recreation resources study summary - energy northwest...first visit summer fall winter spring what...

11

Recreation Resources Study Summary

Packwood Lake Hydroelectric ProjectStudy Report MeetingDecember 13, 2006Lacey, Washington

22

Recreation Resources StudyPreliminary Results

nRecreation InventorynUSFS Wilderness Permit DatanOn-Site SurveysnObservations (Packwood Lake/Lake Creek)nEnergy Northwest and Contractor VisitsnTraffic Counts

33

Recreation Study AreaRecreation Study Area

44

Recreation Inventory

nDispersed Overnight Camping AreasnDispersed Day-use Only AreasnTrailsnWilderness StationsnBuildingsnFacilities

55

Dispersed SitesDispersed Sites

nnNonNon--Wilderness Dispersed SitesWilderness Dispersed Sites•• 18 Campsites18 Campsites•• 2 day2 day--use (no camping sign and space use (no camping sign and space

constraints)constraints)nnWilderness SitesWilderness Sites

•• 17 Campsites17 Campsites•• 6 Disturbed areas (stock damage, rocky, 6 Disturbed areas (stock damage, rocky,

flooding, fallen trees)flooding, fallen trees)

66

Inventory MapInventory Map

77


88


99

FacilitiesFacilities

nn US Forest Service US Forest Service Guard StationGuard Station

nn Historic Log Ranger Historic Log Ranger StationStation

nn OuthousesOuthouses

1010

USFS Wilderness Permit SystemUSFS Wilderness Permit System

nn2005 (complete) 2005 (complete) •• Day Use/OvernightDay Use/Overnight•• PeakPeak--Season/OffSeason/Off--SeasonsSeasons•• Weekday, Weekend Day and HolidayWeekday, Weekend Day and Holiday•• Visitor DemographicsVisitor Demographics

nn2006 (need from Forest Service)2006 (need from Forest Service)

1111

FS Wilderness Permits (2005)FS Wilderness Permits (2005)

2.43 2.45

2.3

2.64

3.2

2.5

3.33.2

2.7

0.5

0.24

0.430.55

0.8

0.5

0.160.24

0.150.26

0.20.1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Day Use Overnight Day Use Overnight Day Use Overnight

Tot al Peak-Season Of f -Season

Avg # NightsAvg Party SizeAvg # StockAvg. # Dogs

1212


75 83 60 7315 10

198

269

150

242

48 27

198

1066

150

973

4893

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Day Use Overnight Day Use Overnight Day Use Overnight

Total Peak-Season Off-Season

# Permit Entries

Total # People

Visitor Days

1313


8.49

17.63

5.67

0.33 1.040

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Peak-Season Off-Seasons

Average Visitor Day

Weekday

WeekendHoliday

577.25528.75

1763.25 77.75

0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Peak-Season Off-Seasons

Visitor Days

Weekday

Weekend

Holiday

1414


1515

OnOn--Site SurveysSite SurveysnnCompleted Surveys at Packwood Lake Completed Surveys at Packwood Lake

Trailhead Parking Lot (2006)Trailhead Parking Lot (2006)•• April 29 to November 30April 29 to November 30•• Surveys from 8:00 am to 3:00 pmSurveys from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm•• Noon vehicle counts at parking lotNoon vehicle counts at parking lot

nnObtained USFS Survey data at Packwood Obtained USFS Survey data at Packwood Lake Old Ranger Station (2005)Lake Old Ranger Station (2005)•• August 9 to September 5August 9 to September 5

1616

2006 Surveys at Packwood Lake Trailhead2006 Surveys at Packwood Lake Trailheadnn Surveyors surveyed and/or documented all groups at Surveyors surveyed and/or documented all groups at

Trailhead Parking LotTrailhead Parking Lot•• Many driveMany drive--through (documented group size)through (documented group size)•• Some refused survey (documented group size and access Some refused survey (documented group size and access

method)method)•• Detailed questions to groups visiting Packwood LakeDetailed questions to groups visiting Packwood Lake

nn PeakPeak--Season 2006Season 2006•• 19 days/290 groups documented/surveyed between 19 days/290 groups documented/surveyed between

