RECREATION FACILITY CONDITION AND PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY ASSESSMENT, AND RECREATION USE ASSESSMENT DON PEDRO PROJECT FERC NO. 2299 eck ba Prepared for: Turlock Irrigation District – Turlock, California Modesto Irrigation District – Modesto, California Prepared by: HDR Engineering, Inc. December 2013 Recreation Facility Condition and Public Accessibility Assessment, and Recreation Use Assessment Study Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section No. Description Page No. 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Relicensing Process ............................................................................................. 1-3 1.3 Study Plan ............................................................................................................ 1-3 2.0 STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................... 2-1 3.0 STUDY AREA ................................................................................................................ 3-1 4.0 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 4-1 4.1 Step 1A – Inventory and Evaluate the Developed Project Recreation Facilities for Condition, ADA Compliance, and Use Impacts ............................. 4-1 4.1.1 Inventory Recreation Facilities ................................................................ 4-1 4.1.2 Facility Condition Assessment ................................................................ 4-1 4.1.3 Accessibility Assessment ......................................................................... 4-3 4.1.4 Assessment of Recreation Use Impacts ................................................... 4-3 4.2 Step 1B – Inventory and Evaluate Recurrent Dispersed Shoreline Recreation Use Locations along the Don Pedro Reservoir Shoreline ................. 4-4 4.3 Step 2 – Identify Recreation Uses and Visitor Attitudes, Beliefs, and Preferences ........................................................................................................... 4-4 4.3.1 Survey Development ................................................................................ 4-4 4.3.2 Field Reconnaissance, Logistics, and Preparation ................................... 4-5 4.3.3 Sampling Approach and Data Collection ................................................ 4-5 4.3.3.1 Pre-Test Survey Instrument ................................................... 4-5 4.3.3.2 Sampling Frequency .............................................................. 4-5 4.3.4 Observation Survey .................................................................................. 4-6 4.3.5 Visitor Survey .......................................................................................... 4-6 4.3.6 Angler-Specific Survey Questions ........................................................... 4-7 4.4 Step 3 – Estimate Current Recreation Use ........................................................... 4-7 4.5 Step 4 – Identify Future Use and Demand Opportunities .................................... 4-7 RR-01 i Updated Study Report Recreation Assessment Don Pedro Project, FERC No. 2299 Table of Contents 4.5.1 Existing Unmet Demand Assessment ...................................................... 4-7 4.5.1.1 Assess National, Statewide, and Regional Unmet Recreation Demand Information ............................................ 4-7 4.5.1.2 Collect Unmet Project Recreation Demand Information ....... 4-7 4.5.1.3 Identify Potential Activities with High Unmet Demand at the Project .......................................................................... 4-8 4.5.2 Future Recreation Demand Assessment .................................................. 4-8 4.5.2.1 Review Existing Recreation Use Trends ............................... 4-8 4.5.2.2 Review Existing Population and Recreation Activity Participation Projections ........................................................ 4-8 4.5.2.3 Review Reasonably Foreseeable Events that May Influence Future Use .............................................................. 4-8 4.5.2.4 Estimate Future Recreation Use over the License Period ...... 4-8 4.5.3 Regional Uniqueness and Significance Assessment ................................ 4-9 4.5.3.1 Review Results of Visitor Questionnaires ............................. 4-9 4.5.3.2 Identify Regional Recreation Opportunities .......................... 4-9 4.5.3.3 Assess the Uniqueness and Significance of the Project- Related Recreation Opportunities .......................................... 4-9 4.6 Step 5 – Data Analysis and Report Preparation ................................................. 4-10 5.0 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Summary of Visitor and Observation Survey Efforts .......................................... 5-1 5.1.1 2012 Field Survey Season Schedule ........................................................ 5-1 5.1.2 Summary of Surveys Received ................................................................ 5-1 5.2 Project Recreation Visitor Use............................................................................. 5-2 5.2.1 Peak Season Recreation Visitor Use ........................................................ 5-2 5.2.2 Non-Peak Season Recreation Visitor Use ................................................ 5-2 5.3 Evaluation of the Condition, Accessibility and Use Impacts at Developed Project Recreation Facilities ................................................................................ 5-2 5.3.1 Fleming Meadows Recreation Area ......................................................... 5-3 5.3.1.1 Inventory and Condition Evaluation ...................................... 5-5 5.3.1.2 Accessibility Evaluation ...................................................... 5-10 5.3.1.3 Recreation Use Impact Evaluation ....................................... 5-11 5.3.2 Blue Oaks Recreation Area .................................................................... 5-12 5.3.2.1 Inventory and Condition Evaluation .................................... 5-14 RR-01 ii Updated Study Report Recreation Assessment Don Pedro Project, FERC No. 2299 Table of Contents 5.3.2.2 Accessibility Evaluation ...................................................... 5-18 5.3.2.3 Recreation Use Impact Evaluation ....................................... 5-19 5.3.3 Moccasin Point Recreation Area ........................................................... 5-19 5.3.3.1 Inventory and Condition Evaluation .................................... 5-21 5.3.3.2 Accessibility Evaluation ...................................................... 5-26 5.3.3.3 Recreation Use Impact Evaluation ....................................... 5-26 5.3.4 Wreck Bay Boat-In Camping Area ........................................................ 5-27 5.3.4.1 Inventory and Condition Evaluation .................................... 5-27 5.3.4.2 Accessibility Evaluation ...................................................... 5-28 5.3.4.3 Recreation Use Impact Evaluation ....................................... 5-28 5.3.5 Ward’s Ferry Bridge .............................................................................. 5-28 5.3.5.1 Inventory and Condition Evaluation .................................... 5-29 5.3.5.2 Accessibility Evaluation ...................................................... 5-29 5.3.5.3 Recreation Use Impact Evaluation ....................................... 5-29 5.3.6 Dispersed Developed Toilet Facilities ................................................... 5-30 5.3.6.1 Detailed Feature Inventory and Condition Evaluation ........ 5-30 5.3.6.2 Accessibility Evaluation ...................................................... 5-31 5.3.6.3 Recreation Use Impact Evaluation ....................................... 5-31 5.4 Current Recreation Use and Activity Participation ........................................... 5-31 5.4.1 Fleming Meadows .................................................................................. 5-32 5.4.1.1 Boat Launch Main Lot ......................................................... 5-32 5.4.1.2 The Lots ............................................................................... 5-36 5.4.1.3 The Marina ........................................................................... 5-38 5.4.1.4 The Swim Lagoon ................................................................ 5-42 5.4.1.5 Group Picnic Area ................................................................ 5-44 5.4.1.6 Amphitheatre Area ............................................................... 5-47 5.4.1.7 Campground Loop B Parking Lot........................................ 5-49 5.4.1.8 Campground Loop D Parking Lot ....................................... 5-53 5.4.1.9 Private Houseboat Parking Lot ............................................ 5-54 5.4.2 Blue Oaks ............................................................................................... 5-58 5.4.2.1 Boat Launch ......................................................................... 5-58 5.4.2.2 Group Picnic Area ................................................................ 5-62 5.4.3 Moccasin Point......................................................................................