River Access Planning Guide
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RIVER ACCESS PLANNING GUIDE A Decision-Making Framework for Enhancing River Access October 2019 FORWARD PREPARED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Numerous agencies and nonprofit organizations participated in developing the River Access National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Planning Guide. Together, they engaged in a collaborative interagency dialogue about river River Management Society access topics and advised on the development of the concepts in this document. Without their participation and commitment of time and subject matter expertise, this guide would not have been Authors: possible. Special thanks to the following agencies and nonprofit organizations for their effort: Thomas O’Keefe Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director American Whitewater National Park Service, Rivers, Trails, and United States Forest Service Address author correspondence to: Conservation Assistance Program • Dave Cernicek 3537 NE 87th St. • Karl Beard Seattle, WA 98115 • Joni Gore River Management Society 425-417-9012 • Joan Harn (retired) • Risa Shimoda [email protected] • Kelleen Lanagan • Lelia Mellen American Whitewater Jordan Secter • Adam Milnor • Thomas O’Keefe Environmental Planner, Recreation Specialist • Susan Rosebrough Secter Environmental Design • Angie Tornes Secter Environmental Design LLC 3907 NE 15th Ave • Corita Waters • Jordan Secter Portland, Oregon 97212 • Lucy Portman • Brianna Truden 541-914-6242 [email protected] Bureau of Land Management AECOM • Cathi Bailey (retired) • Louise Kling Contributing Authors: • Matt Blocker Joni Gore [Recreational Experiences] • Robin Fehlau Kelleen Lanagan [Recreational Experiences] • Kirstin Heins Wild and Scenic River Fellows • Monica Zimmerman National Park Service Lousie Kling [Steps to Implementing the River Access Planning Guide] NOTE: AECOM This document is disseminated under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service and River Management Society in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government Graphic Design: assumes no liability for the use of information contained in this document. Jordan Secter, Secter Environmental Design The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts Brianna Truden and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official Landscape Designer, Visual Artist policy of the National Park Service or other federal agencies involved in the development of this report. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. National Park Service Bureau of Land Management United States Forest Service For More Information Susan Rosebrough Monica Zimmerman David Cernicek Hydropower Assistance Program Outdoor Recreation Planner Wild and Scenic River Coordinator - River Ranger Wild and Scenic Rivers Program [email protected] [email protected] Office: 206.220.4121 [email protected] Robin Fehlau Idaho Recreation & National Conservation Corita K. Waters Lands Program Lead River Partnerships Program Specialist [email protected] Office: 202.354.6908 [email protected] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Access points along rivers are gateways to river Core Elements Include: These core elements are imperative to all STEP 4: Evaluate Site Options and recreation. They can serve as launch facilities for boats stakeholders and project advocates and should Select a Preferred Site(s) or other watercraft and allow opportunities for visitors be communicated and considered throughout The process for site evaluation and selection to enjoy and experience activities around the water. System and Location each step of the planning process. They also takes into account a balance among access Providing for these diverse visitor uses while protecting The location, geomorphology, and physical allow the flexibility to consider unique river access needs, desired recreation use, setting natural resources and sustaining desired recreation characteristics of a site within the continuum of a needs. Applying these elements to design a characteristics, and development constraints. The outcomes can be challenging. The River Access Planning river from the headwaters to the sea. site occurs through a step-by-step process that outcome of this process is to determine access Guide addresses these challenges by providing a step- supports implementation across varying river that supports the desired recreation experiences by-step procedure to evaluate existing and anticipated Landscape Setting access planning scenarios. Its structure invites within the larger recreation setting. uses, select appropriate sites, and design facilities The site-specific features as well as the site systematic information-gathering, planning, that support desired recreation experiences. The River conditions characterized as natural, enhanced, decision-making, communication, and design. STEP 5: Assess Facility Design, Access Planning Guide details a process for facilitating or constructed and the site-specific features that Constructability, and Project high-value recreation opportunities in rivers and other define setting. These steps are as follows: Implementation waterways. It represents an approach to site selection Intergrate concept design, site limitations, and and design to best meet the need of those seeking access Temporal Dependence STEP 1: Assess and Summarize construction plans, to determine the overall to rivers to enjoy an experience on and in the water. The seasonal nature and timing of on-site Existing Conditions project constructability and complete construction. activities and how variability of water levels may The first step to well-designed access is to Certain core elements need to be considered affect visitation and user behavior. establish baseline knowledge of site conditions. STEP 6: Conduct Site Monitoring in site planning and design to understand how This is done by defining the project area, Following construction, monitoring the desired the river is being used and by whom. Frequency describing regulation and management conditions and recreation settings is important When and how often activities occur at a site and frameworks, identifying current recreation use, for identifying what is and is not working once a how that site activity integrates or impacts the classifying current recreation settings, and site is developed. Monitoring data can inform site biological setting and natural resources. describing resource trends. changes or improvements over time. Density STEP 2: Identify Desired Access When planners work through this step-by-step The number of individuals who will use a site and Stakeholders identify a shared vision for the process with stakeholders using systematic the site’s spatial constraints that define how well project area based on understanding of the information-gathering to define the core elements, desired uses can be accommodated. project area, regulatory and management the result is sites that are well designed and framework, stakeholder concerns or interests, better matched to user expectations and desired Use Type and Challenge Level and the existing and potential recreation uses experiences. Public resource agencies, river The activity types and challenge levels occurring and trends. This process involves listening managers, and private entities responsible for at the site. to stakeholder concerns, sharing ideas, and providing waterway access will benefit from incorporating the perspectives of a diverse how this planning guide assists their decision- Management planning team. making process for recreation access and facility The needs and challenges resource managers development. River users will benefit from an face and the resources available for operations STEP 3: Define Desired Recreation enhanced recreation experience shaped by and maintenance. Setting Characteristics mindful planning and design. Recreation Setting Characteristics are derived from the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and represent a continuum from natural to urban recreation settings, which are characterized by components that include physical, social, biological, and managerial attributes. This step addresses relevant questions about visitor use, infrastructure, management, and sensitive resources. TABLE OF CONTENTS FORWARD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Page 1 RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES Page 3 ACCESS EXAMPLES Page 9 CORE ELEMENTS Page 13 STEPS TO IMPLEMENTING THE RIVER ACCESS PLANNING GUIDE Page 29 Appendix A. Page 60 Case Studies Appendix B. Page 107 Background and Trends in Paddlesports Appendix C. Page 111 Publications and Approaches to Developing and Managing Water Access Appendix D. Page 113 Paddlecraft Activity Sheets Lowering boats to access the Green Truss river run, a high challenge class V boating opportunity on the White Salmon River, Washington. Credit: Thomas O’Keefe. On the Nooksack River WHAT IS RIVER ACCESS AND in Washington, the INTRODUCTION WHY DOES IT REQUIRE THOUGHTFUL forested riparian setting PLANNING AND DESIGN? is managed to protect natural resources and is River access facilities represent the first an important element touch-point for individuals or groups to engage in of the overall user diverse types of water-based recreation including experience. This access boating and simple contact access to the water. trail was built for kayakers Thoughtful planning for access drives clear and designed to fit in the decision-making for site location and design that forested setting. River best supports desired recreation