Memorial Day Weekend and Labor DayMemorial Day Weekend and Labor Daynn OffOff--SeasonSeason

•• 4 days/20 groups documented/surveyed in Spring (April 29 4 days/20 groups documented/surveyed in Spring (April 29 ––May 26)May 26)

•• 9 days documented/surveyed in Fall (Sept. 9 9 days documented/surveyed in Fall (Sept. 9 –– Nov.) + 5 Nov.) + 5 days additional vehicle counts. (days additional vehicle counts. (Data input and analysis in Data input and analysis in process)process)

1717

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPeak Peak -- Travel Routes/MethodsTravel Routes/Methods

Peak-Season Travel Methods

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

ATV

Mot

or-

cycl

e

Bike

Hik

e

ATV

Mot

or-

cycl

e

Bike

Hik

e

Hor

se/P

ack

Trail #74/Pipeline Trail #78 ParkingLot/Drive

thru

Peak-Season Travel Routes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Trail #74/Pipeline Trail #78 Parking Lot/Drive thru

1818

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPeak Peak -- Travel Routes/MethodsTravel Routes/Methods

Peak-Season Travel Routes and Methods

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

ATV

Mot

or-

cycl

e

Bike

Hik

e

ATV

Mot

or-

cycl

e

Bike

Hik

e

Hor

se/P

ack


thru

Overnight (PWL)Day Use (PWL)Other/Unknown

1919

2006 Surveys 2006 Surveys ––Spring Spring -- Travel Routes/MethodsTravel Routes/Methods

Spring-Season Travel Routes and Methods

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

ATV Motor-cycle

Bike Hike ATV Motor-cycle

Bike Hike


thru

Overnight (PWL)

Day Use (PWL)

Other/Unknown

2020

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake VisitsPackwood Lake Visits

4.7

3.3

2.12

4.3

6

2.6

1

2

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Day Use Overnight Day Use Overnight

Peak-Season Spring-Season

Avg # NightsAvg # HoursAvg Party Size

2121


Packwood Lake - Seasonal Visits

1521

94 20

4708

94 40

1596 1596

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000



# People

Visitor DaysPackwood Lake - Average Daily Visits

16 15.1

3.40.7

16

46.6

3.41.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50



Avg # People/Day

Avg Visitor Day

2222


27.00

5.00

40.00

3.00

40.00

0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Weekday Weekend Holiday

Average # of People/Day

Average # People (Peak-Season)Average # People (Spring-Seasons)

54.08

5.50

80.52

3.00

70.23

0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Weekday Weekend Holiday

Average Visitor Day

Peak-Season

Spring-Seasons

2323

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake Visitor DestinationsPackwood Lake Visitor Destinations

Packwood Lake - Peak-SeasonVisitor Days/Destination

547 (9%)

2140 (34%)3616 (57%)

Non-WildernessWildernessBoth

Packwood Lake - Spring-Season Visitor Days/Destination

0

40 (30%)

94 (70%)

Non-Wilderness

Wilderness

Both

2424

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake ActivityPackwood Lake Activity

What activities did you participate in at Packwood Lake during your visit?

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

CampingPicn

icking

Boat F

ishing

Shore

Fishing

Other B

oatin

gVisit

ing Beac

hWadin

g/Swim

ming

Hiking

Hunting

Picture

s

Peak-SeasonSpring-Season

2525


39%

50%

100%100%

27%

0%

10%

0%

28%

100%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

First Visit Summer Fall Winter Spring

What seasons of the year do you visit Packwood Lake?


16.09

21.67

2.52 3

0

5

10

15

20

25

How many years have you beencoming to Packwood Lake?

How many times a year do youvisit Packwood Lake?

