gravel Parking Area at the Marmet Development Tailwater Angling Access Site...... 6-13 Photo 6-6. Marmet Development Tailwater Fishing Pier...... 6-13 Photo 6-7. Overview of the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site ...... 6-15
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Photo 6-8. Gravel Parking Area at the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site ...... 6-15 Photo 6-9. Gravel road connecting the two Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site Parking Areas...... 6-16 Photo 6-10. Paved ADA Compliant Parking Area at the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site...... 6-16 Photo 6-11. ADA Compliant Fishing Access at the Winfield Development ...... 6-17 Photo 6-12. Tailwater Fishing Piers at the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site ...... 6-17
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A Daily Summary Report Appendix B Public Access Site/Creel Survey Appendix C Inventory of Regional Recreation Areas Appendix D Inventory of Project Vicinity Recreation Areas
J:\843\061\Docs\Studies\Recreation\Recreation Report\001-FINAL Rec Study (6-8-11).doc
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APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
LONDON/MARMET PROJECT (FERC NO. 1175)
WINFIELD PROJECT (FERC NO. 1290)
RECREATION ASSESSMENT AND ANGLER USE CREEL SURVEY REPORT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Appalachian Power Company (APC) operates the London/Marmet and Winfield Hydroelectric Projects (Projects), which are licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as Project Nos. 1175 and 1290, respectively. The Projects are located on the Kanawha River in West Virginia at US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) locks and dams. The London/Marmet Project consists of two developments: the London Development and the Marmet Development. The London Development is located near Handley, West Virginia, in Fayette and Kanawha Counties. The Marmet Development is located in Marmet, West Virginia, in Kanawha County. The Winfield Project is located in Winfield, West Virginia, in Kanawha and Putnam Counties. Operation of each respective development is coordinated with the USACE.
The existing license for the London/Marmet Project was issued to Appalachian by FERC on September 23, 1983 and expires on January 31, 2014. The existing license for the Winfield Project was issued to Appalachian by FERC on September 26, 1983 and expires on January 31, 2014. Appalachian is using the FERC Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) as established in regulations issued by FERC July 23, 2003 and found at Title 18 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 5. Appalachian submitted and distributed a Notification of Intent (NOI) to relicense and Pre-Application Document (PAD) for the Projects on August 14, 2008. FERC issued Scoping Document 1 (SD1) for the Project on October 14, 2008 and held scoping meetings and a site visit on November 12 and November 13, 2008. The Project PAD, SD1, and scoping meetings identified issues associated with recreation which existing available information was insufficient to address.
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On May 26, 2009, Appalachian filed with the FERC the Revised Study Plan (RSP) for the relicensing of the Projects. Included in the RSP was the final approved study plan for the Recreation Assessment and Angler Use Study, developed in consultation with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR). On June 26, 2009 the FERC issued a Study Plan Determination approving the RSP, as submitted.
On September 30, 2009, Appalachian held an Agency Meeting to discuss upcoming study efforts and to solicit agency input on proposed modifications to the Recreation Assessment and Angler Use Final Study Plan. On October 28, 2009, a letter was sent to WVDNR to document the proposed modifications, which were discussed and agreed upon at the September 30, 2009 Agency Meeting. The modifications were designed to meet the goals and objectives of the recreation study, pursuant to the recommendations of WVDNR, while streamlining the sampling frame and making efficient use of the survey clerks’ time on site. On March 19, 2010, a copy of the Public Access Site/Creel Survey was also sent to WVDNR for review, although no comments were received.
The following report serves to address the issues identified during scoping, discusses the results of the Recreation Assessment and Angler Use Creel Study conducted from March through November 2010, and provides an update of recreation use and needs at the Projects. This report is organized in the following manner:
• Section 2.0 provides background information on the determination of study need. • Section 3.0 summarizes the goals and objectives of the study. • Section 4.0 presents the study methodology. • Section 5.0 provides a description of the Projects. • Section 6.0 provides a description of the regional and project vicinity recreation resources available as well as the tailwater angling access sites available at the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects. • Section 7.0 reports on recreation use data for project sites including angler effort and future use estimates. • Section 8.0 reports on the public access site survey results conducted during the 2010 recreation season with discussion of Recreationist characteristics, preferences and opinions.
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• Section 9.0 provides the results of the creel survey including discussion of catch and harvest species and rates. • Section 10.0 provides an assessment of the adequacy of current recreational facilities to accommodate existing and future projected recreation use.
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2.0 BACKGROUND
Several state parks, wildlife management areas, and the New River Gorge National Park are within the vicinity of the Projects. There are also several municipal parks and recreation facilities, such as golf courses, in Kanawha, Putnam and Fayette Counties within the vicinity of the Projects. According to the West Virginia Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), the recreation activities that are popular in planning and development regions in which the Projects are located (Region 3 and Region 4) are generally traditional outdoor pursuits such as hiking/walking, fishing, hunting, swimming, camping and canoeing (WVDOC, 2009).
In the project areas, the Kanawha River supports an extensive warm-water fishery. Native species include redhorses (Moxostoma spp.), northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricians), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus), white bass (Morone chrysops), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), crappie (Pomoxis spp.), and freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens). These fish species represent a diverse fish community with species from various feeding groups. Dominant family groups expected in the project areas include Centrarchidae (sunfishes), Ictaluridae (catfishes), Catostomidae (suckers), and Cyprinidae (carps and minnows).
This fishery is supported by tailwater angling access sites available at each of the three developments of the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects. On February 16, 2009, Appalachian was required to close the tailwater fishing pier at the London Development due to the absence of a designated public access through the railroad property. At the time of this study, the London tailwater angling access site remained closed therefore Appalachian did not evaluate recreation use as part of this study. The Winfield and Marmet project tailwater fishing piers were included in study efforts.
As discussed above, the Project PAD, SD1, and scoping meetings identify issues associated with recreational use of the London/Marmet and Winfield tailwaters for which the existing, relevant, and reasonably available information is insufficient to address. The SD1 and letter from the WVDNR dated December 12, 2008 identify the following issues pertaining to recreational use of the downstream tailwaters of the Marmet and Winfield Developments:
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• adequacy of existing public access, including the angler access facility at the London Development, and recreational facilities in the project boundary to meet current and future recreational demand; and
• the potential effect of continued project operation on fishing opportunities within the project areas.
This study serves to address the concerns raised by the FERC and WVDNR and provides baseline recreational use data at the project tailwater access sites.
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3.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The intention of this assessment of existing and future recreational use, angling opportunities, and needs for the Marmet and Winfield Developments is to support ongoing relicensing efforts. This assessment provides information pertinent to the current and future availability and adequacy of public access facilities available at the developments. Results meet the study purpose by addressing the following goals and objectives:
Goal 1: Develop an inventory of existing regional and project-related recreational resources. This will be accomplished by meeting the following objectives.
A. Identify existing available regional and project vicinity recreation sites and inventory the services and amenities offered at each, with a focus on water- oriented facilities.
B. Inventory the available recreation amenities at each of the three tailwater angling access sites at the Marmet and London Developments and at the Winfield Project.
Goal 2: Characterize recreational use of and needs for the Marmet and Winfield tailwaters for angling and other recreational purposes. This was accomplished by meeting the following objectives:
A. Calculate recreation days by month, day type (weekend, weekday, and holiday) for each of the project tailwater angling access sites.
B. Characterize recreation pressure (highest observed use density) by time of day and season for each of the project tailwater angling access sites.
C. Identification of primary recreation activities undertaken by Recreationists at project tailwater angling access sites.
D. Identification of existing user preferences, including site conditions, perceptions of crowding and facility needs at the tailwater angling access sites via the Public Access Site/Creel Survey.
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E. Identification of Recreationists expenditures via the Public Access Site/Creel Survey.
F. Identification of demographic characteristics including age and residence via the Public Access Site/Creel Survey.
Goal 3: Quantify angler use of the Marmet and Winfield tailwater angling access sites. This was accomplished by meeting the following objectives:
A. Calculate angler effort (in recreation days and angler hours) by month, day type (weekend, weekday, and holiday) for each of the project tailwater angling access sites.
B. Identification of angler targeted species, preferred bait, and opinions of water level suitability for recreational activities via the Public Access Site/Creel Survey.
C. Identification of the number and type of fish species caught and released and caught and kept at the tailwater angling access sites via the Public Access Site/Creel Survey.
Goal 4: Estimate potential future use of the Marmet and Winfield tailwater angling access sites. This was accomplished by meeting the following objectives:
A. Collect population and recreation participation trend data for the region.
B. Calculate future recreation use estimates based on existing use and population projections.
The following sections are organized as follows. Section 4.0 details the methodology used for data collection and analyses activities. Results are provided in Sections 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0, and conclusions are provided in Section 10.0.
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4.0 METHODOLOGY
This section describes data collection and analysis efforts used for this study. Data collection focused on obtaining information related to the existing recreation sites and facilities associated with the tailwater sites, estimating recreational use of those sites, learning recreation user perceptions and preferences, determining site capacities, and identifying the number and type of fish species caught. Kleinschmidt completed the analysis to support study objectives, to characterize existing and potential future recreational use at the public access sites, and to assess future needs to support public recreational use of the Projects resources.
4.1 Data Collection
Kleinschmidt used a combination of data collection efforts to obtain the information necessary to address the study objectives. Kleinschmidt used both primary and secondary data. Primary data included counts of vehicles, shoreline and pier anglers as well as survey data obtained via exit interviews of recreationists at project tailwater angling access sites. Secondary data included WVDNR fishery data, U.S. Bureau of Census data, the West Virginia SCORP, and other relevant literature.
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Table 4-1. Angling Use and Creel Study Plan Objectives and Efforts
Objectives Information Needed Source Goal 1: Develop an inventory of existing regional and project-related recreational resources Inventory of existing available • Physical inventory of regional parks, forests, and • WV GIS Technical Center regional and project vicinity recreation sites, with a focus on facilities providing • West Virginia Atlas recreation sites (Objective A) water access or on-water recreation opportunities • West Virginia Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Inventory of existing available • Physical inventory of parking capacity, piers, etc., at • Recreation Site Inventory recreation sites at project tailwaters each tailwater angling access site • Public Access Site/Creel Survey (Objective B) Goal 2: Characterize recreational use of and needs for the Marmet and Winfield tailwaters for angling and other recreational purposes Estimate recreational use of project • Counts of vehicles by month and day type (weekend, • Vehicle Spot Counts tailwater angling access sites weekday, and holiday) for each of the project • Public Access Site/Creel Survey (Objective A; Objective C) tailwater angling access sites. • Mean group size by day type and site • Mean length of trip by day type and site • Identification of activities that occur at each site • Recreationist reported use of tailwater angling access sites by month. Characterize site capacities and • Counts of vehicles by time of day and season. • Vehicle Spot Counts pressure (Objective B; Objective D) • Parking capacity of tailwater angling access sites. • Recreation Site Inventory • Site facility capacities reported in FERC Form 80 • FERC Form 80 Recreation Use Reports Recreation Reports • Public Access Site/Creel Survey • Site condition ratings • Crowdedness ratings Determine user preferences and • Additional amenities and improvements at tailwater • Public Access Site/Creel Survey opinions (Objective D) angling access sites • Safety hazards at facilities • Aesthetics of facilities Determine user characteristics • Total expenditures per category • Public Access Site/Creel Survey (Objective E; Objective F) • Demographic characteristics including age, income, education and residence. Goal 3: Quantify angler use of the Marmet and Winfield tailwater angling access sites Calculate angling effort (Objective • Counts of anglers site, month and day type • Angler Spot Counts A) • Mean length of trip by day type and site • Public Access Site/Creel Survey
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Objectives Information Needed Source Determine angler preferences and • Angler targeted species • Public Access Site/Creel Survey opinions (Objective B) • Angler preferred bait used • Angler opinions of water levels Identify the number and type of fish • The number of each sport fish species caught and • Public Access Site/Creel Survey species caught at the Project released at the Project tailwaters. tailwaters (Objective C) • The number of each sport fish species caught and kept at the Project tailwaters. Estimate catch rate • Total fish (caught and released)/unit effort (hour) by • Public Access Site/Creel Survey site, month and day type Estimate harvest rate • Total fish (caught and kept)/unit effort (hour) by site, • Public Access Site/Creel Survey month and day type Goal 4: Estimate potential future use of the Marmet and Winfield tailwater angling access sites Estimate future use (Objective A; • Recreation use estimates • Results of Goal 2 Objective B) • Population projections • West Virginia University, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
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4.1.1 Literature Review and Data Search
Initially, Kleinschmidt obtained data on the facilities provided and types of activities supported by the Project from existing information sources such as licensee records, existing FERC documents such as the FERC Form 80 Recreation Use Reports, and agency information, such as sport fish species documented in the Kanawha River. GIS analysts compiled data to augment the regional and project vicinity recreation inventory, as discussed below. We also collected and reviewed relevant recreation data such as population projections for the state, recreation use trends, tourism information, the West Virginia Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan, etc.
4.1.2 Recreation Site Inventory
A comprehensive identification of recreation facilities in the region (identified as a 60-mile radius of the three developments) and the project vicinity (identified as a 20-mile radius of the three developments) was completed largely using GIS information obtained from the West Virginia GIS Technical Center (WVGTC, 2002). Among the datasets used for the GIS analysis were:
• Boat Launches • Public Fishing Areas • Inland Waters • Public Lands o National Forests o National Parks o National Wildlife Refuges o State Forests o State Parks o State Wildlife Management Areas
Other sources of data, such as the West Virginia Atlas and Gazetteer, were used to fact check and augment the GIS data layers, as necessary.
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There are three formal public recreation sites that support angling opportunities at the Projects. Recreation specialists inventoried each development: the London, Marmet, and Winfield tailwater angling access sites. The on-site inventory collected data on the type, number, and size of facilities, parking areas, and support facilities located at each development. All three sites include parking areas and tailwater fishing piers. Appalachian provided information on the facilities provided and types of activities supported from existing information.
4.1.3 On Site Monitoring
Kleinschmidt used a stratified random sample of 90 study days for spot counts and surveys at each of the tailwater angling access sites at the Marmet and Winfield Developments from March 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010. The sample included a stratified random sample of 5 weekdays and 5 weekend days per month. Generally, most recreation activity at public access sites occurs on weekends and holidays. Because of this, the study effort was relatively higher on weekends and holidays than weekdays, in order to maximize the efficiency of the data collection effort and focus data collection efforts on time periods when people were more likely to use the tailwater angling access sites for recreation purposes.
Since the recreation day is sunrise to sunset, the recreation day varied in length each month. Kleinschmidt randomly selected a sample shift of 6 hours per sample day within each recreation day by month. Kleinschmidt also randomly scheduled the sample shift a start time beginning between sunrise and 6 hours before sunset.
