7.8 Recreation Resources
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246 7.8 Recreation Resources 7.8.1 Overview This section provides information regarding existing recreation opportunities related to Yuba County Water Agency’s (YCWA or Licensee) Yuba River Development Project (Project). Sections 7.8.2 and 7.8.3 provide information regarding opportunities at Project facilities and features and in river reaches potentially affected by the Project, respectively. Section 7.8.4 provides information regarding recreation use levels and occupancy rates at recreation facilities in the Project Area.1 Section 7.8.5 describes recreation needs identified in pertinent resource management plans. Section 7.8.6 lists other regionally or nationally significant recreation areas in the Project Vicinity.2 Wild and Scenic Rivers, Wilderness Areas and National Scenic Trails are discussed in the Land Use section of this Preliminary Information Package (Section 7.9.2.8). River segments listed by the United States Department of Interior (USDOI) National Park Service’s (NPS) Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) are also discussed in the Land Use section. Other relevant information discussed in the Land Use section includes: 1) Licensee’s existing shoreline buffer zone policy; and 2) Licensee’s existing policy regarding permitting of piers, boat docks and landings, bulkheads, and other shoreline facilities on Project reservoirs and land (Section 7.9.3). 7.8.2 Existing Project Recreation Facilities and Opportunities Recreation facilities and opportunities in the Project Vicinity are discussed below, and are shown on the 1:24,000 series maps included in Appendix D of this Preliminary Information Package. The following section includes a detailed description of the existing Project recreation facilities and opportunities. 7.8.2.1 Project Recreation Opportunities The Project’s recreation facilities and opportunities occur at New Bullards Bar Reservoir. New Bullards Bar Reservoir is 16 miles long with more than 60 miles of shoreline, 90 percent of which is accessible to the public for visitors to enjoy numerous recreation activities. Water skiing and wakeboarding are among the most popular activities at the reservoir; however, the reservoir also provides a variety of other recreational opportunities including houseboating, wildlife viewing, power boating, non-motorized boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and camping. 1 For the purposes of this document, the Project Area is defined as the area within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project Boundary and the land immediately surrounding the FERC Project Boundary (i.e., within about 0.25 mile of the FERC Project Boundary) and includes Project-affected reaches between facilities and downstream to the next major water controlling feature or structure, USACE’s Daguerre Point Dam. 2 For the purposes of this document, the Project Vicinity is defined as the area surrounding the Project on the order of a United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000 topographic quadrangle. September 2009 Preliminary Information Package Recreation ©2009, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.8-1 Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246 New Bullards Bar Reservoir New Bullards Bar Reservoir is located approximately 21 miles north of Nevada City. The reservoir behind the concrete arch dam is over 16 miles long with 60 miles of shoreline at a full pool elevation of 1,956 feet. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 4,760 acres and a capacity of 966,103 acre-feet of water. Most of the shoreline is publicly owned; however, the sides of the reservoir are typically steep and public access for boating and recreation is limited to two developed launching facilities and one undeveloped walk-in access at the end of Moran Road. New Bullards Bar Reservoir is currently used for many types of boating and other recreation. Some speed limit restrictions are posted on the reservoir for public safety, near launching facilities and mooring areas, and for fisheries protection in certain coves. Recreation activities include water skiing, pleasure boating, houseboating, jet skiing, warm and cold water fishing, swimming, lake-side camping, developed camping, sailing, picnicking, hiking and biking. The majority of the recreational use occurs between early May and mid-October, although fishing and biking activities occur year round. National Forest System (NFS) land administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA-FS or Forest Service), as the Plumas National Forest (PNF) and the Tahoe National Forest (TNF), exist within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project Boundary3 at New Bullards Bar Reservoir. All Project developed recreation facilities at New Bullards Bar Reservoir are located on NFS lands except for Cottage Creek boat launch and ramp and parking lot, which are located on land owned by YCWA. As a condition of its FERC license, Licensee is required to provide recreational facilities as a part of the Project. Licensee has transferred ownership of all of the Project recreation facilities at New Bullards Bar Reservoir on NFS land to the Forest Service based on a 1968 agreement between Licensee and the Forest Service. Based on this agreement, the Forest Service is fully responsible for the operation and maintenance of all the Project recreation facilities, except the Emerald Cove Marina and associated Cottage Creek facilities, including the repair, renewal and replacement of recreational facilities (to the same standards) during the original Project license (USDA-FS 1968). This 1968 agreement also allows the Forest Service to charge reasonable user fees at these facilities, which are deposited in the U.S. Treasury, and whenever the Forest Service declares that it is unable to perform its obligations of this agreement, then the Forest Service may use special use permits (SUP) to direct YCWA to take over operation and maintenance of any or all the recreation facilities (USDA-FS 1968). The Forest Service operates and maintains the recreation facilities, except the Emerald Cove Marina and associated Cottage Creek facilities; however, the Licensee collects all recreation user fees (via concessionaire), which Licensee uses to reimburse the Forest Service for operation and maintenance costs as outlined in the 2009 annual operating agreement and 1991 collection agreement with the Forest Service (USDA-FS 2009, USDA-FS 1991). 3 The FERC Project Boundary is the area that Licensee uses for normal Project operations and maintenance, and is shown on Exhibits J, K, and G of the current license. Recreation Preliminary Information Package September 2009 Page 7.8-2 ©2009, Yuba County Water Agency Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246 Licensee owns the recreation facilities at Cottage Creek boat launch and ramp and parking lot, and has entered into a contract with a concessionaire for operation of the facilities. In all, the Project recreation facilities include 5 campgrounds (132 total sites), 2 picnic areas, 2 boat launch ramps, 1 marina, 1 overlook and 1 developed non-motorized trails in five sections. Law enforcement and public safety at the reservoir and recreation facilities is shared by TNF and the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department. Campground regulations, occupancy limits, vehicle limits, and noise ordinances are strictly enforced and campgrounds are patrolled by the Forest Service. The Yuba County Sheriff has the responsibility to enforce State and County laws, whereas the Forest Service has the responsibility to enforce Federal laws within the operating area (USDA-FS 2009). The Yuba County Sheriff boat patrol is utilized to maintain safety and enforce the State and County regulations at Cottage Creek Boat Launch facility and within the New Bullards Bar Reservoir recreation area. Yuba County ordinances contain provisions specific to New Bullards Bar Reservoir (Title VIII, Public Peace and Safety, Chapter 8.50 – Bullards Bar Recreation Area). These ordinances detail the rules and regulations for all types of use including vehicle traffic, boating, shoreline use, swimming, house boating, and fire prevention. Refer to Attachment 7.8A for the full Yuba County ordinance for New Bullards Bar Reservoir and surrounding lands. In addition, Yuba County Ordinance § 8.50.040 provides that YCWA will regulate the uses and rules at New Bullards Bar Reservoir as follows (Yuba County 2009): 1) YCWA is authorized to adopt ordinances, special rules, and regulations with reference to the public use of the New Bullards Bar Recreation Area, including New Bullards Bar Reservoir. 2) It shall be unlawful to violate any rule, regulation, or ordinance adopted by YCWA regulating the public use of the New Bullards Bar Recreation Area, including the New Bullards Bar Reservoir. 3) It shall be unlawful to operate or use any boat or watercraft upon any portion of the waters of the New Bullards Bar Reservoir for which the fees and charges established by YCWA have not been paid. 4) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this § 8.50.040 or any of the ordinances, rules, or regulations adopted by YCWA regulating the public use of the New Bullards Bar Recreation Area, including New Bullards Bar Reservoir, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Other county ordinances specific to types of uses at New Bullards Bar Reservoir