Frequency of Visits to Packwood Lake


2626

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake Visitor OpinionsPackwood Lake Visitor Opinions

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Bad Idea Good Idea No Opinion

Opinions Regarding Moving Camping Areas Away FromPackwood Lake Shoreline

Peak-Season

Spring-Season

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Bad Idea Good Idea No Opinion

Opinions Regarding Eliminating ATV/Motorized Vehicles at Packwood Lake

Peak-Season

Spring-Season

2727

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake Visitor RatingsPackwood Lake Visitor Ratings

Rating Packwood Lake (5 is best)

4.254.46

4.67

5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Scale of 1-5, how do you rate Packwood Lake area? Scale of 1-5, how rate recreation experience at PackwoodLake?

Peak-Season

Spring-Season

2828

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake Crowding/CommentsPackwood Lake Crowding/Comments

Visitor Survey Comments Regarding Visitor Survey Comments Regarding Improvements/Amenities/WantsImprovements/Amenities/Wants

nn Better/Cleaner/More Outhouses (37%)Better/Cleaner/More Outhouses (37%)nn Trash cans/remove trash (12%)Trash cans/remove trash (12%)nn Boat rentals (8%)Boat rentals (8%)nn Horses off trails/less horses/manure cleanHorses off trails/less horses/manure clean--up (5%)up (5%)nn Improve #74 road & gate for ATV access (5%)Improve #74 road & gate for ATV access (5%)nn Trail maintenance/improvements (5%)Trail maintenance/improvements (5%)nn Separate ATV’s Separate ATV’s –– Trail #74 ATV only (3%)Trail #74 ATV only (3%)nn Upgrade Trail 78 for ATV/more ATV trails (3%)Upgrade Trail 78 for ATV/more ATV trails (3%)nn Concession stand/Concession stand/expressoexpresso (3%)(3%)nn More campsites (3%)More campsites (3%)nn Water supply (2%)Water supply (2%)nn Trail around Lake (2%)Trail around Lake (2%)nn No commercialism (2%)No commercialism (2%)nn Open fishing using bait (2%)Open fishing using bait (2%)nn Picnic tables (2%)Picnic tables (2%)nn Cleared livestock areas (2%)Cleared livestock areas (2%)nn Horse camp (2%)Horse camp (2%)nn Lodge (2%)Lodge (2%)nn Disability access (2%)Disability access (2%)

Crowding (1 is not crowded and 5 is overcrowded)

2.3 2.3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Scale of 1-5, how w ould you rate crow ding at Packw ood Lake?

Peak-Season

Spring-Season

2929

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPWL Parking Lot Vehicle CountsPWL Parking Lot Vehicle Counts

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Ave

rage

# V

ehic

les


Weather vs # of Vehicles in Packwood Lake Parking Lot (noon counts)

Terrible

Decent

Excellent

3030

2006 Surveys2006 SurveysPackwood Lake Visitor DemographicsPackwood Lake Visitor Demographics

nn Preliminary Results for Spring/PeakPreliminary Results for Spring/Peak--SeasonsSeasons•• Majority of visitors from Pierce and Lewis Majority of visitors from Pierce and Lewis

countiescounties•• Next highest number of visitors from King and Next highest number of visitors from King and

Thurston Counties Thurston Counties •• Updated with all visitors for Peak, and Updated with all visitors for Peak, and

Spring/Fall in ReportSpring/Fall in Report

3131

USFS Surveys at Packwood Lake USFS Surveys at Packwood Lake Old Ranger Station (2005)Old Ranger Station (2005)

nn 25 days/171 Groups Surveyed between August 25 days/171 Groups Surveyed between August 9 and September 5, 20059 and September 5, 2005•• Travel Routes/MethodsTravel Routes/Methods•• Group Size, Destination and Length of StayGroup Size, Destination and Length of Stay•• ActivitiesActivities•• Packwood Lake visits Packwood Lake visits -- Frequency and SeasonFrequency and Season•• Comments regarding improvements/amenities @ Comments regarding improvements/amenities @

Packwood LakePackwood Lake•• DemographicsDemographics

nn Same time as observationsSame time as observationsnn Results included in ReportResults included in Report

3232

USFS SurveysUSFS SurveysPackwood Lake Old Ranger Station (2005)Packwood Lake Old Ranger Station (2005)