Recreation clerks counted vehicles by state, anglers, and completed exit interviews at the Marmet Development on a stratified random sample of 89 days throughout the completed study period (March 1, 2010 through November 30, 2010). The sample of counts were stratified by month and day type (weekdays,
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weekends and holidays) with counts occurring on 5 holidays, 41 weekdays, and 43 weekend days at the recreation site.
Additionally, recreation analysts counted vehicles and anglers and exit interviews at the Winfield Development over 86 days over the same time period. The sample of counts included 5 holidays, 43 weekdays, and 38 weekend days at the recreation site. While the study plan targeted 90 days of monitoring, 4 days were missed and unable to be rescheduled due to staffing issues and a temporary site closure for pier repairs that occurred the last week of September and extended through the second week of October.
4.1.3.1 Spot Counts
The survey clerk physically counted the number of vehicles at the site that day, at the start and end of their shift and at two other randomly selected times. The number of anglers observed that were engaged in fishing activity were also counted at the same four selected times.
Survey clerks also recorded the weather at the start and end of the sample shift and made note of any particular events or occurrences of significance that may explain count outliers. A copy of the Daily Summary Report, used to record vehicle and angler spot counts (Appendix A).
4.1.3.2 Public Access Site/Creel Survey
The clerks surveyed continuously throughout the 6-hour sample shift according to the schedule developed in accordance with the spot counts. The clerks completed exit surveys with recreational users to collect characteristics (origin, gender, age, group size, etc.), the primary and secondary recreation activities in which individuals were participating in, expenditures, perceptions of crowdedness, and opinions of conditions of the site. The clerks asked individuals about the suitability of and preferences for water levels for their on-water activity. The interviews
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also included asking individuals to identify any potential hazards for recreation activities and any improvements to the Marmet and Winfield tailwater angling access sites that may be needed.
Individuals were asked about their arrival time on-site, which when subtracted from the time of the exit interview, was used to derive length of stay used in recreation use estimates. The clerks solicited the group size through the on-site surveys, which Kleinschmidt used in estimate calculations.
In addition, the clerks asked individuals to estimate how many days per month they visit the recreation site at which they were interviewed. These reported totals were compared to use estimates derived from actual observed on-site use (spot and angler counts) for the study, as well as providing an estimate of use for months outside of the study season (December, January, and February).
For those individuals participating in angling, the clerks administered a creel survey concurrently with the public access site user survey. The creel survey collected information on the species targeted by anglers as well as species caught in the project tailwaters. The creel survey solicited information on fish species targeted, total fish caught and released by species, total fish caught and kept by species, as well as length (in inches) and weight (in ounces) of each fish caught and kept, and bait and tackle used.
The suitability of the water levels for angling was also included in the creel survey. The clerks asked anglers to rate the suitability of water levels on a scale from “unacceptable” to “excellent”. In addition, the clerks asked the anglers to provide an explanation of their opinion of the water level rating, as well as indicate whether they would prefer a flow that was higher, lower or the same as on the day of the interview.
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The data collected via the survey provide a general picture of recreation use patterns, assist in the development of recreation use estimates at each site, and assist in the evaluation of preferences and perceptions of people using the recreation sites, which are important inputs in management decisions regarding the adequacy and availability of existing recreation sites. Creel data develop baseline information on the health of the fishery downstream of the Marmet and Winfield Developments and to develop additional information on the types and success of fishing pressure there.
The clerks completed a total of 307 useable surveys from March 1 through November 30, with 75 surveys not completed due to refusals and 2 surveys not completed because the individuals were under the age of 18 years. No surveys were incomplete as a result of language barriers.
Of the 307 completed surveys, the data show that 154 surveys were with individuals who had been surveyed previously. Previously surveyed individuals were not questioned about preferences for additional recreation facilities, annual use, and demographics because these answers would likely be duplicate. The clerks only solicited information regarding recreational use of the tailwater angling access site on the day of the interview (recreation activities, expenditures, and crowding). The clerks also repeated the creel survey questions for individuals interviewed at the tailwater angling access sites previously (Appendix B).
4.1.4 Traffic Counter
A single road tube time interval counter (Traffic Tally 6w) was installed at the entrance to the Winfield recreation site (Photo 4-1). The traffic counter was deployed on February 27, 2010 and continued collecting vehicle counts through December 4, 2010. The counter was programmed to collect data continuously, and was set to record the number of vehicles entering and exiting the site at 15 minute intervals. Data from the traffic counter were downloaded approximately
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every two weeks in order to prevent data loss and to ensure accurate performance. Any vehicle entering or exiting the Winfield parking lot was counted by the traffic counter. Therefore, the count data includes visitors to the Winfield fishing pier, visitors only using the parking area, or visitors to the USACE ADA ramp.
Photo 4-1. Road tube traffic counter located at the entrance to the Winfield recreation site.
4.2 Analysis
The following sections describe the approach for estimating existing and future recreational use, and potential future recreation needs.
4.2.1 Recreation Use Estimates
Kleinschmidt used the spot count and recreation site survey data to calculate the weekday, weekend, and holiday recreation days for the March 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010 recreation season. The average of the four vehicle counts conducted for each sample shift was estimated by month and day type for each tailwater angling access site. The average vehicle count per sample shift was then multiplied by the average group size to determine average hourly recreationists per sample shift. Kleinschmidt determined total effort (in
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recreationist hours) per sample shift by multiplying the average hourly recreationists by the length of the sample shift (6 hours).
Kleinschmidt used the sample period average recreationists to extrapolate to a daily effort (in recreationist hours) by multiplying the total effort per sample shift by the ratio of the recreation day to the sample shift length (# of hours from sunrise to sunset/6 hours). This estimated average daily effort (in recreationist hours) was then extrapolated out to month and day type by multiplying by the number of days in the population (by month and day type). Kleinschmidt calculated the total estimated recreationist hours by month and day type by converting the total to a recreation day estimate by dividing by the average trip length reported in the Public Access Site/Creel Survey for recreationists by day type.
For each recreation site:
Kleinschmidt followed the estimation methods outlined in Pollock et al. (1994), to calculate the average of the four angler counts conducted for each sample period per sample day by estimating by month and day type for each development. The sample period average was extrapolated to a daily effort (in angler hours) by multiplying by the length of the sample shift and by the ratio of the recreation day to the sample shift length (# of hours from sunrise to sunset/6 hours). This estimated average daily effort (in angler hours) was then extrapolated out to month and day type by multiplying by the number of days in
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the population (by month and day type). The total number of recreation days at each development for anglers for March 1 through November 30 was then calculated by dividing the total estimated angler hours per month and day type by the average trip length reported in the Public Access Site/Creel Survey for anglers by day type.
For each recreation site:
Kleinschmidt developed estimated projections of future recreation use at the project tailwater angling access sites by examining projected population increases. As recreation activity is dependent upon a variety of factors with a significant level of uncertainty associated with them such as leisure time, discretionary income, land use changes, and new technologies, predicting future recreational use over the next 25 years is approximate. However, population growth is the major driver of participation in outdoor recreation (Cordell et al., 2004). In fact, Cordell et al. (2004) reports that “Population has been, is, and will be the major driver of outdoor recreation participation growth in this country.”
Kleinschmidt obtained estimated population growth projections for Kanawha and Putnam Counties over the next 25 years in 5 year increments from the West Virginia University, Bureau of Business and Economic Research (WVU, 2010). Kleinschmidt then extended participation projections to the term of the license for the Project, by calculating the average growth rate for the 25 year period (2010 – 2035) and applying it to the additional 25 years (2035 – 2060). Kleinschmidt applied growth rates over the 5 year increments to recreation use
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estimates developed from the vehicle spot counts and Public Access Site/Creel Survey data.
Kleinschmidt also used the survey data to report recreational use of the project tailwater angling access sites. The monthly reported average use by respondents was summed by month to provide a general picture of off season angling use of each of the tailwater angling access sites.
4.2.2 Catch and Harvest Estimates
Kleinschmidt estimated the total number of species caught and released by angler via reported species and totals in the Public Access Site/Creel Survey. Catch rate (total fish caught and released/total trip length) was estimated by month and day type. Kleinschmidt estimated harvest rates in the same manner, whereby total fish caught and kept were divided by the reported trip length and then averaged by month and day type for each tailwater angling access site.
4.2.3 Public Access Site/Creel Survey
Kleinschmidt photocopied all of the original completed surveys and numerically coded the responses on the copied survey data sheets, and coded all data double entered in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Data Entry software module as a means of quality control and consistent with standard data management practice. Kleinschmidt resolved any issues with missing data, ambiguous responses, refusals, outliers, or other potential respondent errors with the surveys prior to data entry, during the editing process to. Trained data processing staff addressed any issues in interpretation of data or problems that occurred during the interview process which was reviewed by the technical lead for the study. Kleinschmidt prepared and processed the data using SPSS Data Entry software, data verification procedures, and computerized data cleaning routines within the SPSS software package to identify and correct out-of-range codes, incorrect skip patterns, and internal inconsistencies within a data record prior to finalizing a clean data set for each survey type for data analysis.
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Kleinschmidt analyzed the survey responses in SPSS for basic frequencies and means for questions concerning respondent demographics, respondent opinions and preferences, and expenditures. These results are presented in Section 8.0.
4.2.4 Traffic Counter
Kleinschmidt used traffic counter data as a check of use estimates that were determined by vehicle and angler counts at the Winfield site. In addition, vehicle counts obtained from the traffic counter provide an estimate of nighttime recreational/angling use that may be occurring at the tailwater access site. As noted earlier, the traffic counter data also included visitors to the USACE access facilities, such as the ADA ramp and parking area.
The traffic counter recorded counts included both entrances and exits. Kleinschmidt estimated total vehicles accessing the site, by dividing these counts by 2. In addition, Kleinschmidt delineated the recreation day into a day or night time period. The day time period was defined as extending from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm with the night time period extending from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Kleinschmidt averaged the quarter-hour counts of vehicle entrances hourly across each date to account for any data anomalies occurring as a result of such finite traffic counts (at 15 minute intervals) as well as to address the potential for over-estimation caused by the recorded entrances and exits of individuals using the Winfield tailwater angling access site as a turn-around or stays of less than one hour in duration. A total of 24 hourly averaged counts per day from March 1 through November 30 were estimated. These hourly averaged counts were then summed by month, day type (weekday, weekend and holiday) and time period (day or night).
4.2.5 Recreation Needs Assessment
Kleinschmidt used parking capacity as a proxy for design capacity for the purposes of evaluating site capacity and usage. The site capacity percent usage
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was calculated by comparing the average observed number of vehicles at the Project tailwater angling access sites on sampled non-peak weekend days with the optimal parking spaces for each recreation site. In addition, Kleinschmidt analyzed survey data to provide an assessment of the condition of existing recreation sites, the crowdedness of recreation sites by month and day type, and recommendations for improvements to facilities and maintenance at the tailwater angling access sites.
Kleinschmidt assessed the need for recreation and site development or modification of existing recreation resources based on the inventory, condition, and use assessment. The needs assessment focused on the existing condition and user opinions of the tailwater angling access sites and the ability of sites to meet current and anticipated future recreation demand pressures. Consideration was also given to site opportunities and constraints, as well as support facilities such as signage and maintenance. Coupled with existing data, such as the FERC Form 80 Recreation Use Reports, the inventory and survey analysis provided an assessment of recreation needs such that the following is discussed and addressed:
• Tailwater angling access sites that are at or approaching capacity; • Tailwater angling access sites in need of repair or upgrading; • Specific facilities or maintenance activities needed at tailwater angling access sites; • Qualitative assessment of the usage of public fish cleaning stations if provided at the fishing access sites; and • Assessment of the effect of projected future use on site capacities and need for additional facilities or upgrades.
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5.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The London/Marmet Project consists of two developments on the Kanawha River in West Virginia. The London Development is located at river mile 82.8 near Handley, West Virginia, in Fayette and Kanawha counties. The Marmet Development is located at river mile 67.7 in Marmet, West Virginia, in Kanawha County. The Winfield Project consists of one development, Winfield, on the Kanawha River at river mile 31.1 in the town of Winfield in Kanawha and Putnam counties, West Virginia, downstream of the London/Marmet Project.
Figure 5-1. Project Locations
The three developments each consist of a powerhouse with appurtenant structures and equipment, an outdoor substation, and transmission lines connecting to Appalachian’s transmission system. The dam and locks that impound the London, Marmet, and Winfield
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reservoirs, and the reservoirs themselves, are not part of the FERC-licensed Projects, but are owned and operated by the USACE.
Operation of the hydroelectric facilities is keyed off the operations of the USACE’s locks at each dam. The hydro facility operators are in frequent contact with the lockmaster for each facility to ensure coordination of hydro generation and lock operations. In general, as long as the stream flow is less than the full discharge of the turbines (approximately 10,000 cfs), maintenance of the pool elevations within the allowable limits for navigation is the responsibility of Appalachian's power system personnel and plant operators. When stream flow exceeds the maximum turbine discharge, the responsibility for control of the pool elevations passes to the USACE’s personnel at the dam. Also, from time to time, the USACE may request Appalachian's plant operators to maintain such water elevations as required for special navigation purposes.
Appalachian is not proposing any new facilities or development at the London/Marmet or Winfield Projects.
London
The intake section of the powerhouse is located downstream of the forebay area with flow controlled by the headgates. Inlet trash racks are located in front of the intakes to help keep floating debris from entering the units. The London powerhouse is located on the left bank (facing downstream) of the river and houses three turbine generating units (Photo 5-1). The total authorized capacity of the development is 14,400 kW based on the limiting capacity of the generators with the total hydraulic capacity of the turbines being approximately 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
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Photo 5-1. London Development
Marmet
The intake section of the powerhouse is located downstream of the forebay area. Flow into the powerhouse is controlled by the headgates. Trash racks prevent floating debris from entering the units. Due to the limited storage capability of the Marmet impoundment, operation of the Marmet hydro facilities must mimic the operation of the London hydro facilities. Similar to the London Development, the Marmet powerhouse is located on the left bank (facing downstream) of the river and houses three turbine generating units (Photo 5-2). The total authorized capacity of the development is 14,400 kW based on the limiting capacity of the generators. The total hydraulic capacity of the turbines is approximately 10,000 cfs.
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Photo 5-2. Marmet Development
Winfield
The intake is located immediately upstream of the powerhouse and consists of headgates and trash racks which prevent debris from entering the turbines. Operation of the Winfield hydro facility must mimic the operation of the London and Marmet hydro facilities. The Winfield powerhouse is located on the left bank (facing downstream) of the river and houses three adjustable-blade Kaplan turbine generating units (Photo 5-3) with a total authorized capacity of the development is 14,760 kW, based on the limiting capacity of the generators, and a total hydraulic capacity of approximately 10,600 cfs.
