Recreation Recommendations for Management of Recreation Lands In· the Susitna Area
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SUSI,.IIA AREA PLAII RECREATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF RECREATION LANDS IN· THE SUSITNA AREA PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: DIVISIONS OF PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION AND LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE JULY 1984 :: HT - 393 .A42 i~ 59433 Vj~ 1984 AI. .. J, ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES • 555 CORDOVA ST.· ANCHORAGE, AK. 99510 SUSITNA AREA PLAN RECREATION ELEMENT . Chapter I INTRODUCTION. •••• •.• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• . 1 Chapter II EXISTING USE, VALUE AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES.... 3 Chapter III DEMAND ••••••••• ~ •••••••••••••••••••0. .••••••... 15 Chapter IV SUPPLY OF LAND (RESOURCE BASE) •••••••••••••••• 19 Chapter V SUPPLY/DEMAND ANALySIS •••••••••••••••••••••••• 27 Chapter VI MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS •••••••••••••••••••• 33 Appendix A SCENIC HIGHWAY DESIGNATION FOR THE GLENN HIGHWAY •••• e._ •••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ •••••••• 55 i I [ LIST OF 'l'ABLES ' I Table 2.1 Standards for Selected Recreation Activities ••••••••• 6 f Table 2.2' Existing Recreation Value............................ 7 Table 2.3 Existing Recreation Demand.~......................... 10 Table 3.1 Projected Recreation Demand for the Year 2000........ 17 Table 3.2 Projected Recreation Value for the Year 2000......... 18 LIST OF MAPS Map 1 Susitna Area Land Management Recommendations for Recreation....................... following I l ii I L CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND The Susitna area contains a wide variety of recreational resources" that provide exceptional opportunities for the public asa result of proximity to population centers and accessibility by means of the Parks, Glenn and Denali highways. The region receives heavy use from a variety of people including both state and local residents and a large number of tourists from outside of Alaska. Tourism, as an income generating industry, is second only to oil and gas in the state and is an important part of the economy of the study area. In 1977 , more than 500,000 people spent nearly 370 million dollars traveling to, from, and within Alaska. 1 Over 75 percent of those visitors entered the state partly for pleasure, e.g. sightseeing, camping, hiking, fishing, and so forth, and 55 percent came solely for this purpose. The most frequently visited places in the state by non-residents included Anchorage (358,300 visitors), Fairbanks (174,000 visitors), and Denali National Park (120,200 visitors). A large number of visitors pass through the study area en route to special interest areas such as Denali and Fairbanks. The prospects for increased recreational use of the study area are great, especially as increased access opens up currently remote regions. Although there are presently large amounts of public land available for recreational use, changes in land ownership and development are expected to alter the area's traditional recreational land base. As pressure to develop land for other uses continues to grow, land use conflicts will occur. It is these conflicts that represent the major issue in the region - growing populations in the borough and Anchorage both increase the need for recreation lands and decrease (through development) the land base from which that need can be met. The element presented here will examine this issue as it relates to recreation resources; scenic and heritage resources; and unique natural features. B. FUNCTION OF THE ELEMENT The recreation element is designed to provide an overall view of the supply of, demand for and value of recreational resources in the Susitna study area. The element also constitutes an advocacy statement by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) indicating how they would prefer recreation resources to be managed in the study area. These management recommendations, together with related information about other resources, will be used to formulate land allocations and management guidelines for public land in the study area. 1Susitna River Basin Study-Alaska, Willow Subbasin, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1981. 1 { C. ORGANIZATION/CONTENTS This report contains six chapters. The introduction (this chapter) states the purpose of the report and. how it relates to the overall planning process. Chapter II describes historical and existing recreational activity and the economic significance of this activity to both local and other state residents. In addition, a discussion of the major management issues pertaining to recreational use is included. Chapter III addresses future (year 2000) demand for recreational opportunities from local, regional and national perspectives, and provides an estimate of the land necessary to accommodate this demand. The fourth chapter describes the current supply of recreational resources within the study area in terms of available recreational land and facilities. This information is presented in graphic (mapped) as well as narrative form. Chapter V draws on information from the previous 2 chapters and from the economic assessment presented in this chapter to reach conclusions concerning the desirability and feasibility of meeting recreation demand. These conclusions serve as the basis for near and long term management recommendations. Chapter r VI is a summary of these recommendations in terms of recreation goals L and objectives, management guidelines and programs. f I L ti I L 2 CHAPTER II EXISTING USE t VALUE t AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES A. INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses historical and existing recreational use and the value of that use in the study area. It also identifies management issues that are of maj or importance and will be addressed in terms of policies and guidelines in the planning process. The description of existing use is based on data compiled by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture t Soil Conservation Service (SCS). The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) in conjunction with the SCS conducted a recreation study. designed to estimate the amount of . recreational use occurring in the study area as well as the economic value of that use to participants. The SCS used participation rates based on a statewide DPOR public· outdoor recreation survey in which people were asked how many times per year they participated in various activities. These rates are set forth in the· 1981 Alaska Outdoor Recreation Plan. This survey has general information on the average number of "occasions". each adult participates in certain recreational activities. "Occasions t " when translated into user dayst provide an estimate of the total user days per year spent by residents in the study area. The information is a function of distance between the participants' homes and the location of the activity. .Information on the particular sites where residents are recreating is not available. Consequently, the resulting figures are regionaJ estimates and are not the equivalent of tallying up the actual number of picnickers at a particular site on the Glenn Highway. For example, estimates provided by DPOR indicate that the typical adult resident of the region spends 5 days per year cross-country skiingt most of which occurs within four driving hours from the person's residence. Using the participation rates provided by DPOR, the SCS prepared a demand assessment and economic evaluation of the following seven recreational activities in the Susitna study area: picnicking, tent camping, recreational vehicle (RV) camping, hiking with a pack, ctoss-country skiing, snowmobilingt and canoeingjkayaking. Although . these activities represent only a small portion of those available to Alaskans, they are among the most common and account for a large percentage of use in terms of total visitor days. It is important to note that by limiting the evaluation to only seven activities, the total value of recreation benefits attributable to a particular site or area cannot be derived from the analysis. Tl1e remainder of this cha.pter contains information generated on the existing level of use (usetdays) and economic significance of that use. Additional background on the methodology used is provided in section C of this chapter. Figures for projected future demand for these 7 recreational activities can be found in Chapter III. 3 In addition to the above activities, hunting (big game, small game and waterfowl) and fishing were examined; these activities are discussed as part, of the fish and wildlife element. B. HISTORICAL USE The Susitna study. area is one with dramatic contrasts in terrain and climate, encompassing elements of both interior and coastal Alaska. Rugged mountains and glaciers can be found adjacent to gently sloping, wooded valleys and areas with heavy precipitation occur near dry, rain-shadowed valleys. Recreational resources in the Susitna study area are as abundant and varied as anywhere in the state. Human use of these resources has traditionally been concentrated along the major road systems and at popular fly-in areas. Road accessible areas are especially important for picnicking and RV camping. Waterways, particularly clearwater r rivers in proximity to existing roads, have significant value for L fishing and boating. The many mountainous areas adjacent to transportation corridors also provide excellent opportunities for r hiking, climbing, hunting, wildlife viewing and other activities. l Historical factors have contributed .to the current pattern of recreational use in the study area. In the early 1900s, the southern Talkeetna Mountains were extensively explored for precious metals and later several other areas were actively