.+ Environment Canada Environnement Canada Fisheries Service des peches .•• . ')ervice et des sciences de la mer A Preliminary Overview on the Impact of Outdoor Recreational Activity in Northwestern British Columbia: The Stewart-Cassiar Area by William D. Masse Technical Report Series No. PAC/ T -75-12 NOB/ECON 8-75 Northern Operations Branch Pacific Region f- J I I I i A PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW ON THE IMPACT OF OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY IN NORTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA: THE STEWART-CASSIAR AREA by William D. Masse October, 1975 -, ,- I?OREWORD This paper reports on the 'first of two studies which the Economics and Sociological Unit of the 'Northern Operations Branch, Fisher­ ies and Marine Service, has carried out in the Stewart-Cassiar area of northwestern pritish Columbia. These studies are designed to identify the economic and social consequences of increased tourist activity on the fisheries resourceS of the area. Since relatively little is known about ~I the area's resource base, it is expected that this study will be of considerable help to fisheries managers and to others who are responsible for the province's resources. The area north of Terrace in northwestern British Columbia is a relatively isolated and remote portion of the province. This made it both difficult and very expensive to gather accurate information on the activities of the area. In fact, very little meaningful information could have been gathered if we had not received excellent cooperation from a number of different groups and agencies located in northern British Columbia. The Economics and Sociological Unit of the Northern Operations Branch is grateful for this assistance. We are particularly indebted to Kitimat-Stikine- Regional District for helping us to carry out our surveys. They provided both financial and technical assistance which contributed greatly to the success of our investigations. Mr. Pousette, Administrator Treasurer of the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District, was particularly helpful. His warm and willing cooperation is greatly appreciated. Mr. Masse, in his conclusions, emphasized the need for planned development which would protect the recreational resources of the area. It is hoped that this report will contribute to this goal. William F. Sinclair Chief of Economics and Sociology Northern Operations Branch Fisheries and Marine Service (ii) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The many who assisted in the preparation of this report are gratefully acknowledged. Brian Lewis carried out the field surveys. Rob Morley assembled the data into presentable form and provided valuable comment during the report's preparation. I am also indebted to Sharon Evans who typed the many drafts i . I of this report. Her patience and good nature are greatly appreciated. Ljuba Pavlovic carefully edited the final drafts. Konrad Johansen prepared the map contained in the report. I am particularly indebted to William F. Sinclair. His advice and valuable criticism throughout all stages of this report's preparation were indispensable. All errors and omissions remain my responsibility. William D. Masse Research Economist Northern Operations Branch October, 1975 (iii ) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 1 Background 4 2 Resident Recreational Activity 6 3 Non-Resident Recreational Activity 20 4 Implications of Recreational Activity on Existing 56 Resources and Future Development Conclusions and Recommendations 60 Appendix I 63 Appendix II 69 Appendix I II 72 Appendix IV 74 Bibliography 79 ,- (iv) LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Percent Distribution of Resident Recreational 7 Parties According to Place of Residence - Summer 1974 Table 2 Distribution of Resident Parties in the Stewart­ 8 Cassiar Area by Party Composition - Summer 1974 Table 3 Percent Distribution of Resident Recreationists 10 According to Age Category - Summer 1974 Table 4 Total Population of Stewart According to Age 11 Category - 1971 Table 5 Percent Distribution of Resident Parties Accord­ 12 ing to Occupation of the Household Head - Summer 1974 Table 6 Percent Distribution of Resident Parties in the 13 Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Gross Total Annual Household Income - Summer 1974 Table 7 Percent Distribution of Resident Parties Accord­ 15 ing to Whether They Were Fishing Parties or Non­ Fishing Parties - Summer 1974 'rable 8 Distribution of Resident Parties in the Stewart­ 16 Cassiar Area According to Whether They Would Have Made the Trip If No Fishing Was Available - Summer 1974 Table 9 Distribution of Resident Fishing Parties Accord­ 17 ing to the Species They Most Prefer to Catch - Summer 1974 Table 10 Percentage of Time That Resident Recreationists 18 Spent in Each Recreational Activity - Summer 1974 Table 11 Dis tri bution of Non-Res ident Part ies and Party 21 Days Spent in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 12 Percent Di.stribution of Yellowhead Resident 22 Parties Visiting the Stewart-Cassiar Area by Place of Residence - Summer 1974 (v) Table 13 Percent Distribution of Canadian Non-Resident 23 Parties Visiting the stewart-Cassiar