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Photo 5-3. Winfield Development
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6.0 RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
The following sections are divided into Section 6.1 Regional Recreation Opportunities and Section 6.2 Project Vicinity Recreational Opportunities. The first section provides detail on the recreational opportunities within 60 miles of each development, which encompasses much of southwest West Virginia and parts of eastern Ohio. The geographic scope of the second section is more refined and focuses on the recreation opportunities with 20 miles of each development
6.1 Regional Recreation Opportunities
Several state parks and forests, wildlife management areas, and the Monongahela National and Wayne National Forests are within a 60-mile radius of the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects (Figure 6-1). These recreation areas provide opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming, as well as such land-based opportunities as hunting, hiking, camping and picnicking. A complete inventory of recreation areas in the region is provided in Appendix C. Those recreation areas in the project vicinity (within a 20 mile radius of the three developments) are discussed in further detail below in Section 6.2.
6.1.1 National Parks and National Forests
Monongahela National Forest covers over 919,000 acres in 10 counties in the northeastern part of West Virginia and borders the state of Virginia. The western boundary of the Monongahela National Forest is approximately 45 miles east of the London Development. The National Forest is home to 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas, and over 500 miles of a multi-use backwoods road and trail system used for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and horseback riding. Lakes within the Monongahela National Forest are small impoundments, such as Lake Sherwood, Spruce Knob Lake, and Lake Buffalo, limited to electric motor boats. Angling for bass, bluegill, catfish, and trout is available on these lakes plus on more than 600 miles of coldwater streams that are inhabited year-round by native brook trout, and on approximately 350 miles of stream available for seasonal trout fishing. Hunting is available on forest lands for deer, waterfowl and game bird, and small game (USFS, 2011a).
6-1 Pennsylvania W a y n e W a y n e Indiana Ohio New Jersey Maryland $ West Virginia District of Columbia Blennerhasset Island State Park Kentucky Virginia
Ohio Tennessee North Carolina
Tu-Endie-Wie State Park Cedar Creek State Park
W a y n e
WINFIELD L & D !n Monongahela West Virginia
Beech Fork Lake State Park MARMET L & D LONDON L & D !n !n Carnifex Ferry State Park Kanawha State Forest Gauley River National Recreation Area
Hawks Nest State Park Cabwaylingo Droop Mountain State Park State Forest Chief Logan State Park Babcock State Park Kentucky Beartown State Park New River Gorge National River Legend
Dams !n Little Beaver State Park Virginia State Boundary Pipestem State Park State Park Bluestone State Park
State Forest Panther State Forest
National Park Scale: Twin Falls State Park AS SHOWN Appalachian Power Company National Forest Project No: Kanawha County, WV 0843-061 London/Marmet (No. 1175) Wildlife Management Area Filename: and Winfield (No. 1290) FIGURE River RecMap_20mi.mxd Regional Recreation Opportunities Camp Creek State Park Drawn By: Within 60 miles 1 in = 15 miles JAW 141 Main St., PO Box 650 Virginia Pittsfield, Maine 04967 Date Drawn: 0 7.5 15 30 45 60 Telephone: (207) 487-3328 Fax: (207) 487-3124 Miles 01-04-2011 www.KleinschmidtUSA.com
Seven National Wilderness Areas are contained within the Forest: Big Draft, Dolly Sods, Cranberry, Laurel Fork, Roaring Plains West, Spice Run and Otter Creek (USFS, 2011a). The Cranberry Wilderness Area is located in the Gauley Ranger District in the southwestern reach of the Forest, within proximity of the Projects, and covers 47,815 acres and has 77.6 miles of designated trails. The wilderness area provides opportunities for angling, hunting, hiking, camping and backcountry recreation (USFS, 2011b).
6.1.2 State Parks and State Forests
The WVDNR Section of State Parks and Forests is the managing agency responsible for the State Parks and State Forests in West Virginia, which provide a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, picnicking, wildlife watching, boating, and swimming. There are 15 State Parks and two State Forests located within 60 miles of the three developments (Appendix C).
Cabwaylingo State Forest is located 50 miles southwest of the Marmet Development (Figure 6-2). This State Forest covers 8,123 acres and provides picnic tables and shelters, basketball and volleyball courts, swimming pool, and restrooms. Twelvepole Creek winds through the Forest and provides opportunities for fishing and hunting is permitted during the respective hunting seasons. In addition, there are nine hiking trails that range from one to three miles in length throughout the Forest (WVDNR, 2011b).
Camp Creek State Forest is approximately 50 miles south of the London Development, in the northern part of Mercer County. In 1988, the state Legislature designated 487 acres of the Forest as the Camp Creek State Park. The Camp Creek State Forest comprises 5,269 acres and offers hiking, fishing, and hunting opportunities. Camp Creek is stocked with trout in the spring for recreational fishing and terrestrial habitat is managed for both deer and turkey. In addition, there are 10 hiking trails located throughout the Forest (WVDOF, 2011).
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6.1.3 Wildlife Management Areas
The region in which the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects are located spans four of the six Wildlife Management Area Districts identified by the WVDNR. West Virginia has 73 WMAs, 25 of which are located within 60 miles of the three developments (Appendix C). WMAs are open to hunting and provide opportunities to pursue various large and small game, depending upon the season. Many also have lakes and streams with public angling opportunities. Some WMAs provide additional recreation facilities such as campsites, swimming beaches, picnic areas, playgrounds, and restrooms.
The Wildlife Resources Section of the WVDNR is the managing agency responsible for the West Virginia’s WMAs. The statewide Wildlife Management Program is designed to conserve and manage high quality wildlife habitat for a variety of wildlife species and to improve public access to these resources. The management activities involved at WMAs include tree planting to enhance wildlife habitat and the introduction of food plots to maintain current wildlife populations (WVDNR, 2011a).
6.1.4 Angling and Boating Opportunities
In the region, there are approximately 51 public fishing areas managed by the WVDNR. These include a variety of waterbodies including lakes, streams, creeks and rivers that may be part of a State Park, State Forest, or WMA. In addition, some sites such as the tailwaters of Burnsville and Sutton Lakes in Braxton County are stocked with trout (WVDNR, 2011f).
Regionally, there are 126 boat launches that provide anglers access to a number of lakes, streams, and rivers in the region, 25 of which are identified as compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing universal access. The lakes and rivers in which boat launches are provided include but are not limited to the Kanawha River, Elk River, Greenbrier River, Little Kanawha River, Guyandotte River, Ohio River, Bluestone Lake, and East Lynn Lake
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(WVGTC, 2002). A complete list of boat launches in the region and associated facilities is provided in Appendix C.
In general, these public boat launches are associated with the WMAs in the region. Boat launches are categorized as either hand-carry (i.e. canoes, kayaks, light-weight boats) or as a ramp (i.e. trailerable watercraft). In the region, there are 75 boat ramps and 51 hand-carry launches (Appendix C). There are 30 Fishing piers like those offered at the London, Marmet and Winfield Developments in the region. In addition, a number of amenities may be available at any given launch or pier including restrooms, courtesy docks, picnic tables and grills, and restroom facilities.
6.2 Project Vicinity Recreational Facilities
The project vicinity recreational opportunities include all State Parks and Forests, National Parks and Forests, WMAs, and boat launches within 20 miles of the three developments. In the project vicinity, there is one State Park, one State Forest, nine WMAs, and 43 boat launches (Figure 6-2). A complete inventory of recreation areas and facilities within the project vicinity is provided in Appendix D.
6.2.1 National Parks and National Forests
The Wayne National Forest is located approximately 17 miles east of the Winfield Development in southeastern Ohio. The Forest is over a quarter million acres, in total, and provides over 300 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and all-terrain vehicle riding. In addition, the Forest has a variety of camping opportunities including campgrounds, primitive camping, group camping, and RV camping. Developed recreation sites within the Forest offer a variety of amenities such as boat rentals, swimming beaches, picnic tables and shelters, visitor centers, and target shooting areas (USFS, 2011c).
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Ohio Maryland $ West Virginia Chief Cornstalk Leon Public Access Area WMA Lake Kentucky Virginia
W a y n e Ohio Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area Woodrum Lake Wildlife Management Area No Name Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area WINFIELD L & D Green Bottom WMA Sissonville Amherst\Plymouth Walback Wildlife W i l d l i f e Management Area Mill Creek !n Management Area W i l d l i f e Management Area Raymond City Boat Launch No Name Blue Creek Bridge Queen Shoals I-64 Bridge Ona Hurricane City Park Mink Shoals Wine Cellar Lake Ridenoor Lake Coonskin State Park Morris Creek CR 25 and South Wildlife Management Area CR 25-2 Intersection Charleston US RT 60 St. Albans Elk Twomile Creek Dam #12 Bridge Milton Roadside Park Elk Twomile Creek Dam #13 West Virginia Shawnee C&P Dunbar Telephone State Park Elk Twomile Creek Dam #14 Kanawha State Alum Creek Forest Pond Daniel Boone Park US RT 119 Alum Creek H i l b e r t MARMET L & D W i l d l i f e Management LONDON L & D A r e a !n Chesapeake Jodie Kanawha State Forest Glasgow Legend Water Ways Park No Name Gauley River Hansford National Recreation Area Big Coal River !n National Recreation Area Dams John Slack Park !n Fork Creek Kanawha Falls Wildlife Management Area State Boundary Hawks Nest State Park !y Boat Launch Fosterville Hawks Nest State Park Lick Creek Park State Park Orgas St Rt 17 Bridge Madison State Forest
National Park
New River Gorge NRA National Forest New River Gorge National River Wildlife Management Area Kentucky Plum Orchard Lake River Scale: AS SHOWN Appalachian Power Company Plum Orchard Project No: Kanawha County, WV Wildlife Management Area 0843-061 London/Marmet (No. 1175) Filename: and Winfield (No. 1290) FIGURE RecMap_20mi.mxd Regional Recreation Opportunities Drawn By: Within 20 miles 1 in = 8 miles JAW 141 Main St., PO Box 650 Pittsfield, Maine 04967 Date Drawn: 0 5 10 20 30 40 Telephone: (207) 487-3328 Fax: (207) 487-3124 Miles 01-04-2011 www.KleinschmidtUSA.com U n k n o w n
The New River Gorge National River is approximately 16 miles southeast of the London Development. The New River and the Gauley River converge to form the Kanawha River. The New River Gorge National River was established in 1978 as a unit of the national park system. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres along the New River and is a popular tourism destination in the state, serving over one million visitors annually (NPS, 2009). The park offers a variety of recreational opportunities including climbing, whitewater rafting, hiking, bicycling, and fishing (NPS, 2011a). In addition, there are over 80 miles of hiking/walking, mountain bike, and equestrian trails in the park (NPS, 2011a). The New River Gorge National River has five primitive camping areas including Stone Cliff Beach, Army Camp, Grandview Sandbar, Glade Creek, and War Ridge/Backus Mountain (NPS, 2011a).
The western boundary of the Gauley River National Recreation Area (GRNRA) is approximately 14 miles east of the London Development. The GRNRA is managed by the NPS under the New River Gorge National River management guidelines and consists of 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and 6 miles of the Meadow River. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are the primary recreation activities at the GRNRA, attracting over 60,000 visitors annually. The whitewater of the Gauley River is rated from a Class III to V+ in the upper section with turbulent chutes and rocky routes and is rated from a Class III to V in the lower section with less formidable areas (NPS, 2011b).
6.2.2 State Parks and State Forests
The Hawks Nest State Park is approximately 20 miles southeast of the London Development and encompasses 276 acres including portions of the New River and Hawks Nest Lake. Recreation opportunities at the State Park include hiking, swimming, fishing, golfing, jetboat rides and an aerial tram ride to the New River Gorge. The State Park also includes a marina and overlook located on Hawks Nest Lake (WVDNR, 2011d).
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The Kanawha State Forest is located approximately 5 miles west of the Marmet Development and encompasses approximately 9,300 acres. The State Forest provides a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, hunting, and swimming. There are over 25 miles of hiking trails located throughout the Forest and open year-round. In addition, freshwater fishing is available on Ellison Pond, which is stocked with trout, bass, and bluegill (WVDNR, 2011e).
6.2.3 Wildlife Management Areas
The WMAs within 20 miles of the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects totaling 48,167acres and range in size from 289 acres (Hilbert) to 11,758 acres (Walback). In general, each WMA provides fishing opportunities for a variety of species including largemouth and spotted bass, bluegill, crappie, muskellunge, channel catfish, carp, and freshwater drum (WVDNR, 2011a). Chief Cornstalk is the only WMA in the project vicinity that is stocked with trout.
Hunting is also allowed at the WMAs, and popular game species available may include deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse and various waterfowl. In addition, some WMAs, including Chief Cornstalk and Plum Orchard Lake, provide camping opportunities (WVDNR, 2011a).
6.2.4 Angling and Boating Opportunities
The lakes, streams, creeks and rivers of the project vicinity may be part of a State Park, State Forest, or WMA. These waters may be accessed by formal angling piers such as those provided by the Projects or by hand-carry boat launches and boat ramps. The lakes and rivers in which boat launches are provided include but are not limited to the Kanawha River, Elk River, Gauley River, Big Coal River, Ohio River, Anderson Lake, Ridenoor Lake, and Plum Orchard Lake. A complete list of boat launches in the project vicinity and associated facilities is provided in Appendix D.
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In the project vicinity, there are approximately 21 hand-carry launches and 22 boat ramps that provide anglers access to a number of lakes, streams, and rivers in the vicinity (WVGTC, 2002), 8 of which are identified as ADA compliant. In general, these public boat launches are associated with the WMAs in the project vicinity. Sixteen of the boat launches in the project vicinity are located on the Kanawha River. There are a total of 13 fishing piers in the project vicinity. A number of amenities may be available at any given launch or pier including restrooms, courtesy docks, picnic tables and grills.
6.3 Project Recreation Facilities
The recreational facilities associated with the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects primarily provide angling opportunities on the Kanawha River. Each development consists of a tailwater fishing pier, parking area, and walkway. The following sections describe these facilities and any additional amenities available at each of the three sites.
6.3.1 London Development
The London Development tailwater angling access site is accessed via West Virginia State Road No. 61 in Handley, West Virginia. The recreation facilities at the London Development include a tailwater fishing pier and a gravel parking area that can accommodate approximately 25 vehicles (Photo 6-1). A 5 foot-wide by 35-foot-long gravel walkway provides anglers access from the parking area to the top of the tailwater fishing pier stairs. The stairway is 5-foot- wide with handrails, extending from the top of the riverbank to the three draft tube piers in the tailrace. The concrete fishing piers and connecting walkways are approximately 6.5-foot-wide with handrails (Photo 6-2). In addition, Appalachian maintains dusk to dawn lighting, sirens, and signage to warn and protect the public of potential hazards of project operations and to restrict the public from certain project structures.
