5HFUHDWLRQDO 8VH $VVRFLDWHG ZLWK WKH 6QDNH 5LYHU LQ WKH +HOOV &DQ\RQ 1DWLRQDO 5HFUHDWLRQ $UHD Hh uhyy7 Srp rhvSr pr6hy 7HFKQLFDO 5HSRUW $SSHQGL[ ( Ari h !! 5HYLVHG-XO\ Cryy8h8yr A@S8I (& &RS\ULJKWE\,GDKR3RZHU&RPSDQ\ Idaho Power Company Recreational Use Associated with the Snake River TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents............................................................................................................................. i List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures................................................................................................................................ iii List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................ vii Abstract............................................................................................................................................1 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................3 1.1. Associated Studies and Technical Reports ........................................................................3 1.2. USFS–HCNRA Boating-Related Regulations...................................................................4 1.2.1. Types of Watercraft Allowed in the HCNRA...........................................................4 1.2.2. Boating Regulation ...................................................................................................5 2. Study Area ..................................................................................................................................7 2.1. Distinct River Reaches.......................................................................................................8 2.2. Land Features and Geology ...............................................................................................9 2.3. Soils....................................................................................................................................9 2.4. Climate.............................................................................................................................10 2.5. Vegetation........................................................................................................................10 2.6. Population Centers...........................................................................................................12 2.7. Political Boundaries and Land Management ...................................................................12 2.8. Road Access.....................................................................................................................13 2.8.1. Road Access to the Oregon Side of the Study Area ...............................................13 2.8.2. Road Access to the Idaho Side of the Study Area ..................................................14 2.9. Recreational Sites and Amenities ....................................................................................15 2.9.1. Recreational Sites and Amenities Associated with HCC Reservoirs .....................15 Hells Canyon Complex Page i Recreational Use Associated with the Snake River Idaho Power Company 2.9.2. Recreational Sites and Amenities Below Hells Canyon Dam Associated with the HCNRA........................................................................................................................21 3. Project History and Operations.................................................................................................24 3.1. Project History .................................................................................................................24 3.2. Operational Overview......................................................................................................25 3.3. Seasonal Operations of Brownlee Reservoir ...................................................................26 4. Methods.....................................................................................................................................27 4.1. USFS Boater Registrations ...............................................................................................27 4.2. IPC On-Site Surveys........................................................................................................27 4.3. IPC Mail Survey ..............................................................................................................28 4.4. Recreational Use Areas within the HCNRA....................................................................29 4.5. Data Entry, Processing, and Analysis..............................................................................29 5. Results.......................................................................................................................................30 5.1. General Boater Use from USFS Registration Database ..................................................30 5.1.1. Overall Boater Use within the HCNRA..................................................................30 5.1.2. Boater Use at Individual Portals within the HCNRA .............................................32 5.2. IPC On-Site and Mail Survey ..........................................................................................36 5.2.1. Recreational Activities............................................................................................36 5.2.2. River Reaches Visited.............................................................................................37 5.2.3. Recreational-Use Sites............................................................................................38 5.2.4. Overnight Locations Outside the HCNRA .............................................................38 6. Discussion and Summary..........................................................................................................39 7. Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................42 8. Literature Cited .........................................................................................................................42 Page ii Hells Canyon Complex Idaho Power Company Recreational Use Associated with the Snake River LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Minimum and maximum number of permits per portal........................................ 47 Table 2. Locations outside the HCNRA where recreationists who entered HCNRA through Cache Creek portal stayed overnight during their trips (from IPC 1999 HCNRA mail survey, Shelby and Whittaker 2001)..................................... 47 Table 3. Locations outside HCNRA where recreationists who entered HCNRA through Pittsburg Landing portal stayed overnight during their trips (from IPC 1999 HCNRA mail survey, Shelby and Whittaker 2001).............................. 48 Table 4. Location outside the HCNRA where recreationists entering the HCNRA through Hells Canyon Creek portal stayed overnight during their trips (from IPC 1999 HCNRA mail survey, Shelby and Whittaker 2001).................... 48 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of Idaho Power Company’s Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Complex and the adjoining Hells Canyon National Recreation Area................... 49 Figure 2. Four distinct reaches of the Snake River within Idaho Power Company’s recreational use study area ................................................................................... 51 Figure 3. State and county boundaries, area communities, and access roads associated with Idaho Power Company’s Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Complex and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area................................... 53 Figure 4. Unroaded areas of the Snake River corridor within Idaho Power Company’s Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Complex and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area...................................................................................... 55 Figure 5. Some significant recreation sites associated with Idaho Power Company’s Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Complex and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area..................................................................................................... 57 Figure 6. Total number of boaters, by year, registered as entering the HCNRA through Hells Canyon Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Dug Bar, and Cache Creek portals combined (from USFS boater registration database)...................... 59 Figure 7. Number of boaters registered as entering the HCNRA through Hells Canyon Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Dug Bar, and Cache Creek portals Hells Canyon Complex Page iii Recreational Use Associated with the Snake River Idaho Power Company combined, by year and boat type (from USFS boater registration database)................................................................................................................ 60 Figure 8. Number of float boaters registered as entering the HCNRA through Hells Canyon Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Dug Bar, and Cache Creek portals combined, by year and commercial or private status (from USFS boater registration database)............................................................................................. 61 Figure 9. Number of registered powerboaters entering the HCNRA through Hells Canyon Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Dug Bar, and Cache Creek portals combined, by year and