Willamette Falls Locks Economic Impact Analysis FINAL REPORT Prepared for Clackamas County Tourism Development Council and Oregon Tourism Commission March 2005 By BST Associates 18414 103rd Ave NE, Suite A Bothell, WA 98011 425-486-7722 voice 425-486-2977 fax [email protected] Willamette Falls Locks Economic Impact Analysis - Final Report Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................. 1 STUDY PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................... 1 FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................................... 2 EXISTING USES & POTENTIAL MARKET OPPORTUNITIES........................................ 3 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AREA.................................................................................................. 3 COMMUNITY PLANS..................................................................................................................... 6 Eugene..................................................................................................................................... 6 Springfield............................................................................................................................... 7 Harrisburg .............................................................................................................................. 8 Corvallis.................................................................................................................................. 8 Albany ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Independence .......................................................................................................................... 9 Salem..................................................................................................................................... 10 Keizer .................................................................................................................................... 10 Newberg ................................................................................................................................11 Wilsonville............................................................................................................................. 11 Canby .................................................................................................................................... 12 West Linn .............................................................................................................................. 12 Oregon City........................................................................................................................... 13 Lake Oswego......................................................................................................................... 13 Milwaukie.............................................................................................................................. 15 Portland ................................................................................................................................15 BST Associates March 2005 Page i Willamette Falls Locks Economic Impact Analysis - Final Report RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY AND RECREATION............................................................ 16 Cultural Heritage.................................................................................................................. 16 Recreation............................................................................................................................. 17 LOCK USAGE – HISTORIC AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES.............................................................. 19 Freight................................................................................................................................... 19 Portland General Electric (PGE) ......................................................................................... 22 Construction.......................................................................................................................... 23 Passenger Ferries ................................................................................................................. 24 Passenger Vessels ................................................................................................................. 28 Fishing Charters ................................................................................................................... 29 Recreational Vessels ............................................................................................................. 29 FUTURE USE BY NEW USERS ..................................................................................................... 32 Tourism Potential.................................................................................................................. 32 Overnight Cruising ............................................................................................................... 32 ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS ......................................................................................... 35 ANNUAL COSTS ......................................................................................................................... 35 ECONOMIC IMPACTS .................................................................................................................. 36 Projected Usage.................................................................................................................... 36 Economic Impacts................................................................................................................. 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 39 HISTORIC STATEMENT OF OREGON CITY ................................................................................... 45 Setting ................................................................................................................................... 45 Native Americans, Early Exploration, Fur Trade and Missions: to 1846............................ 45 Settlement, Statehood and Steampower: 1847 to 1865......................................................... 47 BST Associates March 2005 Page ii Willamette Falls Locks Economic Impact Analysis - Final Report Railroads and Industrial Growth: 1866 to 1883 .................................................................. 47 The Progressive Era: 1884-1913.......................................................................................... 48 The Motor Age: 1914 to 1940............................................................................................... 48 World War II and the Post-War Era: 1941 to 1950 ............................................................. 49 List of Figures Figure 1: Entrance to Willamette Locks ........................................................................................ 4 Figure 2 – Kayaks and Canoes Traveling through Willamette Locks.......................................... 14 Figure 3: Willamette Locks Cargo Trends................................................................................... 19 Figure 4: Paper Mills at Willamette Falls (Blue Heron Paper on Left, West Linn Paper on Right) ............................................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 5 – Photo of PGE’s Sullivan Plant at Willamette Falls..................................................... 22 Figure 6: Waterfront Construction at Oregon City...................................................................... 24 Figure 7 – Photo of New Wheatland Ferry................................................................................... 26 Figure 8 – Photo of the Buena Vista Ferry ................................................................................... 27 Figure 9: Recreational Fleet of Boats Over 27’ Long.................................................................. 30 Figure 10: Boating Activity Surveys Willamette River in Clackamas County ........................... 31 Figure 11: Kayaks at the Willamette Locks................................................................................. 31 Figure 12: Erie Canal Charter Boat ............................................................................................. 33 Figure 13 – Boats Traveling through Willamette Locks .............................................................. 36 List of Tables Table 1: Recreational Boating Facilities on the Willamette River Below Willamette Falls & Locks....................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 2: Recreational Boating Facilities on the Willamette River Above Willamette Falls & Locks....................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 3 - Recreation Participation Rates for Water Recreation in Oregon and the Willamette BST Associates March