The gravel parking area is located approximately 750 feet east of the tailwater fishing stairway on the opposite side of State Road 61. Historically,
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anglers crossed over a bridge in order to access the tailwater fishing piers (Photo 6-3). Due to the deterioration of the current bridge located over the railroad tracks, Appalachian has removed the dilapidated structure as the structure was not able to be rehabilitated or modified for use as an access. Appalachian installed signs at the London Development to direct anglers to the Marmet and Winfield tailwater access sites. The London Development tailwater angling access site has been closed since February 16, 2009 due to the absence of designated public access from West Virginia State Road No. 61 over CSX’s railroad tracks to the site. Currently, Appalachian is conducting an access study to determine the best option for providing public access to the London Development tailwater angling access site.
Photo 6-1. Overview of the London Development Tailwater Angling Access Site (Note “Former bridge” on photo.)
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Photo 6-2. London Development Tailwater Fishing Pier
Photo 6-3. Retired Access Bridge at the London Development
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6.3.2 Marmet Development
The Marmet Development tailwater angling access site is accessed off 86th Street via West Virginia State Road No. 61 in Marmet, West Virginia. The tailwater angling access site is also accessible on foot from the neighborhood to the north of the Development. The recreation facilities at the Marmet Development include a tailwater fishing pier and a gravel parking area that can accommodate approximately 28 vehicles (Photo 6-4 and Photo 6-5). A 5 foot- wide by 300-foot-long gravel walkway provides anglers access from the parking area to the top of the tailwater fishing pier stairs. The stairway is 5-foot-wide with handrails, extending from the top of the riverbank to the three draft tube piers in the tailrace. The concrete fishing piers and connecting walkways are approximately 6.5-foot-wide with handrails (Photo 6-6). In addition, Appalachian maintains dusk to dawn lighting, sirens, fencing and signage to warn and protect the public of potential hazards of project operations and to restrict the public from certain project structures.
Marmet Tailwater Fishing Access
Marmet Public Parking Area
61
Photo 6-4. Overview of the Marmet Development Tailwater Angling Access Site
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Photo 6-5. Gravel Parking Area at the Marmet Development Tailwater Angling Access Site.
Photo 6-6. Marmet Development Tailwater Fishing Pier
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6.3.3 Winfield Development
The Winfield Development tailwater angling access site is accessed off the Winfield Road via West Virginia State Road No. 34 in Winfield, West Virginia. The recreation facilities at the Winfield Development include a tailwater fishing pier and parking areas (Photo 6-7). The gravel parking area located directly off the Winfield Road is accessed via a gated entrance and can accommodate approximately 28 vehicles (Photo 6-8). A short gravel road connects the southern corner of the gravel parking lot to a paved parking area that provides 4 ADA parking spaces (Photo 6-9 and Photo 6-10).
An ADA compliant access ramp begins at the paved parking area and continues over the riverbank following along the western shoreline (Photo 6-11). The ADA access ramp is owned and maintained by the USACE, and does not connect to the tailwater fishing pier, but does provide anglers with access to waters of the tailrace for angling. A 5 foot-wide by 200-foot-long gravel walkway also provides anglers access from the gravel parking area to the top of the tailwater fishing pier stairs. The stairway is 5-foot-wide with handrails, extending from the top of the riverbank to the fishing piers in the tailrace. At the end of September, the Applicant performed routine maintenance on the fishing pier handrails, improving damages from exposure to high water and debris. The concrete fishing piers and connecting walkways are approximately 6.5-foot-wide with handrails (Photo 6-12). As with the other developments, Appalachian maintains dusk to dawn lighting, sirens, fencing and signage to warn and protect the public of potential hazards of project operations and to restrict the public from certain project structures.
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Winfield Tailwater Fishing Access
35
Winfield Public Parking
Photo 6-7. Overview of the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site
Photo 6-8. Gravel Parking Area at the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site
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Photo 6-9. Gravel road connecting the two Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site Parking Areas.
Photo 6-10. Paved ADA Compliant Parking Area at the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site.
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Photo 6-11. ADA Compliant Fishing Access at the Winfield Development
Photo 6-12. Tailwater Fishing Piers at the Winfield Development Tailwater Angling Access Site
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7.0 RECREATION USE
7.1 Existing Recreation Use
Respondents to the Public Access Site/Creel Survey were asked to indicate the primary and secondary recreation activities in which they participated on the day of the interview. Given the amenities available at each of the tailwater angling access sites, pier fishing was reported to be the most popular recreational activity followed by bank/shoreline fishing and other activities such as sightseeing and picnicking. At the Winfield tailwater angling access site, approximately 84 percent of respondents reported pier fishing to be their primary activity, with 15 percent of respondents indicating bank/shoreline fishing and less than 1 percent indicating an “other” activity. At the Marmet tailwater angling access site, 86 percent indicated pier fishing, approximately 12 percent indicated bank/shoreline angling and 2 percent indicated “other” activity.
Kleinschmidt calculated public recreational use of the project tailwater angling access sites with vehicle spot count data and survey data inputs such as group size and length of stay, as discussed in Section 4.2.1. Total estimated public recreation use (in recreation days) for the Marmet and Winfield tailwater angling access sites is provided in Table 7-1. The Winfield tailwater angling access site received the highest amount of public recreation use, accounting for approximately 62 percent of total use (6,160 recreation days). The Marmet tailwater angling access site, by comparison, supported approximately 3,760 recreation days from March, 2010 to November, 2010.
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Table 7-1. Public Recreation Use at Project Tailwater Angling Access Sites (March, 2010 to November, 2010) Tailwater Angling Access Site Use (Recreation Days) Month Day Type Winfield Marmet Total Weekend 30 10 40 March Weekday 30 10 40 Weekend 140 180 320 April Weekday 180 310 490 Weekend 120 190 310 Weekday 620 300 920 May Holiday 410 90 500 Weekend 430 330 760 June Weekday 700 440 1,140 Weekend 160 110 270 Weekday 310 270 580 July Holiday 160 30 190 Weekend 390 110 500 August Weekday 840 170 1,010 Weekend 160 350 510 Weekday 400 150 550 September Holiday 80 60 140 Weekend 200 70 270 Weekday 460 110 570 October Holiday 110 400 510 Weekend 50 0 50 Weekday 180 60 240 November Holiday 0 10 10 Weekend 1,680 1,350 3,030 Weekday 3,720 1,820 5,540 Total Holiday 760 590 1,350 TOTAL 6,160 3,760 9,920
The summer months (June, July and August) experience the majority of total use at both sites, with this 3 month time frame supporting approximately 45 percent of the total use during the study period. Fall (September, October, and November) receives the next highest level of use overall, approximately 29 percent of total use (Figure 7-1). The busiest months at the Winfield tailwater angling access site are August (20 percent of total use at the site during the study period), followed by May (19 percent of total site use) and June (18 percent of total site use). This use pattern is slightly different for the
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Marmet tailwater angling access site. The Marmet tailwater angling access site supports the highest levels of use in June (20 percent of total site use over the course of the study period), compared with May and October, which each receive approximately 15 percent of total site use, and September, which accounts for just under 15 percent of total site use respectively.
Use at both sites peak in the late spring/early summer and then see a resurgence in the late summer/early fall. The drop in summer use may be attributable to the high temperatures experienced during the 2010 study season and typical in this area of West Virginia. The increased use in the spring and fall correlates with various fishing seasons. According to the WVDNR, tailwater angler pressure increases for sauger and walleye beginning in October and extending through late November. These same species are typically targeted again in late winter through early spring. March and April is when white bass and hybrid striped bass move into tailwaters (personal correspondence, Zach Brown, WVDNR, January 20, 2010).
This seasonal preference for certain species is supported by the results of the creel survey. While the various species of bass were consistently the most popular targeted species of those anglers indicating that they were targeting a specific species in all months, the second most popular target species in November, March and April were sauger and walleye. From May through September, the second most popular target species were various species of catfish: channel, flathead, and blue catfish.
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Figure 7-1. Recreational Use Trends by Month at the Winfield and Marmet Tailwater Angling Access Sites.
Recreationists were directly asked by the recreation clerks to approximate how often they visited the recreation site they were at for recreation purposes by month in a given year, on average. Reported monthly use is presented in Table 7-2. Reported use by survey respondents follows a similar seasonal participation trend pattern as observed use. Reported use of the project tailwater angling access sites increases in the late spring/early summer and decreases in late summer/early fall. Reported use for unsurveyed months (December, January, and February) accounts for 6.9 percent of total reported use. At the Winfield tailwater angling access site, off-season reported use was less than 2 percent for both December and January and just over 2 percent for February. The Marmet tailwater angling access site reportedly receives slightly more off-season use, with 5 percent occurring in December, and approximately 2.6 percent occurring in January and February.
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Table 7-2. Monthly Use Totals Reported by Recreationists Winfield Tailwater Marmet Tailwater Total Site Angling Access Site Angling Access Site January 101 57 158 February 109 57 166 March 270 147 417 April 539 286 825 May 720 283 1,003 June 791 233 1,024 July 696 214 910 August 642 228 870 September 638 236 874 October 489 197 686 November 216 165 381 December 82 113 195 TOTAL 5,293 2,216 7,509
Kleinschmidt assumed that reported use by survey respondents is representative of off-season total use. Escalating total estimated use reported in Table 7-1 by 6.9 percent results in 686 recreation days estimated to occur in January, February, and December, 2010.
Respondents reported less monthly use on average compared with observed use at the site. This is primarily because estimated use based on vehicle counts was extrapolated to the population; whereas reported use was not. Observed use on sample days (86 sample shifts at Winfield and 89 sample shifts at Marmet) was extrapolated up to the sample frame of 213 days. Reported use is representative of the 230 individuals surveyed at the project tailwater sites only. In addition, exit interviews were only conducted with individuals actively participating in recreation activities at the sites, generally pier or bank/shoreline angling. As such, individuals who chose to sightsee or picnic in their vehicles at the sites were counted as part of vehicle counts but not interviewed and thus were not included in reported use.
Total vehicle counts by month and day type based on recorded vehicle entrances to the Winfield tailwater angling access site are provided in Table 7-3. Vehicle counts reveal the same seasonal use trends at the Winfield tailwater angling access site as
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estimated use from spot counts and survey data. Generally, visitation peaks in the spring and resurges in the fall, with a drop in visitation experienced in July. This drop is expected to be correlated with outside temperature and heat indices.
Table 7-3. Traffic Counter Vehicle Counts by Month, Day Type, and Time Day Count Night Count Totals Totals (6:00 am to (6:00 pm to Month Day Type 6:00 pm) 6:00 am) Total March weekend 120 10 140 weekday 250 20 270 April weekend 280 40 320 weekday 530 90 630 May weekend 230 40 270 weekday 410 90 500 holiday 100 50 160 June weekend 260 130 390 weekday 580 240 820 July weekend 140 80 230 weekday 350 160 510 holiday 70 40 110 August weekend 210 90 300 weekday 500 130 630 September weekend 150 40 180 weekday 360 70 440 holiday 90 30 120 October weekend 110 10 120 weekday 280 30 310 holiday 60 10 70 November weekend 60 10 70 weekday 230 10 240 holiday 30 0 30 Total weekend 1,570 450 2,020 weekday 3,500 860 4,360 holiday 360 140 500 Total 5,430 1,440 6,870
By comparison, recorded night time use from vehicle traffic counter counts increases in the June/July timeframe. Again, it is expected that some use that would normally be undertaken during the day, shifts to the evenings when cooler temperatures
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prevail. Nighttime use accounts for approximately 20 percent of the total use recorded by traffic counter counts from March 1 through November 30, 2010.
7.2 Angler Effort
Angler effort, in hours, was also estimated from angler counts (anglers observed actively fishing either from the fishing pier or shoreline) conducted concurrent with vehicle spot counts (Table 7-4). While angler effort and total estimated use generally followed the same seasonal trend pattern, angler effort did differ slightly from estimated use on a monthly basis. For both sites, angler effort was heaviest in June. The Winfield tailwater angling access site then experiences the heaviest pressure in May, followed by August. The Marmet tailwater angling access site experienced the next heaviest pressure in July followed by May. There was some recreation use estimated for March and April at the Marmet tailwater angling access site though no angling activity was observed. Survey clerks noted that many individuals during March and April visited the project tailwater angling access sites to check the water levels but did not participate in angling activity due to high water conditions. Based on the previous FERC Form 80 Recreational Use Estimates for each development, it is likely that the London Development would have experienced a similar pattern of use as the Marmet Development if it had been available during the 2010 study season (APC, 2009a; 2009b. 2003a; 2003b).
Table 7-4. Angling Effort by Month and Day Type Tailwater Angling Access Site Use (Recreation Days) Month Day Type Winfield Marmet Total Weekend 6 0 6 March Weekday 0 0 0 Weekend 16 0 16 April Weekday 25 0 25 Weekend 62 33 95 Weekday 234 96 330 May Holiday 176 8 184 Weekend 229 139 368 June Weekday 381 165 546 July Weekend 89 40 129
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Tailwater Angling Access Site Month Day Type Use (Recreation Days) Total Weekday 131 117 248 Holiday 73 19 92 Weekend 152 36 188 August Weekday 165 56 221 Weekend 84 25 109 Weekday 163 42 205 September Holiday 40 29 69 Weekend 77 26 103 Weekday 164 32 196 October Holiday 29 4 34 Weekend 17 4 21 Weekday 59 21 80 November Holiday 3 2 5 Weekend 732 303 1,035 Weekday 1,321 528 1,850 Total Holiday 321 62 383 TOTAL 2,375 893 3,268
7.3 Potential Future Recreation Use
Kleinschmidt used population projections for Kanawha and Putnam Counties to estimate future participation in recreation activities at the Winfield and Marmet tailwater angling access sites. Kanawha County is expected to decline in population by approximately 4.7 percent from 2010 to 2035. Putnam County population is expected to increase by approximately 8.1 percent over the next 15 years and continue to increase by approximately 3.0 percent from 2025 to 2035. Projections beyond 2035 were unavailable for either County (WVU, 2010).
Should use of the Winfield and Marmet tailwater angling access sites follow population growth patterns, angling pressure at the these sites is expected to remain relatively stable over the next 25 years (Table 7-5).
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Table 7-5. Estimated Future Recreation Days for the Tygart Tailwater Access Sites
Estimated Future Participation
2010a 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
Kanawha County 191,008 190,002 188,584 186,913 184,809 181,957 Population Putnam County 56,126 57,785 59,356 60,770 61,862 62,596 Population Population Growth Rates for Kanawha and 0.264% 0.062% -0.104% -0.409% -0.859% Putnam County Project Tailwater 10,606 10,630 10,640 10,630 10,590 10,500 Angling Use a Project tailwater angling use estimate includes estimated use from March 1 through November 30, 2010 plus use projections for unsurveyed months based on reported use totals.
