CASCADE CREEK LLC CASCADE CREEK HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC No. 12495 DRAFT RECREATION RESOURCES STUDY REPORT FEBRUARY 2011 Prepared by: CASCADE CREEK, LLC CASCADE CREEK HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC No. 12495 DRAFT RECREATION RESOURCES STUDY REPORT FEBRUARY 2011 Prepared by: CASCADE CREEK LLC CASCADE CREEK HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC No. 12495 DRAFT RECREATION RESOURCES STUDY REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS DEFINITION OF TERMS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS ......................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ............................................................. 2-1 3.0 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Literature Review and Data Search ..................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Recreation Site Inventory .................................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Outfitter/Guide Survey......................................................................................... 3-3 3.4 Resident Boater/Pilot Survey ............................................................................... 3-7 3.5 Survey Data Analysis ......................................................................................... 3-10 3.6 Current Recreation Use Estimates ..................................................................... 3-11 3.7 Future Recreation Use Estimates ....................................................................... 3-12 4.0 REGIONAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................... 4-1 4.1 Southeast Alaska .................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1.1 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve .................................................. 4-4 4.1.2 Tongass National Forest .......................................................................... 4-5 4.1.3 Admiralty Island National Monument ..................................................... 4-7 4.1.4 Misty Fiords National Monument ............................................................ 4-8 4.1.5 Wilderness Areas ..................................................................................... 4-9 4.2 Project Vicinity Recreation Opportunities ......................................................... 4-10 4.2.1 Angling Opportunities ........................................................................... 4-13 4.2.2 Hunting Opportunities ........................................................................... 4-16 4.2.3 Hiking Trails .......................................................................................... 4-18 4.2.4 Sea Kayaking Routes ............................................................................. 4-19 4.2.5 Overnight Use (Camping and Cabins) ................................................... 4-22 4.2.6 Specially Designated Recreation Areas ................................................. 4-30 4.2.7 State Parks and Forests .......................................................................... 4-33 4.2.8 Other State Lands ................................................................................... 4-33 4.2.9 County and Municipal Recreation Areas ............................................... 4-35 5.0 RECREATION FACILITIES ADJACENT TO AND WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ... .......................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Cascade Creek Cabin ........................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Cascade Creek Trail ............................................................................................. 5-2 - i - Table of Content’s (Cont’d) 5.3 Falls Lake Shelter ................................................................................................ 5-4 5.4 Swan Lake Cabin ................................................................................................. 5-4 6.0 RECREATION USE ........................................................................................................ 6-1 6.1 Commercial Recreation Use ................................................................................ 6-1 6.1.1 Business and Commercial Trip Characteristics ....................................... 6-1 6.1.2 Characterization of Business Owners ...................................................... 6-3 6.1.3 Characterization of Commercial Patrons ................................................. 6-3 6.1.4 Expenditure Analysis ............................................................................... 6-4 6.1.5 Commercial Use Analysis........................................................................ 6-5 6.2 Public Recreation Use .......................................................................................... 6-8 6.2.1 Characterization of Public Recreators ..................................................... 6-8 6.2.2 Trip Characteristics .................................................................................. 6-8 6.2.3 Expenditure Analysis ............................................................................... 6-9 6.2.4 Public Use Analysis ............................................................................... 6-10 7.0 POTENTIAL PROJECT EFFECTS TO RECREATION ............................................... 7-1 7.1 Effects of Project Structures ................................................................................ 7-1 7.2 Effects of Project Operations ............................................................................... 7-8 8.0 EFFECTS TO LAND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES ................................................ 8-1 8.1 Land Use Designations ........................................................................................ 8-2 8.2 Assessment of Project Structures within Land Use Designations ....................... 8-7 8.3 Visual Priority Routes and Use Areas ................................................................. 8-8 9.0 CURRENT AND FUTURE RECREATION NEEDS .................................................... 9-1 9.1 Potential Future Recreation Use .......................................................................... 9-1 9.2 Adequacy of Existing Sites .................................................................................. 9-2 9.3 Need for New Facilities ....................................................................................... 9-6 10.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................... 10-1 10.1 Potential Effects ................................................................................................. 10-1 10.1.1 Project Construction............................................................................... 10-1 10.1.2 Project Facilities and Operation ............................................................. 10-1 10.2 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 10-3 11.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 11-1 LIST OF TABLES Table 4-1. Project Vicinity Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing Opportunities .................... 4-14 Table 4-2. Total Angling Days (2003 – 2008) for the Project Vicinity .............................. 4-16 Table 6-1. Services Provided by Commercial Outfitters/Guides .......................................... 6-2 Table 6-2. Commercial Patron Expenditures ........................................................................ 6-4 Table 6-3. Commercial Recreation Use (RVD) Estimated from 2010 Outfitter/Guide Survey Effort (October, 2009 through September, 2010) ................................................ 6-6 Table 6-4. Recreational Activities Reported for Commercial Patrons by Season ................ 6-7 Table 6-5. Resident Boater/Pilot Expenditures ................................................................... 6-10 - ii - Table of Content’s (Cont’d) Table 6-6. Reported Recreation Use (in Trip Days) for the Project Area and Immediate Vicinity .............................................................................................................. 6-11 Table 6-7. Public Recreation Use (RVD) Estimated from 2010 Boater/Pilot Survey Effort (October, 2009 through September, 2010) ........................................................ 6-12 Table 6-8. Recreational Activities Reported for Public Recreators by Season ................... 6-15 Table 9-1. Estimated Future Recreation Participation for the Project area and immediate vicinity ................................................................................................................. 9-1 Table 9-2. Reported Capacities at PRD Study Areas within the Project Vicinity (2004-2008) (in Recreation Visitor Daysa). .............................................................................. 9-3 Table 9-3. USFS Recreation Capacities ................................................................................ 9-4 Table 9-4. Project Area Recreation Facilities Overnight Use from 2007-2010 by Number of Days Occupied ..................................................................................................... 9-5 LIST OF FIGURES