Brian Booth State Park Comprehensive Plan Draft June 2014 Part 3
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o Plans for a gasoline service station, a The entire park property was mapped with large moorage to accommodate private ratings representing the relative probability craft as well as boats for rent and a RIÀQGLQJDUFKHRORJLFDOUHVRXUFHV0RVW swimming pool, did not reach fruition. of the park is rated as “high probability,” The Lodge reportedly burned down in certain isolated areas are rated as “very high the late 1950s. probability,” and some of the property is rated as “low probability.” Given the history of use Historic Features by Native American tribes, there is an overall high likelihood of archaeological resources The Brian Booth State Park area has been present in the park. shaped by the many uses of the land. The DUHDUHSUHVHQWVDEHDXWLIXOPRGLÀHGQDWXUDO landscape that has been home to Native Americans, trappers, timber harvesters, farmers, and recreational uses over time. There are no NQRZQVLJQLÀFDQWFXOWXUDOUHVRXUFHVHOLJLEOHIRU the National Register of Historic Places in the park. However, cultural associations with the site and the scenic setting indicate that telling its stories is important and will help explain how the natural landscape has been transformed over time. Archaeological Features An inventory of the park and a review of UHSRUWÀQGLQJVZHUHFRQGXFWHGLQFRQVXOWDWLRQ ZLWKWKH6WDWH+LVWRULF3UHVHUYDWLRQ2IÀFH (SHPO). At this time, there are no known archaeological sites recorded within the area. A pedestrian survey of 3.5 acres of the park property revealed no archaeological resources. Historic Beach Highway Railroad Trestle ChapterChappter 3:3 PPaParkrkk ResourceResource AAsAssessmentssessments 433 Railroad Map Historic Spruce Company Camp Near Waldport 44 BrianBriian BBoBoothoth SStStateate PPaParkrkk CComprehensiveomprp ehhensiive PlanPllan CHAPTER 4: VISITOR EXPERIENCE ASSESSMENT The summarized information presented in this Visitor Experiences Currently chapter serves as a basis for evaluating needs for and opportunities to provide recreational, Offered at Brian Booth State Park educational and interpretive experiences for Visitor experiences at the park are currently visitors to Brian Booth State Park. Included centered around the facilities at long- are summaries of key information relevant established Ona Beach and the more recently to the mid-coast sub-region on participation established Beaver Creek Natural Area. Beach and trends in various visitor experiences now activities, picnicking and barbecuing, motor or potentially offered at the park, as well as DQGQRQPRWRUERDWLQJÀVKLQJDQGVLJKWVHHLQJ information on the activities offered by the are the traditional activities supported at Ona various recreation lands and providers in the Beach. Beaver Creek Welcome Center, which sub-region. The information sources relied is staffed full time, offers park information, upon for this chapter include studies completed limited natural resource interpretive displays, for, or referenced by, the recently updated and views across the marsh to the south Beaver Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Creek uplands. Non-motor boating on the Plan (SCORP), the Oregon Trails Statewide Beaver Creek Water Trail is supported by a Action Plan, the web sites of agencies WHPSRUDU\ÁRDWLQJODXQFKDVKRUWGLVWDQFHIURP managing the sub-region’s various recreation the Welcome Center, about 2 ½ miles upstream lands, and the Interpretive Assessment report from the boating access at Ona Beach. A hiking prepared by OPRD as background information trail system with over 5 miles of trails takes for this Plan. hikers through the forest and meadows of the south Beaver Creek hills, although this activity is currently not well supported by available parking. The upland trail system and the water trail provide opportunities to see a multitude of bird species, occasionally a beaver or otter, as well as the local elk herd that frequents the Beaver Creek hills. Chapter 4: Visitor Experience Assessmentt 4455 Interpretive and educational programs at, Other Oregon State Parks or supported by, the park are just beginning to grow through the efforts of park rangers In addition to Brian Booth State Park, 35 other supported by volunteers and outside partner state parks are located within the Central organizations. Through the collective efforts, Coast sub-region. The majority of these parks the park offers ranger led programs mostly are viewpoints or recreation sites that provide with natural resource themes, guided hikes, DFFHVVWRWKHEHDFKDOORIWKHSDUNVDUHZLWKLQ birding tours and kayaking tours, as well as several miles of the coast. Hiking opportunities opportunities for community service projects at these sites are primarily along portions of and community outreach. the Oregon Coast Trail. There are numerous