Angling is one of the most popular recreation activities in the state of West Virginia and is reported to be among the top three recreation activities for the project vicinity. According to the West Virginia SCORP; however, future participation in angling “may decline as it has elsewhere due to increased suburbanization of buffer zones and riverine areas” (WVDO, 2009). While it is acknowledged that future changes in the supply of recreation resources either in their quantity, accessibility, and/or quality may influence future demand and use, the demand analysis undertaken for this study does not attempt to speculate on what these future changes might be or how they might specifically affect levels of use at the project tailwater angling access sites. Therefore, the demand analysis results should be viewed as a general guide of potential future recreation pressure developed for planning purposes only.
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8.0 RECREATIONIST CHARACTERISTICS, PREFERENCES, AND OPINIONS
8.1 Trip Characteristics
The average group size for recreationists at the Winfield tailwater angling access site was slightly less overall (1.47 people) than the average group size for Marmet tailwater angling access site recreationists (1.54 people). Group size did not vary significantly by day type though group sizes were slightly larger on holidays, followed by weekdays, and weekends, on average. Length of stay likewise was not very different among the two recreation sites nor across day type. At the Winfield tailwater angling access site, the overall length of stay was approximately 3.5 hours compared with 2.7 hours at the Marmet tailwater angling access site. Overall, anglers tended to stay longer on weekdays (3.4 hours, on average) compared with weekends (3.0 hours, on average) and holidays (3.2 hours, on average).
Although survey respondents are largely residents of local communities, some do take advantage of overnight facilities on trips they make to the tailwater angling access sites. Approximately 82 percent of respondents indicated that they stay at their own house, cabin or condo when recreating at the project tailwater angling access sites. Approximately 6 percent indicated that they stay at a house, cabin or condo owned by friends or family. Approximately 12 percent of respondents utilize lodging facilities in the area such as rental houses, cabins, and condos or hotels, motels and resorts. Approximately 73 percent of Marmet tailwater angling access site visitors interviewed stay at their own residence, while 87 percent of Winfield site visitors interviewed stay at their own residence.
Respondents to the Public Access Site/Creel Survey were asked to estimate the amount of money they spent on their trip to the site at which they were interviewed (Table 8-1). Reported total expenditures per trip averaged approximately $12, with the majority of all expenditures spent on transportation (gas, oil, car maintenance, etc.), approximately 47 percent with an average of $5.59 per trip. Food and beverages constituted 33 percent of total expenditures, on average, with bait and tackle constituting 28 percent, overall. Expenditure patterns did not vary significantly across recreation site
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except that Marmet tailwater angling access site visitors reportedly spent almost double what Winfield tailwater angling access site visitors did on bait and tackle. Respondents interviewed at the Winfield tailwater angling access site likewise spent more on food and beverages.
Table 8-1. Resident Angler Expenditures Category Average Expenditures Maximum Winfield Marmet Both Tailwater Tailwater Angling Angling Access Site Access Site Transportation $4.67 $7.55 $5.59 $60.00 Food and Beverages $4.37 $2.95 $3.91 $90.00 Recreation Activities $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Bait and Tackle $1.77 $3.50 $2.32 $90.00 Misc $0.00 $0.60 $0.19 $30.00 Lodging $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Total Expenditures $10.81 $14.61 $12.02 $150
8.2 Recreationist Characteristics
The average age of the respondents was almost identical at both sites: 47 years at the Marmet tailwater angling access site and 48 years at the Winfield tailwater angling access site. Anglers interviewed were predominantly male (98 percent). The majority of recreationists at both project tailwater angling access sites were from the region, with 82 percent of Marmet tailwater angling access site visitors and 85 percent of Winfield tailwater angling access site visitors indicating ownership of a permanent home in the region. The communities most often indicated for respondents permanent residences were Charleston (28 percent) or local communities such as Hurricane (8 percent), Saint Albans (9 percent) and Winfield (6 percent).
Approximately 34 percent of respondents interviewed at the Winfield tailwater angling access site indicated a personal gross household income in 2009 of between $20,000 and $34,999, with 25 percent of respondents indicating an income of between $35,000 and $49,999. Approximately 6 percent of respondents indicated a personal gross household income of less than $20,000 annually, while 6 percent indicated an income of
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greater than $100,000 annually. At the Marmet tailwater angling access site, approximately 25 percent of respondents reported incomes of between $20,000 and $34,999 and 23 percent of respondents reported a personal gross household income of between $50,000 and $74,999. Approximately 13 percent of individuals interviewed at the Marmet tailwater angling access site reported incomes of less than $20,000 annually and approximately 11 percent reported incomes of greater than $100,000 annually.
Approximately 50 percent of respondents at both sites have at least some college education with 9 percent having an Associate’s or technical degree and approximately 20 percent acquiring a college degree of Bachelor’s or higher.
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9.0 CREEL SURVEY RESULTS
9.1 Angler Trip Characteristics
Approximately 46 percent of all anglers interviewed indicated that they were not targeting a specific species (58 percent of anglers at the Marmet tailwater angling access site and 39 percent of anglers at the Winfield tailwater angling access site). For those anglers targeting specific species, often anglers targeted more than one, as indicated in Table 9-1. Most anglers at either the Winfield or Marmet tailwater angling access site were targeting various species of bass, with 75 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers and 72 percent of Marmet tailwater anglers indicating hybrid striped bass as their target species. This was followed by smallmouth bass targeted by approximately 30 percent and 38 percent of Winfield and Marmet tailwater anglers, respectively. Catfish was targeted by approximately 45 percent of Marmet tailwater anglers while 39 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers indicated catfish as their target species.
Table 9-1. Species Targeted by Anglers by Site Winfield Tailwater Angling Marmet Tailwater Species Access Site Angling Access Site Hybrid Striped Bass 75.0% 72.3% Smallmouth Bass 30.0% 38.3% Flathead Catfish 23.3% 21.3% Channel Catfish 15.8% 23.4% White Bass 15.8% 27.7% Blue Catfish 13.3% 12.8% Spotted Bass 5.8% 6.4% Saugeye 4.2% 19.1% Walleye 3.3% 27.7% Largemouth Bass 2.5% 19.1% Sauger 2.5% 23.4% Other Target Species 2.5% 6.4% Muskellunge 0.8% 2.1% Rock Bass 0.8% 4.3% Crappie 0.8% 17.0% Freshwater Drum 0.0% 6.4% Note: Total sums to greater than 100 percent because respondents were allowed to indicate more than one response.
Differences across the two sites are evident in Table 9-1. Walleye, sauger and crappie were indicated as the target species by a significantly higher percentage of
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Marmet tailwater anglers than by Winfield tailwater anglers. This is true for saugeye, as well. As discussed above in Section 7.0, there were seasonal differences in target species indicated (Figure 9-1). Early spring and late fall generally experiences an increase in anglers targeting sauger and walleye, with an increase in pressure on muskellunge in the spring, as well. In the summer catfish angling increases, as well as hybrid striped bass, which also peaks in the fall.
Figure 9-1. Targeted Species by Month
Live bait such as worms were the most popular bait used by anglers at both the Winfield and Marmet tailwater angling access sites. Seventy-two percent of Marmet tailwater anglers and 70 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers reported using live bait. This was followed by artificial lures (53 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers and 50 percent of Marmet tailwater anglers). Cut bait and soft bait such as dough balls and marshmallow baits were used by approximately 15 percent and 13 percent of Marmet and Winfield tailwater anglers, respectively.
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Generally, water levels for angling were considered to be fairly good on the days of the interviews and this did not vary significantly amongst the tailwater angling access sites. Twenty-nine percent of Marmet tailwater anglers indicated water levels were “acceptable,” 15 percent indicated water levels were “good” and 12 percent indicated water levels were “excellent” on the day they were interviewed. By comparison, 41 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers primarily indicated water levels as “acceptable”, 12 percent reported “good” water levels and 11 percent reported “excellent” water levels. The majority of both Winfield and Marmet tailwater anglers suggested that they preferred a water level that was higher than what they experienced on the day of the interview (50 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers and 47 percent of Marmet tailwater anglers). Approximately 29 percent of Winfield tailwater anglers and 27 percent of Marmet tailwater anglers suggested no change should be made to water levels on the day they were interviewed.
9.2 Catch and Harvest
Of the fish reportedly caught and released by tailwater anglers, approximately 28 percent (235 fish) were reported to be white drum, while approximately 22 percent of the total catch for tailwater anglers was reported to be hybrid striped bass (178 fish) (Tableº9-2). Smallmouth bass comprised the majority of reported catch for anglers at the Winfield tailwaters (approximately 19 percent or 32 fish), followed by channel catfish (approximately 17 or 30 fish), sauger (approximately 15 percent or 25 fish) and hybrid striped bass (approximately 13 percent or 23 fish). Marmet tailwater anglers primarily caught and released white drum (approximately 36 percent of 234 fish), hybrid striped bass (approximately 24 percent of 155 fish), and channel catfish (13 percent or 87 fish).
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Table 9-2. Species Caught and Released by Site Species Caught and Released Winfield Marmet TOTAL Total Percent Total Percent Total Percent Caught Caught Caught Caught Caught Caught and and and and and and Released Released Released Released Released Released Hybrid Striped 155 23.6% 23 13.4% Bass 178 21.5% Catfish 4 0.6% 7 4.1% 11 1.3% Channel catfish 87 13.3% 30 17.4% 117 14.1% Skipjack 8 1.2% 2 1.2% 10 1.2% Smallmouth 42 6.4% 32 18.6% bass 74 8.9% White drum 234 35.7% 1 0.6% 235 28.4% Sauger 6 0.9% 25 14.5% 31 3.7% Carp 2 0.3% 0 0.0% 2 0.2% Crappie 2 0.3% 15 8.7% 17 2.1% Flathead 17 2.6% 0 0.0% catfish 17 2.1% Longnose gar 3 0.5% 0 0.0% 3 0.4% Mooneye 17 2.6% 0 0.0% 17 2.1% Redtail sucker 0 0.0% 1 0.6% 1 0.1% Saugeye 7 1.1% 2 1.2% 9 1.1% Spotted bass 1 0.2% 1 0.6% 2 0.2% Walleye 7 1.1% 5 2.9% 12 1.4% White bass 63 9.6% 10 5.8% 73 8.8% Largemouth 0 0.0% 2 1.2% bass 2 0.2% Blue Catfish 1 0.2% 0 0.0% 1 0.1% Rock bass 0 0.0% 4 2.3% 4 0.5% Bass 0 0.0% 2 1.2% 2 0.2% Goldeye 0 0.0% 6 3.5% 6 0.7% Kentucky 0 0.0% 2.3% spotted bass 4 4 0.5% Total 656 172 828
For fish caught and harvested, lengths and weights (in ounces) are reported in Table 9-3. The fish most often harvested was reported to be hybrid striped bass. Winfield tailwater anglers harvested 13 hybrid striped bass with an average length of just
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over 17 inches and an average weight of 5.8 lbs. The heaviest hybrid striped bass was 10 lbs while the longest was measured at 28 inches in length. Other bass species, such as smallmouth and white bass, were more often harvested from Marmet tailwaters. A total of 8 bass, other than hybrid striped bass, were caught and kept by anglers at the Marmet tailwater angling site. These bass averaged 11.88 inches in length, with the longest bass recorded at 14 inches. Catfish were likewise more often harvested from Marmet tailwaters: a total of 7 fish with an average length of almost 18 inches and an average weight of 3.6 lbs. The largest catfish harvested weighed in at 6 lbs.
Table 9-3. Total Fish, Lengths and Weights of Harvested Species Winfield Marmet Length Weight Length Weight Species (inches) (ounces) (inches) (ounces) Hybrid Striped Bass 25.00 64.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 20.00 104.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 22.00 123.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 8.00 16.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 10.00 24.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 18.00 160.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 28.00 88.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 10.00 24.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 14.00 128.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 13.50 24.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 19.00 160.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 15.00 128.00 Hybrid Striped Bass 20.00 160.00 Total Fish 13 1 Mean 17.12 92.54 Min 8.00 16.00 Max 28.00 160.00 Smallmouth bass 12.00 Smallmouth bass 10.00 Smallmouth bass 10.00 White bass 12.00 White bass 14.00 White Bass 14.00 Spotted bass 8.00 16.00 Bass 10.00 Bass 13.00 24.00 Total Fish 1 8 Mean 11.88
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Winfield Marmet Length Weight Length Weight Species (inches) (ounces) (inches) (ounces) Min 10.00 Max 14.00 Catfish 29.00 221.00 29.00 96.00 Catfish 22.00 56.00 Catfish 20.00 48.00 Catfish 12.00 16.00 Channel catfish 22.00 81.00 Flathead catfish 29.00 400.00 21.00 48.00 Flathead catfish 32.00 494.00 Total Fish 3 7 Mean 30.00 371.67 17.99 57.50 Min 29.00 221.00 10.00 16.00 Max 32.00 494.00 29.00 96.00 Walleye 17.00 48.00 17.00 48.00 Walleye 18.00 192.00 20.00 56.00 Walleye 20.00 56.00 Total Fish 2 3 Mean 17.50 120.00 19.00 53.33 Min 17.00 48.00 17.00 48.00 Max 18.00 192.00 20.00 56.00 Sauger 12.00 16.00 Crappie 12.10 24.00 10.00 16.00 Saugeye 12.00 . Sauger 10.00 0.00 Brown Trout 13.00 0.00 White drum 28.00 136.00
9.3 Catch and Harvest Rates
A total of 828 fish were reported to have been caught and released by Marmet and Winfield tailwater anglers with an average catch rate of 0.8 fish/hour. For Winfield tailwater anglers, 656 total fish were reportedly caught and released corresponding to a catch rate of approximately 0.9 fish per hour and a harvest rate of 0.4 fish per hour based on a reported total harvest of 21 fish. Marmet tailwater anglers had an estimated average catch 0.6 fish per hour and a harvest rate of 0.5 fish per hour based on a total reported catch and release of 172 fish and a total reported harvest of 24 fish. On average, catch rates were highest at the Marmet tailwater angling access site on weekends during May.
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July weekdays saw the highest catch rates at the Winfield tailwater angling access site. Catch and harvest rates by month and day type for anglers at both sites is presented in Table 9-4.
