Recreation Analysis
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Recreation Analysis Prepared for: State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Prepared by: HDR Alaska, Inc. and USKH 2515 A Street Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Project No. 53014 January 2013 This page intentionally left blank. Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project Recreation Analysis Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities January 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................1 1.1 4BOverview .............................................................................................................1 1.2 5BStudy Area ...........................................................................................................1 1.3 6BProject Alternatives .............................................................................................1 1.3.1 17BNo Build Alternative (Existing Sterling Highway Alignment) ...................2 1.3.2 18BCooper Creek Alternative ............................................................................3 1.3.3 19BG South Alternative .....................................................................................3 1.3.4 20BJuneau Creek Alternative ............................................................................3 1.3.5 21BJuneau Creek Variant Alternative ...............................................................3 1.4 7BMethods and Data Sources ..................................................................................3 1.4.1 22BReview of Existing Plans and Studies .........................................................4 1.4.2 23BCharacterization of Existing Recreation Resources ....................................4 1.4.3 24BCharacterization of Users and Their Patterns of Use ..................................4 1.4.4 25BAnalysis of Resources and Users That May be Affected by the Project, and the Characterization of Change ......................................................4 1.5 8BSection 4(f) ..........................................................................................................4 Section 2 Existing Recreational Resources .............................................................................5 2.1 9BIntroduction to Recreation Resources in the Project Area ..................................5 2.2 10BWater-Based Recreation Resources ..................................................................5 2.2.1 26BLegal Status and Management Associated with Water-Based Resources ...........................................................................................................5 2.2.2 27BMajor Water-Based Recreation Resources in the Study Area ..................11 2.3 11BUpland Recreation Resources .........................................................................25 2.3.1 28BChugach National Forest ...........................................................................26 2.3.2 29BKenai National Wildlife Refuge ................................................................38 2.3.3 30BState Land ..................................................................................................44 2.3.4 31BBorough Land / Cooper Landing Community ..........................................50 2.4 12BRecreation User Patterns and Characteristics ..................................................54 2.4.1 32BWho Is Using Recreation Resources and Where are Users From? ...........55 2.4.2 33BDuration of Use / Length of Stay ..............................................................55 2.4.3 34BSecondary Characteristics (e.g., contribution to the economy) .................55 2.4.4 35BNational and Statewide Recreational Values ............................................56 2.4.5 36BLocal Recreational Trends and Values......................................................60 2.4.6 37BLocal Importance of Recreational Resources ............................................61 2.4.7 38BPublic Lands Management ........................................................................61 Section 3 2BImpacts ................................................................................................................61 3.1 13BNo Build Alternative .......................................................................................62 3.1.1 39BDirect Impacts ...........................................................................................62 3.1.2 40BIndirect Impacts .........................................................................................62 i Sterling Highway Milepost 4-60 Project Recreation Analysis Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities January 2013 3.1.3 41BImpacts to Recreation Activities ...............................................................62 3.2 14BCooper Creek Alternative ................................................................................63 3.2.1 42BDirect Impacts ...........................................................................................63 3.2.2 43BIndirect Impacts .........................................................................................67 3.2.3 44BImpacts to Recreation Activities ...............................................................68 3.3 15BG South Alternative .........................................................................................70 3.3.1 45BDirect Impacts ...........................................................................................70 3.3.2 46BIndirect Impacts .........................................................................................73 3.3.3 47BImpacts to Recreation Activities ...............................................................74 3.4 16BJuneau Creek Alternative and Juneau Creek Variant Alternative ...................76 3.4.1 48BDirect Impacts ...........................................................................................76 3.4.2 49BIndirect Impacts .........................................................................................85 3.4.3 50BImpacts to Recreation Activities ...............................................................85 3.4.4 51BDifferences between the Juneau Creek and Juneau Creek Variant Alternatives ......................................................................................................88 References ...................................................................................................................................90 APPENDICES Appendix A: Maps ......................................................................................................... Following page 96 TABLES Table 1. Kenai Lake Sport Fish Harvest and Effort Data, 2000–2005, 2010 ............................................. 12 Table 2. Kenai Lake Access and Facilities ................................................................................................. 12 Table 3. Percent of Users, Landowners, and Guides Identifying Opportunities as “Most Important” ....... 14 Table 4. Kenai River Anglers, Days Fished, and Total Fish Harvest, 2004 to 2011 .................................. 15 Table 5. Kenai River Angler Days (effort expanded by recreational anglers), 2004–2011 ........................ 16 Table 6. Overnight Use, USFS Campgrounds and Russian River Day-Use Parking, Cooper Landing Vicinity ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Table 7. Upper Kenai River Total Boat Use, 2004 Season ......................................................................... 19 Table 8. Kenai River Access and Facilities ................................................................................................ 20 Table 9. Russian River Sport Fish Harvest and Effort Data, 2004–2011 ................................................... 22 Table 10. Russian River Ferry and Visitor Statistics, 1999–2004 .............................................................. 23 Table 11. Russian River Access and Facilities ........................................................................................... 24 Table 12. Public Lands Accessible from Cooper Landing and the Study Area .......................................... 25 Table 13. USFS Recreation Facilities in the Study Area ............................................................................ 26 ii Sterling Highway Milepost 4-60 Project Recreation Analysis Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities January 2013 Table 14. Chugach National Forest Visitor Activity Participation and Primary Activity .......................... 29 Table 15. Study Area USFS Trails and Allowable Uses ............................................................................ 30 Table 16. Trail Registration Statistics, Cooper Landing Area USFS Trails, 2006–2010 ........................... 32 Table 17. Use of USFS Cabins on the Southern Portion of the Resurrection Pass Trail ............................ 33 Table 18. Summary of Big Game Hunting in the Project Vicinity ............................................................. 34 Table 19. Estimated Snowmobile Use on USFS land via Snug Harbor Road ............................................ 36 Table 20. Chugach National Forest Management Prescriptions for Lands in the Sterling Highway MP 45–60 Project Area ...................................................................................................................... 36 Table 21. Kenai Refuge Visitor Contact Station Visitors, 2005-2012 .......................................................