Area According to Place of Residence - Summer 1974 Table 14 Percent Distribution of Non-Northwest British 24 Columbian Parties Visiting the Stewart-Cassiar Area by Place of Residence - Summer 1974 Table 15 Percent Distribution of Non-Canadian Parties 25 Visiting the Stewart-Cassiar Area by Place of Residence - Summer 1974 Table 16 Distribution of Non-Resident Parties According 27 to Party Type and Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 17 Average Party Size of Non-Resident Parties 28 Surveyed in the Stewart-Cassiar Area - Summer 1974 Table 18 Male to Female Ratio of Non-Resident Recrea­ 29 tionists in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Res ide.r:ice Category - Summer 1974 Table 19 Percentage Distribution of Non-Resident Rec­ 30 reationists in the Stewart-Cassiar Area Accord­ ing to Age and Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 20 Non-Resident Parties in the Stewart-Cassiar 32 Area According to the Occupation of the House­ hold Head and Residence Category -Summer 1974 Table 21 Percentage Distribution of Non-Resident Parties 33 in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Gross Total Bousehold Income and Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 22 Number of Party Days Spent in the Stewart-Cassiar 35 Area by Non-Resident Recreationists and Their Total and Average Daily Expenditures According to Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 23 Expenditures of Non-Resident Parties Attributable 36 to Fishing in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 24 Present Value of Future Streams of Tourist 39 Revenues in.the Stewart-Cassiar Area Calculated at Selected Growth Rates and Discounted at 9 Percent ,- (vi) Table 25 Present Value of' Future Streams of Revenues 40 Attributable to Non-Resident Sport Fishing in the Stewart-Cassiar Area Calculated at Selected Growth Rates and Discounted at 9 Percent Table 26 Distribution of Non-Resident Parties in the 41 Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Mode of' Travel - Summer 1974 Table 27 Non-Resident Parties in the Stewart-Cassiar 43 Area According to Main Reason for Visiting the Area - Summer 1974 Table 28 Average Length of' Stay of Non-Resident Parties 44 in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Resi­ dence Category - Summer 1974 Table 29 Distribution of Sport Fish Parties Interviewed 45 in the Yellowhead Region Who Travelled or Planned to Travel in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Their Destination and Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 30 Inf'luence of' Fishing on the Decision of' Non­ 47 Residents to Make the Trip to the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 31 Percentage of' Parties Who Had Fished or Pianned 48 to Fish on Their Trip to the Stewart-Cassiar Area - Summer 1974 Table 32 Distribution of Non-Resident Fishing Parties 49 According to Preferred Species and Place of Residence - Summer 1974 Table 33 Percent Distribution of Time Spent by Visiting 51 Recreationists According to Activities Partici­ pated in and Residence Category - Summer 1974 Table 34 Percent Distribution of' Non-Resident Parties in 53 the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to the Features and Amenities That They Found Most Enjoyable and Residence Category - Summer 1974 'ruble 35 Distribution of Total Visitor Hours Spent By 57 Non-Resident Recreationists According to the Activities in Which They Participated - Summer 1974 ,- (vii ) Table A.1 Number of Parties lnterviewed and Percent Sample 65 Size According to Residence Category Table A.2 Distribution of Recreational Parties Interviewed 66 in the Stewart-Cassiar Area According to Resi­ dence Category and Type of Interview Location Table A.3 Counts of Recreational and Commercial Vehicles 68 on Sections of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway and Access Roads for Random Dates and Times in 1974 'l'able A. 4 Total Party Visits and Party Days in the Stewart­ 76 Cassiar Area by Canadian Non-Residents and Non­ Canadians Table A.5 Total Party Visits and Party Days in the Stewart­ 77 Cassiar Area by Yellowhead Residents Table A.6 Non-Resident Expenditures Attributable to 78 Fishing in 1974 According to Residence Category Introduction This paper provides an overview of outdoor recreational 1 activity in the Stewart-Cassiar area. It outlines the effects that recre­ ational activity is likely to have on the natural resources of the area and speculates on the importance of the area's recreational amenities to future development in northwestern British Columbia. Before proceeding, however, there are certain terms which must be defined for the purposes of this report. Residents are people who were identified as living in the Stewart-Cassiar area during the summer of 1974. A resident might live in Stewart, Cassiar, Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek, one of the communities in the Lower Nass Valley, or in any of the permament camps sprinkled throughout the area. Yellow­ head residents are defined as anyone living in the general area near Highway 16 West. Major centres in the area include Terrace, Kitimat, Hazelton, Smithers, Houston, Burns Lake and Vanderhoof. There is also a sizeable rural population in the area.