Table 9-4. Catch and Harvest Rates by Site Month and Day Type
Month DayType Catch Rate Harvest Rate Winfield Tailwater Angling Access Site Mar Weekend 0.00 0.48 Weekday 0.00 0.00 Total 0.00 0.32 Apr Weekend 0.30 0.23 Weekday 0.13 0.43 Total 0.23 0.31 May Weekend 0.35 0.48 Weekday 1.13 1.37 Holiday 0.17 0.45 Total 0.76 0.98 Jun Weekend 1.31 0.25 Weekday 0.63 0.44 Total 1.02 0.33 Jul Weekend 0.90 0.37 Weekday 2.16 0.55 Holiday 0.86 0.51 Total 1.45 0.48 Aug Weekend 0.68 0.26 Weekday 1.58 0.34 Total 1.09 0.29 Sep Weekend 0.69 0.31 Weekday 0.55 0.36 Holiday 0.47 0.25 Total 0.61 0.33 Oct Weekend 1.07 1.07 Weekday 0.46 0.46 Holiday 1.42 0.32 Total 0.84 0.49 Nov Weekend 0.00 0.00 Weekday 0.20 0.20 Total 0.12 0.12 Total Weekend 0.78 0.31 Weekday 1.02 0.55 Holiday 0.77 0.40 Total 0.89 0.43 Marmet Tailwater Angling Access Site
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Month DayType Catch Rate Harvest Rate Mar Weekend 0.00 0.52 Weekday 0.00 1.33 Total 0.00 0.66 Apr Weekend 2.21 0.54 Weekday 0.54 0.41 Total 1.53 0.48 May Weekend 4.21 0.18 Weekday 1.81 0.25 Total 2.34 0.22 Jun Weekend 0.00 0.09 Weekday 0.77 0.28 Total 0.58 0.19 Jul Weekend 0.25 0.71 Weekday 0.17 0.41 Holiday 1.35 0.19 Total 0.30 0.52 Aug Weekend 0.18 0.51 Weekday 0.14 0.66 Total 0.17 0.56 Sep Weekend 0.18 0.33 Weekday 0.23 0.42 Holiday 0.00 0.45 Total 0.15 0.39 Oct Weekend 0.07 0.43 Weekday 0.27 0.75 Holiday 0.00 0.39 Total 0.13 0.54 Nov Weekday 0.24 0.83 Total 0.24 0.83 All Months Weekend 0.79 0.45 Weekday 0.53 0.50 Holiday 0.17 0.39 Total 0.62 0.47
9.4 Fish Consumption Advisories
Visitors to the Winfield and Marmet tailwater angling access sites were also asked about their familiarity with the fish consumption advisories for the state of West Virginia. Most anglers are familiar with the fish consumption advisories for the state. Of those that are familiar with the statewide advisories, almost all were familiar with the advisories
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specific to the Kanawha River. The majority of anglers interviewed indicated that the advisories had not changed their angling habits or fish consumption in any way. For those that had made adjustments, practicing catch and release was cited most often, followed by keeping fewer fish.
Table 9-5. Questions Regarding Fish Consumption Advisories and Changes in Fishing Habits Question Yes No Are you familiar with the fish consumption 83.0% 17.0% advisories for the state of West Virginia? If yes, are you familiar with the fish 98.5% 1.5% consumption advisories for the Kanawha River? Have these fish consumption advisories 20.0% 80.0% changed your fishing habits or fish consumption in any way? How So: Fish less often overall 6.1% Catch and release 48.5% Keep fewer fish 30.3% Target different species 9.1% No personal change but family members 0.0% have changed consumption Space out meals 6.1%
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10.0 ADEQUACY OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT
10.1 Recreation Site Use Capacities
Facility capacity use densities reported in the 2003 and 2009 FERC Form 80 Recreation Reports for the Winfield and London/Marmet Projects, generally indicate a declining trend in use of these facilities. The 2009 FERC Form 80 for the Winfield Project reports a use density of 25 percent of facility capacity for the Winfield tailwater angling access site, compared with 40 percent reported in the 2003 FERC Form 80 (Appalachian, 2009a; Appalachian, 2003a). The 2003 FERC Form 80 for the London/Marmet Project likewise reports a use density of 40 percent of facility capacity for the Marmet tailwater angling access site, which has subsequently decreased to 20 percent, as reported in the 2009 FERC Form 80 (Appalachian, 2009b; Appalachian, 2003b).
Kleinschmidt calculated facility capacity use densities based on average daily vehicle counts compared with parking capacity, used as a proxy for site design capacity (Table 10-1). The Winfield tailwater angling access site has a gravel parking lot capable of accommodating approximately 28 vehicles plus an additional 4 parking spaces in the paved ADA compliant lot. The Marmet tailwater angling access site can likewise accommodate approximately 28 vehicles in its gravel lot.
Generally, estimated use densities are in line with those reported for the Winfield and Marmet tailwater angling access sites in the most recent FERC Form 80 Recreation Report. The highest use densities were reported for the Winfield tailwater angling access site on Memorial Day weekend (64 percent). For the Marmet tailwater angling access site, the highest use density was reported for the Columbus Day weekend (70 percent). For non-holiday weekends, June was the busiest month for the Winfield tailwater angling access site while September was the busiest for the Marmet tailwater angling access site.
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Table 10-1. Use Densities by Site, Month and Day Type Month Day Type Winfield Marmet Total March Weekend 2.34% 1.07% 1.71% Weekday 1.09% 0.18% 0.64% Total 1.72% 0.63% 1.17% April Weekend 10.42% 12.05% 11.35% Weekday 5.27% 7.44% 6.20% Total 7.48% 10.08% 8.78% May Weekend 9.77% 13.39% 11.78% Weekday 17.84% 7.14% 12.49% Holiday 64.06% 11.61% 37.83% Total 19.11% 10.12% 14.42% June Weekend 28.26% 18.75% 23.93% Weekday 17.66% 9.11% 13.38% Total 23.44% 13.93% 18.91% July Weekend 12.50% 7.14% 10.20% Weekday 8.44% 5.89% 7.17% Holiday 25.00% 4.46% 14.73% Total 11.72% 6.15% 9.08% August Weekend 25.16% 5.95% 14.68% Weekday 22.97% 3.93% 13.45% Total 24.06% 5.03% 14.09% September Weekend 17.19% 32.14% 24.67% Weekday 12.70% 3.93% 7.82% Holiday 14.06% 9.82% 11.94% Total 14.84% 15.80% 15.35% October Weekend 17.97% 5.80% 9.86% Weekday 17.19% 3.57% 10.38% Holiday 21.88% 69.64% 53.72% Total 18.08% 17.68% 17.84% November Weekend 6.72% 0.45% 3.93% Weekday 7.66% 1.96% 4.81% Holiday 0.78% 0.89% 0.84% Total 6.61% 1.25% 4.06% Total Weekend 14.88% 10.63% 12.70% Weekday 12.48% 4.75% 8.62% Holiday 25.16% 27.68% 26.53% Total 14.28% 8.94% 11.56%
Crowdedness was generally reported to be “light” by Marmet tailwater angling access site visitors (68 percent). Winfield tailwater angling access site visitors reported slightly higher crowdedness, with 36 percent indicating “moderate” crowdedness, 28
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percent indicating a fairly light level of crowding and 24 percent indicating “light” crowding, on average. Recreationist’s opinions of crowdedness did change across day type with an average weekend crowdedness rating of 2.13, an average weekday rating of 1.84 and an average holiday rating of 3.30 (on a scale of 1 “light” to 5 “heavy”). At the Marmet tailwater angling access site, crowding was generally considered to be “light” on weekdays and weekends. While the majority (50 percent) of respondents indicated “light” crowding at the Marmet tailwater angling access site on holidays, fewer individuals overall, between 18 and 22 percent less compared with weekends and weekdays, indicated “light” crowding on holidays at this site. This variation was more pronounced at the Winfield tailwater angling access site. Approximately 23 percent of respondents and 28 percent of respondents indicated “light” crowding at this site on weekends and weekdays, respectively. Comparatively, only approximately 11 percent of respondents indicated “light” crowding at the Winfield tailwater angling access site on holidays. Approximately 47 percent of visitors on holidays to this site indicated crowding was “heavy”. Only 25 percent of visitors on holidays to the Marmet tailwater angling access site indicated “heavy” crowding. The month of April had the highest reported crowdedness rating (2.39 average) at the Marmet tailwater angling access site while May had the highest reported crowdedness rating (3.65 average) at the Winfield tailwater angling access site.
Overall, there were very low use levels at the Marmet angling access site during the 2010 season, which is supported by the “light crowding” ratings observed by respondents. As such, the Marmet angling access site and to a lesser extent, the Winfield angling access site are capable of accommodating additional use stemming from the displaced London access site anglers. Based on activity observed during the 2010 season, it is evidenced that the Winfield and Marmet angling access sites would likely serve as substitute sites for the London access site.
10.2 Recreation Needs Assessments
Site condition was rated as generally “good” between the two sites. For the Winfield tailwater angling access site, respondents indicated that the condition was “good” overall (3.60 average rating on a scale from 1 “poor” to 5 “excellent”). The
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average condition rating at the Marmet tailwater angling access site was just slightly less (3.28 average rating). Over 90 percent of Winfield tailwater angling access site respondents and approximately 66 percent of Marmet tailwater angling access site respondents indicated the need for additional site amenities or improvements.
Restrooms and trash receptacles were the most suggested improvements at both sites (Table 10-2). Picnic tables and shelter, including shading of the fishing pier, was recommended by almost one-third of respondents interviewed at the Winfield tailwater angling access site. Improvements to the fishing pier at the Winfield tailwater angling access site was also suggested by approximately 21 percent of respondents interviewed there. Many of the suggestions for improving the pier included fixing the handrails, attaching the tailrace pier to the ADA ramp, and installing fishing rod holders. It is important to note that the handrail was replaced at the Winfield tailwater angling access site in October 2010.
Table 10-2. Recommended Improvements at Project Tailwater Angling Access Site Winfield Tailwater Marmet Tailwater Recommendation Angling Access Site Angling Access Site Improved access road 0.0% 2.4% Restrooms 85.4% 82.9% Signs and information 3.4% 7.3% Boat launch/ramp 1.1% 2.4% Improved fishing pier 21.3% 4.9% Improved lighting 0.0% 7.3% Improved parking lot 1.1% 4.9% Picnic tables/shelter 30.3% 9.8% Trash cans 52.8% 36.6% Fish cleaning station 2.2% 4.9% Note: Total sums to greater than 100 percent because respondents were allowed to indicate more than one response.
Of those individuals indicating a need for a fish cleaning station at the respective site at which they were interviewed, all of the anglers interviewed at the Marmet tailwater angling access site indicated that they would use a fish cleaning station at least half of the time. The same general pattern of use is expected for the Winfield tailwater angling access site based on angler responses. It is important to note; however, that a very small
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percentage of anglers indicated a need for such a facility. Use of a fish cleaning station was only solicited from those anglers who indicated a need for one in the first place.
Individuals were asked by the recreation clerk to indicate whether they had experienced or observed any significant safety hazards at the site at which they were interviewed. Approximately 84 percent of Winfield tailwater angling access site respondents indicated no significant safety hazards while approximately 82 of Marmet visitors indicated the same. Among those calling attention to safety hazards, broken and loose pier railings and high water levels were cited most often at the Marmet tailwater angling access site. Broken pier railings, high water levels, trash and debris, and the rocky shoreline were indicated most often by respondents interviewed at the Winfield tailwater angling access site.
When asked about the visual quality of the tailwater angling access sites, the average response was an aesthetics rating of 3.6 (“good” on a scale from 1 “poor” to 5 “excellent”). Approximately 95 percent of Winfield tailwater angling access site visitors indicated that the aesthetics of the site was “good” to “excellent”, with 32 percent of respondents indicating “excellent” aesthetics. At the Marmet tailwater angling access site, approximately 41 percent of respondents rated the aesthetics as “good” and 11 percent rated the aesthetics as “excellent”. Among the comments received pertaining to the aesthetics of the project tailwater angling access sites were the need for landscaping, trash removal and other maintenance issues.
10.3 Adequacy of Facilities to Accommodate Existing and Future Use
Results of the recreation site assessment, supported by survey results, suggest that sites are generally in good condition overall with some repairs or improvements needed to address safety issues and aesthetics. Among the recommendations for improvements to the existing tailwater angling access sites obtained from surveys are:
• Improved shoreline access to accommodate additional overflow use when the piers are occupied, provide access to a larger portion of the tailwater for angling, and to accommodate the personal preferences of anglers for shoreline angling.
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• Trash receptacles with periodic removal, as well as shoreline clean-up and debris removal on a periodic basis. • Landscaping including tree and shrub removal to accommodate shoreline access, reduce debris, and improve aesthetics. • Pier improvements such as connection of the walkways to the piers and repair and replacement of handrails as well as improvements to increase the capacity of the piers such as fishing rod holders. • Support facilities such as restrooms, picnic tables and shelters to provide additional recreation opportunities and allow visitors to spend a longer amount of time on site.
While there are many uncertainties when predicting future recreational use, both in general and specific to the Projects, the recreational facilities at the Marmet and Winfield Developments do not appear to have reached a point of being at or over capacity nor are they expected to approach capacity in the near future. In addition, use trends have indicated a decline in overall use of the facilities. Projected future use estimates are also expected to result in relatively stable or somewhat declining rates of participation in recreation use of the tailwater angling access sites. Therefore, we contend that the recreation resources at the Marmet and Winfield Developments are sufficient and acceptable to satisfy recreation demand and that no additional recreation facilities are needed at this time.
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11.0 REFERENCES
Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian). 2009a. FERC Form 80 Licensed Hydropower Development Recreation Report for the Winfield Project (FERC No. 1290). Accession No.: 20090330-5101. Submitted March 30, 2009.
Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian). 2009b. FERC Form 80 Licensed Hydropower Development Recreation Report for the London/Marmet Project (FERC No. 1175). Accession No.: 20090330-5100. Submitted March 30, 2009.
Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian). 2003a. FERC Form 80 Licensed Hydropower Development Recreation Report for the Winfield Project (FERC No. 1290). Accession No.: 200303315029. Submitted March 31, 2003.
Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian). 2003b. FERC Form 80 Licensed Hydropower Development Recreation Report for the London/Marmet Project (FERC No. 1175). Accession No.: 200303315035. Submitted March 31, 2003.
Cordell, H. Ken, et al. 2004. Outdoor Recreation for 21st Century America: A Report to the Nation: The National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. State College, PA: Venture Publishing Inc.
National Park Service (NPS). 2011a. New River Gorge National River. [Online] URL: http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm. Accessed on January 3, 2011.
National Park Service (NPS). 2011b. Gauley River National Recreation Area. [Online] URL: http://www.nps.gov/gari/index.htm. Accessed on January 11, 2011.
National Park Service (NPS). 2009. Draft Foundation Plan for New River Gorge national River. [Online] URL: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=259&projectID=11040&documentID =31487. Accessed on January 3, 2011.
Pollock, K.H., C.M. Jones, and T.L. Brown. 1994. Angler Survey Methods and their Applications in Fisheries Management. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 25, Bethesda, MD.