5.2

26.88

22

7.13

19.63

8

2.593.98 3.67 3.25 3.93

2.673.16 2.64 2.33 2.49 1.852.67

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Weekday Weekend Holiday Weekday Weekend Holiday

Day Use Overnight

Avg # People/Day

Avg Party Size

Avg # of Nights

Avg # Hours

3333

ObservationsObservations

nn EN and Contractor ObservationsEN and Contractor Observations•• 2006 at Packwood Lake2006 at Packwood Lake

–– During routine visitsDuring routine visits–– During field workDuring field work

nn FS Observations at Packwood LakeFS Observations at Packwood Lake•• 2005 at Old Log Ranger Station2005 at Old Log Ranger Station•• Route/Method, # People ObservedRoute/Method, # People Observed

–– Same time as surveysSame time as surveys–– Result included in reportResult included in report

nn Observations at Lake Creek (2006)Observations at Lake Creek (2006)•• No people were observed at Lake Creek (June No people were observed at Lake Creek (June –– October)October)

3434

Observational Data (2006)Observational Data (2006)Energy Northwest and ContractorsEnergy Northwest and Contractors

EN and Contractor Observations (Weekdays)(Average Number of People Observed/Day)

0.00.2

0.0

0.50.3 0.3

0.5

1.6

0.50.4

0.0 0.0 0.0

1.8

0.50.8

1.6

0.4 0.4

0.0 0.0

5.6

1.4

3.8

0.5

0.0

1.00.8 0.8 0.8

0.5

1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

ATV-Observed Mot orcycle Bicycle Horse Horse/ Pack St ock People on Trail People at Lake Vehicles in ParkingLot

Off-Season SpringJuneJulyAugust

3535

EN Visit RecordsEN Visit Records

10%

0% 0%

50%

0% 0% 0%

10%

0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

20%

0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

10%

0% 0% 0% 0%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

April 26 - May 8 May 9 - May 25 April 26 - May 8 May 9 - May 25 April 26 - May 8 May 9 - May 25 April 26 - May 8 May 9 - May 25

ATV Walk Snowmobile Vehicle

Energy Northwest Route and Method Spring Off-Season 2006 (10 Trips)

Pipeline Rd/Trail #74

Latch Rd/Trail #74

Trail #78

3636

EN & Contractor Visit RecordsEN & Contractor Visit Records

79%

5%

0

5%11%

0

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

ATV Walk

Energy Northwest Route and Method Peak-Season 2006 (19 Trips)

Pipeline Rd/Trail #74

Latch Rd/Trail #74

Trail #78

43%

7%

0%

7%

36%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

ATV Walk

Contractor Route and Method Peak-Season 2006 (10 Trips)

Pipeline Rd/Trail #74Latch Rd/Trail #74Trail #78

3737

Traffic Counters (2006)Traffic Counters (2006)

nnTwo on Trail #74Two on Trail #74•• Near Diversion, approx. 200 feet apartNear Diversion, approx. 200 feet apart

nnOne on Forest Service Road 1260One on Forest Service Road 1260•• Near FS BoundaryNear FS Boundary

3838

Traffic Counter Data (2006)Traffic Counter Data (2006)

Average Traffic Counts/Day Off-Season (Spring)

22

66

7No Data

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Average Counts/Day (USFS Rd 1260) Average Counts/Day (Trail #74)

Early Spring 4/26 - 5/9

Late Spring 5/9 - 5/25

Average Traffic Counts/Day (Peak-Season)

97

47

7161

81

11 714 12 10

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

5/25 - 5/30 5/30 - 6/28 6/28 - 7/29 7/29 - 8/29 8/29 - 9/7

Memorial DayWeek

June July August Labor Day Week

Average Counts/Day (USFS Rd 1260)

Average Counts/Day (Trail #74)

3939

ScheduleSchedule

nn Draft ReportDraft Report•• February 1, 2007February 1, 2007

nn 3030--Day ReviewDay Reviewnn Final ReportFinal Report

•• March/April 2007March/April 2007nn Needs AnalysisNeeds Analysis

•• 20072007

recreation resources study summary - energy northwest...first visit summer fall winter spring what...

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