whale watching, tidepooling, birding, and other Visitor Audiences wildlife observation opportunities. A diverse demographic has been present Five state parks with campgrounds are located in at the park, engaged in a variety of along the coast between Lincoln City and activities. Fishermen, hikers, kayakers, canoeists, Florence. picnickers, beach goers, local families and WRXULVWVDOOKDYHDVLJQLÀFDQWSUHVHQFH/DUJH - Beverly Beach State Park has over 278 contingents of birders and naturalists have campsites – 51 full hookup, 75 electrical, been present, and large clubs and groups have 128 tent, 21 yurts, 3 group camps, and a repeatedly asked for presentations and guided hiker/biker camp. hikes. The park is becoming an outdoor learning - South Beach State Park has over 317 laboratory for environmental education. campsites – 227 electrical, 60 tent, 27 Other Public Recreation Lands, Facilities and yurts, 3 groups camps, and a hiker/biker Programs in the Sub-Region camp. - Beachside State Recreation Site has over Other Public Recreation Lands, 76 campsites – 32 electrical, 42 tent, 2 Facilities and Programs in the yurts, and a hiker-biker camp. Sub-Region - Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park has over 67 campsites – 7 electrical, 51 full The Central Oregon Coast sub-region is hookup, 7 walk-in tent, 2 yurts, and a hiker/ URXJKO\GHÀQHGE\YDULRXVVRXUFHVDVWKH biker camp. coastal portions of Lincoln and Lane Counties, from Lincoln City in the north to Florence in the - Devil’s Lake State Recreation Site has over south. Brian Booth State Park falls roughly 90 campsites - 25 full hookup, 5 electrical, in the middle of this area, near the southern 50 tent, 10 yurts, and a hiker/biker camp. border of Lincoln County. Outdoor recreation Recreation Indicators from South Beach State opportunities in this area are provided Park primarily by Oregon State Parks, Lincoln and Lane County Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service. Indicators of need or demand for recreation opportunities can be gleaned from recent Figure 4.1 in this chapter geographically survey data for state parks in the vicinity of illustrates public lands and outdoor recreation Brian Booth. The following statements are areas and facilities in the Central Coast sub- EDVHGRQÀQGLQJVIURPVXUYH\UHVXOWVIRU region. The discussion below highlights the South Beach State Park: major providers and facilities. 4646 BrianB Booth State Park Comprehensive Plan - Nearly all overnight visitors and more than inland along Hwy 229, has 13 campsites with two-thirds of day use visitors live more than no RV hookups. Moonshine Park is located on 31 miles from the park. Most non-local the upper Siletz River and has 42 campsites, visitors come from out-of-state, the Portland including 2 group sites and 2 RV/trailer drive- Metropolitan area, or the Willamette through sites, with no RV hookups. Valley. - The majority of overnight visitors feel that Lane County Parks campsites are too crowded, with too little screening. Lane County operates 14 parks within the area of interest, including 11 day use parks, 2 - More than a third of visitors brought dogs. campgrounds, and 1 wayside. The parks are - Approximately two-thirds of visitors would clustered around Florence on the coast and like to see more opportunities for wildlife inland near Deadwood and Mapleton. Seven observation and hiking. of the parks provide boating access to the Siuslaw River. None of the parks have hiking - Nonwhite populations are trails, with the exception of Heceta Beach underrepresented. outside Florence, which has a short trail to the - The vast majority of visitors arrive in a beach. Harbor Vista Campground, on the coast personal motorized vehicles. Bicyclists just west of Florence, has 38 campsites with account for around 2% or less of visits, some electric and water hookups. Camp Lane, while hikers account for even less. east of Mapleton, features a historic lodge with dormitory style sleeping quarters as well $ERXWRQHÀIWKRIYLVLWRUVDUHRYHUWKHDJH as Adirondack campsites, tree house sleeping of 60. Around ten percent have disabilities structures, and a yurt. related to walking. Lincoln County Parks U.S. Forest Service Lincoln County maintains 12 parks, including The Siuslaw National Forest encompasses 5 day use parks, 3 campgrounds, and a large portion of the coast range in the 2 waysides, covering a total area of Central Oregon Coast and provides a approximately 100 acres. Most of the parks number of opportunities for hiking, horseback are located in the coast range interior and riding, camping, wildlife watching, and provide boating access to major rivers like wilderness exploration. Most of the recreation the Siletz. The County park system has a opportunities in the Siuslaw are concentrated total of 2.5 miles of hiking trails. Three of along the coast between Florence