U.S. Census (Census). 2010a. Handley, West Virginia. [Online] URL: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US5 432716&_geoContext=01000US|04000US54|16000US5432716&_street=&_county=han dley&_cityTown=handley&_state=04000US54&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeo Div=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name =null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=. Accessed on December 30, 2010.
U.S. Census (Census). 2010b. Marmet, West Virginia. [Online] URL: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US5
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434756&_geoContext=01000US|04000US54|16000US5434756&_street=&_county=mar met&_cityTown=marmet&_state=04000US54&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeo Div=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name =null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=. Accessed on December 30, 2010.
U.S. Census (Census). 2010c. Winfield, West Virginia. [Online] URL: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US5 451724&_geoContext=01000US|04000US54|16000US5451724&_street=&_county=win field&_cityTown=winfield&_state=04000US54&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGe oDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_nam e=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=. Accessed on December 30, 2010.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2011a. Monongahela National Forest. [Online] URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/index.shtml. Accessed on January 10, 2011.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2011b. Cranberry Wilderness. [Online] URL: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9C P0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110921&na vtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110000000000000&recid=12368&ttype=recarea &pname=Monongahela%2520National%2520Forest%2520- %2520Cranberry%2520Wilderness. Accessed on January 10, 2011.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2011c. Wayne National Forest. [Online] URL: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9C P0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA!/?ss=110914&navtype=BRO WSEBYSUBJECT&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&recid=null&actid=null&gr oupid=null&ttype=main&pname=Wayne%20National%20Forest-%20Home. Accessed on January 10, 2011.
West Virginia Development Office (WVDO). 2009. West Virginia Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2009 – 2013. [Online] URL: http://72.41.119.75/Library/SCORPs/WV_SCORP_2009.pdf. Accessed on January 12, 2011.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resource (WVDNR). 2011a. West Virginia Wildlife Management Areas. [Online] URL: http://wvweb.com/hunting/map.html. Accessed on January 7, 2011.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 2011b. Cabwaylingo State Forest. [Online] URL: http://www.cabwaylingo.com/recreation.html. Accessed on January 10, 2011.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 2011c. West Virginia State Parks and Forests Locations. [Online] URL: http://www.wvstateparks.com/parklistings.pdf. Accessed on January 10, 2011.
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West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 2011d. Hawks Nest State Park. [Online] URL: http://www.hawksnestsp.com/recreation.htm. Accessed on January 11, 2011.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 2011e. Kanawha State Forest. [Online[ URL: http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/recreation.html. Accessed on January 11, 2011.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 2011f. Fishing and Boating Points of Interest. [Online] URL: http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/public_access.asp?county=Braxton&type=all. Accessed on January 12, 2011.
West Virginia GIS Technical Center (WVGTC). 2002. GIS Data. [Online] URL: http://wvgis.wvu.edu/data/dataset.php?ID=194. Accessed on January 7, 2011.
West Virginia University, Bureau of Business and Economic Research (WVU). 2010. 2010 Population Projection for West Virginia Counties by Age-Group and Sex. [Online] URL: http://www.be.wvu.edu/demographics/documents/2010PopulationProjectionforWVaCou nties_000.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.
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APPENDIX A
LONDON/MARMET AND WINFIELD PROJECTS RECREATION ASSESSMENT AND ANGLER USE CREEL STUDY DAILY SUMMARY REPORT
Daily Summary Report Appalachian Power Company London/Marmet and Winfield Hydroelectric Projects MONITOR: DATE: / / SITE: ______(month) (day) (year) ______
1. SUNNY 1. SUNNY 2. PARTLY SUNNY 2. PARTLY SUNNY WEATHER AT START WEATHER AT END 3. CLOUDY 3. CLOUDY (PLEASE RECORD WEATHER (PLEASE RECORD WEATHER AT 4. LIGHT SHOWERS 4. LIGHT SHOWERS AT START OF SAMPLE SHIFT END OF SAMPLE SHIFT – CIRCLE 5. HEAVY RAIN 5. HEAVY RAIN – CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY) ALL THAT APPY) 6. THUNDERSTORM 6. THUNDERSTORM 7. WINDY 7. WINDY
TIME AT START OF COUNT ______:______AM/PM TIME AT END OF COUNT ______:______AM/PM
TIME STATE= STATE= STATE= STATE= STATE= STATE= STATE= ANGLERS
AM/PM
AM/PM
AM/PM
AM/PM
AM/PM
AM/PM
TOTAL
TOTAL NUMBER OF TOTAL NUMBER OF
ATTEMPTED SURVEYS COMPLETED SURVEYS
NOTES:
APPENDIX B
LONDON/MARMET AND WINFIELD PROJECTS RECREATION ASSESSMENT AND ANGLER USE CREEL STUDY PUBLIC ACCESS SITE/CREEL SURVEY
CASE ID: London/Marmet and Winfield Projects Recreation Study Public Access Site Survey
Clerk: ______Site: ______Date: ______Time: ______am/pm RESPONDENT GENDER: Male Female RESPONDENT REFUSED INTERVIEW: TTL PEOPLE IN VEHICLE: RESPONDENT DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH: Undetermined RESPONDENT IS NOT 18 YEARS OR OLDER: RESPONDENT HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED AT THIS SITE PREVIOUSLY: YES NO IF INDIVIDUAL HAD BEEN INTERVIEWED PREVIOUSLY, STOP SURVEY AFTER QUESTION 15B.
THE FIRST FEW QUESTIONS ASK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE TODAY
1. Including yourself, how many people are in your party today? (Fill in blank.) _____ people in party
2. What time did you arrive at this recreation site today? (Fill in blank.) ______am / pm
3A. What is the primary recreation activity that you participated in today at this recreation site? (Check one main activity in the first column and specify other as appropriate.) 3B. What other activities did you participate in today? (Check all that apply in the second column and specify other(s) as appropriate.)
Check only Check all one main other activity for activities today for today Types of Activities FISHING – CONTINUE TO QUESTION 4: bank/shoreline fishing pier fishing wading fishing OTHER ACTIVITIES – CONTINUE TO QUESTION 9 nature study/wildlife viewing/sightseeing picnicking walking/hiking other:______ other:______ other:______None – I did not participate in any other recreation activities today
IF THE INDIVIDUAL DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY ANGLING ACTIVITIES, PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION 9
Page 1 of 7 CASE ID: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FISHING EXPERIENCE HERE TODAY
4. What species of fish were you targeting today, if any? (Do not read list. Check all that apply and specify other(s) as appropriate).
Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Blue Catfish Muskellunge Spotted Bass White Bass Smallmouth Bass Largemouth Bass Hybrid Striped Bass Rock Bass Paddlefish Sauger Sunfish Common Carp Crappie Walleye Freshwater Drum Perch Longnose Gar Logperch Gizzard Shad Smallmouth Buffalo Redhorse Hogsuckers Bluegill Saugeye Shovelnose Sturgeon Lake Sturgeon Other (specify: ) Other (specify: ) Other (specify: ) All fish – was not targeting a specific species
5A. How many fish of each species did you catch and release today? (Fill in blank for species and estimated total caught and released). Species: Total: Species: Total: Species: Total: Species: Total: Species: Total:
5B. What is the approximate length and weight of each fish you kept? (Fill in blank for species and estimated length and weight of each fish).
FISH SPECIES LENGTH (INCHES) WEIGHT (LBS) Fish 1 Fish 2 Fish 3 Fish 4 Fish 5 Fish 6 Fish 7 Fish 8 Fish 9 Fish 10 Fish 11 Fish 12
Page 2 of 7 CASE ID: 6. What bait(s) did you use? (Do not read list. Check all that apply and specify other(s) as appropriate.)
BAIT TACKLE Live Bait Artificial Lures Soft Bait (Dough balls, Cut/Stink Bait marshmallows, etc.) Other (specify: ) Other (specify: ) Other (specify: )
7A. On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being unacceptable, 3 being acceptable, and 5 being excellent, how would you rate the suitability of water levels for angling today? (Circle one number.) Unacceptable Acceptable Excellent
1 2 3 4 5
7B. Please provide a brief explanation of your rating of the overall suitability of your on-water experience. (Fill in blank.)
8. Compared to today’s flow level, would you prefer a level that was higher, lower, or about the same for angling on the Kanawha River today? (Circle one number. If respondent indicates “No Change”, skip to Question 9.) Much Lower Lower No Change Higher Much Higher
1 2 3 4 5
9. Do you live or will you be staying overnight in one of the following counties on your current trip to this recreation site? (Show the respondent the map. Check one box only.) Kanawha Boone Raleigh Fayette Nicholas Clay Lincoln Putnam Cabell Mason Jackson NONE OF THESE COUNTIES
10. Including your own house if you live in the area, what is the main type of lodging you are using on this trip? (Check one box only) Hotel, motel, resort Campground, rental RV site, etc. Rental house, cabin, or condo House/cabin/condo owned by family or friends Other (specify): My own house/cabin/condo SKIP TO QUESTION 12
Page 3 of 7 CASE ID: 11. In total, how many days will you be visiting this recreation site on this trip? (Fill in the blank.) days
12. On this trip to this recreation site, how many people are you paying expenses for, including yourself? (Fill in the blank.) people
13. As best as you can, please estimate the total amount you will spend on this trip to this recreation site. Include all expenses at home preparing for this trip, what you have incurred so far, and what you will spend traveling to and from this recreation site from your home. (If the individual paid expenses for other people, please include what they paid for themselves and others. If the individual is a local resident, assume their visit today is one trip. If they did not have expenses for a particular category, write 0.) $______Transportation (gas & oil, repair & service, rental car, rental RV) $______Food and beverages (store purchases and restaurant/bar purchases) $______Activities (recreation equipment rental, guide or outfitter fees, etc.) $______Bait & tackle $______Miscellaneous (souvenirs & gifts, personal, business and medical expenses) $______Lodging (hotel, motel, bed & breakfast, rental home/cabin/condo, camp site) $______TOTAL
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RECREATION SITE WE ARE AT TODAY
14. On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being light, 3 being moderate, and 5 being heavy, how would you rate the crowdedness at this recreation site today? (Circle one number.) Light Moderate Heavy
1 2 3 4 5
15A. Did you experience or did you observe any significant problems or specific safety hazards at this recreation site today? (Check one box.) YES NO SKIP TO QUESTION 16
15B. Please provide a brief description of any experienced or observed safety hazards at this recreation site today. (Fill in blanks.)
IF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED AT THIS RECREATION SITE PREVIOUSLY, STOP SURVEY HERE. Page 4 of 7 CASE ID: 16A. On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being poor, 3 being good, and 5 being excellent, how would you rate the aesthetics at this recreation site? (Circle one number.) Poor Good Excellent
1 2 3 4 5
16B. Please provide a brief description of your rating of the scenic quality of this recreation site. (Fill in blanks.)
17. On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being poor, 3 being good, and 5 being excellent, how would you rate the overall condition of this recreation site today? (Circle one number.) Poor Good Excellent
1 2 3 4 5
18A. Are there any additional facilities or improvements needed at this recreation site? (Check one box.) YES NO SKIP TO QUESTION 19
18B. What do you recommend? (Do not read this list. Allow respondent to answer and check all that apply and specify other(s) as appropriate.) access road restrooms signs & information boat launch/ramp better fishing pier lighting parking lot picnic tables/shelter trash cans fish cleaning station SKIP TO QUESTION 18C. other (please specify: ) other (please specify: )
18C. How often would you use a fish cleaning station if it were provided at this recreation site? (Circle one number.) Occasionally About Half Every Time of the Time I Fish
1 2 3 4 5
Page 5 of 7 CASE ID: 19. In an average year, approximately how many days do you spend at this recreation site for recreational purposes? (Fill in the blank for each month; if they do not visit this recreation site in a specific month, write 0.)
# days # days # days _____ January _____ May ____ September _____ February _____ June ____ October _____ March _____ July ____ November _____ April _____ August ____ December
20A. Are you familiar with the fish consumption advisories for the state of West Virginia? (Check one box.)
YES NO SKIP TO QUESTION 22.
20B. Are you familiar with the fish consumption advisories for the Kanawha River? (Check one box.)
YES NO SKIP TO QUESTION 22.
21A. Have these fish consumption advisories changed your fishing habits or fish consumption in any way? (Check one box.)
YES NO SKIP TO QUESTION 22.
21B. How so? (Do not read list. Check all that apply and specify other, as appropriate). Fish less often overall Practice catch and release more often Keep fewer fish Target different species No personal change to fish consumption Keep same amount of fish overall but but family members have changed their space out meals over the year consumption Other (specify: ) Other (specify: )
I HAVE JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS
22. Do you own a seasonal or permanent home in the region? What is your zip code? (Check one box and fill in the blank for zip code. YES Seasonal Home ZIP CODE: YES Permanent Home ZIP CODE: SKIP TO QUESTION 24 NO ZIP CODE: SKIP TO QUESTION 24
Page 6 of 7 CASE ID: 23. What is the zip code of your permanent residence? (Fill in the blank.) ZIP CODE:
24. How many years of formal education have you completed? (Check one box) Less than high school Some college High school degree or GED Bachelors degree Associates or technical school degree Post-graduate degree
25. In what year were you born? (Fill in blank.) ______YEAR
26. What was your total gross household income in 2009 before taxes? (Check one box) Less than $20,000 $50,000 - $74,999 $20,000 - $34,999 $75,000 - $99,999 $35,000 - $49,999 $100,000 or more
27. Do you have any additional comments about this or other recreation sites or activities on the Kanawha River? (Fill in blank and be as specific as possible.) ______
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY!
Page 7 of 7
APPENDIX C
INVENTORY OF REGIONAL RECREATION AREAS
List of Regional State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas near the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects. Place Location Managing Agency State Parks Babcock Clifftop DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Beartown Hillsboro DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Beech Fork Lake Barboursville DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Blennerhasset Island Parkersburg DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Bluestone Hinton DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Camp Creek Camp Creek DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Carnifex Ferry Summersville DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Cedar Creek Glenville DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Chief Logan Logan DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Droop Mountain Hillsboro DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Hawks Nest Ansted DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Little Beaver Beaver DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Pipestem Pipestem DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Tu-Endie-Wie Point Pleasant DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Twin Falls Mullens DNR, WV State Parks and Forests State Forests Cabwaylingo Dunlow DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Camp Creek Camp Creek DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Wildlife Management Areas Anawalt Lake Anawalt Beech Fork Lake Huntington DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Big Ditch Cowen DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Big Ugly Leet DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Bluestone Lake Hinton DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Briery Mountain Kingwood DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Burnsville Lake Burnsville DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section East Lynn Lake Wayne USACE and DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Elk River Flatwoods DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Frozencamp Ripley DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Horse Creek Baileysvill DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Hughes River Parkersburg DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section McClintic Point Pleasant DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Meadow River Rupert DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section O'brien Lake Ripley DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Panther Panther DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section and Division of Forestry R D Bailey Lake Pineville DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Ritchie Mines Melin DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Rollins Lake Ripley DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Sand Hill Parkersburg DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Stumptown Stumptown DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Summersville Lake Summersville DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Tug Fork Welch DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Turkey Run Lake Ravenswood DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Upper Mud Lake Hamlin DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Source: (WVGTC, 2002; 2011c)
List of public fishing areas near the London/Marmet and Winfield Projects. Fishing Area County Mill Creek Barbour Sutton Lake Braxton Saltlick Pond 9 Braxton Burnsville Lake Braxton Barboursville Cabell Underwood Lake Cabell Boley Fayette Hawks Nest Fayette Plum Orchard Fayette Cedar Creek Gilmer Summit Greenbrier Rollins Jackson Frozencamp Left Fork Jackson Frozencamp Right Fork Jackson Turkey Run Jackson Woodrum Jackson O'Brien Jackson Elk Fork Jackson Coonskin Park Kanawha Elk Two Mile (Site 13) Kanawha Elk Two Mile (Site 12) Kanawha Elk Two Mile (Site 14) Kanawha Kanawha State Forest Kanawha Ridenour Kanawha Anderson Kanawha Upper Mud Lincoln Logan County Airport Logan Rockhouse Logan Chief Logan Logan Chief Cornstalk Mason Krodel Mason McClintic Ponds Mason Laurel Mingo Summersville Lake Nicholas Hurricane W.S. Res. Putnam Fitzpatrick Raleigh Stephens Raleigh Airport Pond Raleigh Charles Fork Roane Silcott Fork Roane Miletree Roane Bluestone Lake Summers Pipestem Summers Beech Fork Lake Wayne East Lynn Lake Wayne Millers Fork Wayne Lick Creek Wayne Big Ditch Webster Mountwood Wood Horse Creek Wyoming Wyoming & R.D. Bailey Lake Mingo Source: (WVGTC, 2002)
List of regional public boat launches.
Parking No. of Fishing Rest- Courtesy Picnic Boat Launch City Body of Water Capacity Type Launches Launch Type Pier room Dock Table Grill ADA At town of Hines Meadow River 3 Ramp 1 Dirt Babcock State Park Boley Lake 20 Hand carry 0 X X X X X Barger Springs Greenbrier River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete Bellepoint Greenbrier River 5 Hand carry 0 Bertha Campground Bluestone Lake 10 Ramp 1 Concrete Big Clear Creek Big Clear Creek Bridge /Meadow River 2 Hand carry 0 Bluestone Lake Bluestone Lake 30 Ramp 1 Concrete Bluestone Lake Tailwaters New River 50 Hand carry 0 X X X X Brooke Falls New River 10 Ramp 1 Dirt X Bull Falls Campground Bluestone Lake 20 Hand carry 0 Charmco Roadside Park Meadow River 30 Hand carry 0 CR 14 Bridge Guyandotte River 25 Hand carry 0 Fitzpatrick Park Lake Piney Creek 50 Hand carry 0 X X Horse Creek WMA Lake Guyandotte River 10 Dock 0 X Lake Stephen Marina Lake Stephen 20 Ramp 2 Paved X X X X X X Lake Stephen Winter Ramp Lake Stephen 20 Ramp 1 Concrete X X Little Beaver State Park Little Beaver Creek 50 Hand carry 0 X X X X X X Lowell Greenbrier River 10 Hand carry 0 McCreery New River 20 Ramp 1 Gravel X Meadow Creek Access New River 15 Ramp 1 Gravel X
No Name Beckley Kanawha River 15 Ramp 1 N/A X Pence Springs Greenbrier River 5 Hand carry 0 Raleigh County Raleigh County Airport Pond Airport Pond 20 Hand carry 0 RD Bailey Lake Guyandotte River 100 Ramp 2 Paved X X X RD Bailey Lake Tailwaters Guyandotte River 30 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X Renick Greenbrier River 15 Ramp 1 Concrete X Roncerverte City Park Greenbrier River 5 Ramp 1 Gravel/Dirt Sandstone Rec Area New River 15 Ramp 1 Dirt X St Rt 16 Bridge Guyandotte River 5 Hand carry 0 St Rt 16 Bridge Guyandotte River 10 Hand carry 0 St Rt 3 Bridge Greenbrier River 5 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood
Confluence of Greenbrier St RT 30 and 3 Bridge and New Rivers 15 Ramp 1 Steep/Gravel Stone Cliff New River 20 Ramp 2 Dirt/Gravel X Summit Lake Summit Lake 30 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X Talcott Greenbrier River 20 Ramp 1 Concrete Thayer Acces Point New River 15 Ramp 1 Gravel X X Willowwood Greenbrier River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete Big Ditch Lake Big Ditch Lake 20 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X X X CR 21 Bridge Elk River 2 Ramp 1 Dirt Elk River at Duck Elk River 10 Hand carry 0 Indian Rocks Lake Big Beaver Creek 5 Hand carry 0 Mary L Chilton Road Side Park Elk River 10 Hand carry 0 X X X No Name Sutton Lake 100 Ramp 2 Concrete X X X X
No Name Creek French Saltlick Pond 5 Ramp 1 Mud Persinger Creek Gauley River 15 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood Summersville Lake Gualey River 50 Ramp 2 Concrete X X X X X Belleville Ohio River 20 Ramp 1 Concrete X Cedar Creek State Park Cedar Creek Ponds 30 None 0 X X Charles Fork Lake Charles Fork Lake 20 Ramp 1 Concrete X X Chucks Ford Hughes River 15 Ramp 1 Concrete Corning Park Little Kanawha River 50 Ramp 4 Concrete X X X X Cottageville Mill Creek 10 Ramp 1 Gravel CR 39 Ford Little Kanawha River 10 Ramp 1 Dirt Creston Little Kanawha River 2 Hand carry 0 Elk Fork Lake Elk Fork Lake 120 Ramp 2 Concrete X X Frozen Camp Left Fork Frozen Camp Left Fork 20 Hand carry 0 Frozen Camp Public Access Site Right Fork Lake 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X Jackson County Jr. Fairgrounds Mill Creek 10 Hand carry 0 X Leachtown Little Kanawha River 15 Hand carry 0 Leading Creek Little Kanawha River 20 Hand carry 1 Wood Miletree Lake Miletree Lake 10 Hand carry 0 X Mill Creek-Access Mill Creek Public Access Area to Ohio River 20 Ramp 1 Concrete X Mountwood Park Marina Mountwood Lake 100 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X X X No Name Little Kanawha River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete Parkersburg No Name Lee Creek 5 Ramp 1 Dirt-Mud O'Brian Lake Public Access Site O'Brian Lake 75 Ramp 1 Concrete Old Lock #19 Ohio River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete X Rollins Lake Rollins Lake 25 Ramp 1 Concrete X X Sanoma Bridge Little Kanawha River 5 Hand carry 0 Silcott Fork Lake Silcott Fork Lake 10 Hand carry 0 Sportsman Park Little Kanawha River 15 Ramp 1 Concrete Spring Valley Little Kanawha River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete-Mud SR 5 Boat Slide Little Kanawha River 8 Hand carry 1 Wood Stouts Mill Little Kanawha River 15 Ramp 1 Gravel-Dirt Turkey Run Lake Turkey Run Lake 10 Ramp 1 Gravel X X X Washington Western Land Park-Museum Ohio River 100 Ramp 4 Concrete X X X X Wells Lock Little Kanawha River 20 Ramp 1 Dirt X X Westvaco South Fork Hughes River 15 Hand carry 1 Wood Woodrum WMA Woodrum Lake 100 Ramp 2 Concrete X Barboursville Community Park Lake Barboursville Lake 50 Hand carry 0 X X X X X Beech Fork Lake Beech Fork Lake 50 Ramp 3 Paved X X X X X Branchland Guyandotte River 15 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood Chief Logan State Park Pond Unnammed Creek 0 Hand carry 0 Clendinin Elk River 10 Ramp 2 Dirt Coonskin State Park Coonskin Lake 15 Hand carry 0 X X Crab Creek Rt 2 Bridge Ohio River/Crab Creek 5 Hand carry 0 Earling Guyandotte River 20 Ramp 1 Concrete East Fork Campground area 5 East Lynn Lake 10 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X East Fork Ramp East Lynn Lake 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X X X East Lynn Lake Tailwaters Laurel Creek 10 Hand carry 0 X Easy Lynn Lake East Lynn Lake 100 Ramp 4 Paved X X Elk River-King Shoals Elk River 10 Hand carry 1 Wood Farmdale Bridge Guyandotte River 20 Hand carry 0 Guyandotte Ramp Guyandotte River 50 Ramp 3 Concrete Haffield Bottom Roadside Park Tug Fork 30 Hand carry 0 X Harris River Front Park Ohio River 100 Ramp 3 Concrete X X X X Justice US Rt 52 Guyandotte River 5 Hand carry 0 Krodel Park Krodel Lake 30 Ramp 1 Gravel X X X X Laurel Lake WMA Laurel Lake 20 Ramp 2 Gravel X Lick Creek Pond Lick Creek 50 Hand carry 0 Lick Creek Ramp East Lynn Lake 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X X
Logan County Airport Pond PointPleasant Unnammed Creek 20 Ramp 1 Gravel Maher Tug Fork 15 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood Mason Courtesy Dock Ohio River 100 Ramp 2 Concrete X X X X X Millers Fork Pond Millers Fork 30 Hand carry 0 X X X No Name Guyandotte River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete No Name Guyandotte River 10 Ramp 1 Old Road-Paved No Name Ohio River 10 Hand carry 0 No Name McClintic Lake 2 Hand carry 0 Peach Creek Guyandotte River 10 Ramp 1 Concrete Pilgram Glass/CR 3 Bridge Twelvepole Creek 10 Hand carry 0 Point Pleasant Launch Ramp Kanawha River 100 Ramp 2 Concrete X Rockhouse Lake Unnammed Creek 50 Ramp 1 Salt Rock/Madison Creek Guyandotte River 10 Ramp 1 Dirt/Steep Upper Mud River Lake Left Fork Mud River 5 Ramp 1 Steep Dirt Upper Mud River Lake Mud River 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X X US RT 119 Bridge Guyandotte River 15 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood
Virginia Point Park Big Sandy River 50 Ramp 3 Concrete X X X YMCA's Kennedy Center Underwood Lake 5 Hand carry 0 X X X Cedar Branch Campground Bluestone Lake 15 Ramp 1 Gravel X X X Indian Creek Campground Bluestone Lake 10 Ramp 1 Gravel,Dirt X X X Jiffy Foam Greenbrier River 20 Hand carry 0
Long Branch Lake, Pipestem State Park N/A Long Branch 50 Hand carry 0 X X X X X X Palestine Little Kanawha River 5 Hand carry 0 Shanklins Ferry Campground Bluestone Lake 10 Ramp 1 Gravel X X
APPENDIX D
INVENTORY OF PROJECT VICINITY RECREATION AREAS
List of Project Vicinity State Parks and Forests and Wildlife Management Areas.
Place Location Managing Agency State Park Hawks Nest Ansted DNR, WV State Parks and Forests State Forest Kanawha Charleston DNR, WV State Parks and Forests Wildlife Management Areas Amherst/Plymouth Bancroft DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Chief Cornstalk Arlee DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Green Bottom Huntington DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Hilbert Sod DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Mill Creek Milton DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Morris Creek Clendenin DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Plum Orchard Mossy DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Walback Clay DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Woodrum Lake Kentucky DNR, WV Wildlife Resources Section Source: (WVGTC, 2002).
List of public boat launches located within the project vicinity.
Parking No. of Fishing Rest- Courtesy Picnic Boat Launch City Body of Water Capacity Type Launches Launch Type Pier room Dock Table Grill ADA Hawks Nest State Park New River 30 Ramp 2 Concrete X X Kanawha Falls Kanawha River 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X Beckley Plum Orchard Lake Plum Orchard Lake 30 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X
Jodie Gauley River 15 Ramp 4 Gravel
Queen Shoals Creek French Elk River 2 Ramp 1 Steep/Dirt Alum Creek Big Coal River 15 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood Big Coal River Big Coal River 2 Hand carry 0 X Blue Creek Bridge Elk River 5 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood C&P Telephone Kanawha River 10 Ramp 4 Concrete X Chesapeake Kanawha River 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X Chief Cornstalk WMA Lake Lower Ninemile Creek 20 Hand carry 0 X X X Coonskin State Park Elk River 10 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood X X CR 25 and CR 25-2 Intersection Mud River 10 Hand carry 0 Daniel Boone Park Kanawha River 50 Ramp 3 Concrete X X X Dunbar Kanawha River 75 Ramp 1 Concrete X Elk Twomile Creek Dam #12 Unnammed Creek 3 Hand carry 0 Elk Twomile Creek Dam #13 Unnammed Creek 10 Hand carry 0 Elk Twomile Creek Dam #14 Unnammed Creek 10 Hand carry 0 Fosterville Big Coal River 5 Hand carry 0 X Glasgow Kanawha River 30 Ramp 2 Concrete X X Green Bottom WMA Ohio River 30 Ramp 1 Concrete Hansford Kanawha River 30 Ramp 1 Concrete X Hurricane City Park Mill Creek 30 Hand carry 0 X X X X X I-64 Bridge Ona Mud River 15 Hand carry 0 John Slack Park Big Coal River 30 Ramp 1 Concrete X X X X X Kanawha State Forest Pond Davis Creek 20 Hand carry 0 X X
Leon Public Access Area PointPleasant Kanawha River 20 Ramp 1 Concrete Lick Creek Park Little Coal River 60 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood Mink Shoals Elk River 10 Hand carry 1 Concrete-Wood No Name Kanawha River 7 Hand carry 0 No Name Kanawha River 50 Ramp 1 Concrete X X Orgas Big Coal River 5 Ramp 1 Silted in Raymond City Boat Launch Kanawha River 100 Ramp 2 Concrete X X
Ridenoor Lake Ridenoor Lake 30 Ramp 2 Gravel X X X X X X Shawnee State Park Kanawha River 20 Ramp 2 Concrete Sissonville Pocatalico River 10 Hand carry 0 South Charleston Kanawha River 15 Ramp 1 Gravel St Rt 17 Bridge Madison Little Coal River 20 Ramp 1 Concrete X X St. Albans Roadside Park Kanawha River 100 Ramp 2 Concrete X X X X X US RT 119 Alum Creek Little Coal River 8 Hand carry 0 US RT 60 Bridge Milton Mud River 10 Hand carry 0 Water Ways Park Little Coal River 10 Hand carry 0 Wine Cellar Lake Anderson Lake 10 Hand carry 0 X X