recreational impacts of coastal restoration projects cnrep presentation joseph berlin may 28, 2010
TRANSCRIPT
Recreational Impacts of Coastal Restoration Projects
CNREP Presentation
Joseph Berlin
May 28, 2010
Recreational Impacts were Estimated for Three Projects
White Ditch Sediment Diversion
Atchafalaya Conveyance Freshwater Diversion
MRGO Ecosystem Restoration
White Ditch Sediment Diversion
East Bank of Plaquemines Parish
One Feature Four Alternatives by
size Smallest Study Area
Atchafalaya Conveyance Freshwater Diversion
Northern Lafourche Parish
Several Features Features combined
into Seven Alternatives
MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Plaquemines, St.
Bernard, and Orleans Parishes; Hancock County
Many Features Features Combined
into Multiple Alternatives
Six Steps to Corps Planning Process Identify Problems and Opportunities Inventory and Forecast Conditions Formulate Alternative Plans Evaluate Alternative Plans – Current
Phase Compare Alternative Plans Select a Plan
Stages of a Federal Project Reconnaissance Study Feasibility Study Preconstruction Engineering and Design Construction Operation and Maintenance
Feasibility Study Includes Alternative Selection Incidental Recreation Benefits are included in
Feasibility Study Documents Incidental Recreation Benefits do not affect
Alternative Selection
Three Approved Procedures to Measure Economic Benefits of Recreation Travel Cost Method
Requires Detailed Data for Travel Expenses / Travel Distances
Contingent Valuation Requires Surveys of Recreational Users for
Willingness to Pay
Three Approved Procedures to Measure Economic Benefits of Recreation
Unit Day Values Based Upon Specified Criteria to Determine Value
of Recreation Day General Recreation - $3.54 to $10.63 per day Specialized Recreation - $14.40 to $42.09
Estimation of Unit Day Value Hunting and Fishing
can be either Generalized or Specialized Recreation
Number of Possible Activities Impacts Values
Must Account for Net Value Transfer from One Area to Another
Criteria for Estimating Unit Day Values Recreation Experience
Number of Activities Availability of
Opportunity Carrying Capacity Accessibility Environmental
Esthetics
Data Sources Used To Estimate the Value of User Days Freshwater Discharges from the Davis Pond
and Caernarvon Diversions Salinity Measurements LaDWF Creel Surveys
Target Species – Fish Sought Fish Caught – Number and Size Perception
Waterfowl Aerial Survey by Cross Section
Creel Fishing Surveys
Intercept Survey Performed by LaDWF
Species Sought Several Species
Dominate Speckled Trout and Red
Drum (Saltwater) Largemouth Bass
(Freshwater) Species Caught -
Number and Size Perception of Trip
Data Sources Used To Estimate the Number of User Days Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor
Recreation Plan (SCORP) Department of Wildlife and Fisheries License
Data Hunting and Fishing Licenses Boat Registration
DWF Registry of Boat Launches (Location and Size)
Process of Estimating Benefits A Focus Group was Held for Each Project to Obtain
Expert Opinions Various Interest Groups Participated in Focus
Groups Sportsmen Conservation Groups Government Agencies Major Landowners
Project Details were presented to the Focus Group Restoration Measures were Explained Alternatives were not Available
Focus Group Findings
There are Many Potential Impacts on Recreational Fishing
Recreational Users are not Flexible about Activities Hunting and Fishing Remain the Primary
Recreation Activities Little expectation of changing Target Fish Species
Hunting and Wildlife Watching are Seasonal
Activities
Specific Conclusions From Focus Groups Oyster Reefs are
Important to Recreational Fishing
Floating Marsh is Important to Waterfowl Hunting
Floodgate Operation is Important to Marina Operators
Coastal Restoration Issues Impacting Recreation Benefits Freshwater Diversions Impact Recreational
Fishing Freshwater and Saltwater Species Coexist in the
Same Areas Waterfowl Hunting is Highly Variable
between Years Waterfowl are Impacted by Turbidity, not Salinity
Difficulties in Estimating Impacts Wildlife Watching is Difficult to Measure
Seasonal Migrating Birds Number of Users in Study Area is Difficult to
Determine Users can Shift Between Areas Most Areas in Coastal Louisiana have
Proposed Restoration Projects
Recreation Benefits ModelAtchafalaya Conveyance Results Alt 1 – Utilize Flow Management to Maximize
Benefits of Existing Flow Alt 2 - Increase Atchafalaya Inflows and
Utilize Flow Management Alt 3 – Grand Bayou Pump and Utilize Flow
Management
Recreation Benefits ModelAtchafalaya Conveyance Results Alt 4 – Increase Atchafalaya Inflows, Grand
Bayou Pump and Utilize Flow Management Alt 5 - Increase Atchafalaya Inflows, and
Utilize Grand Bayou Dredging Alt 6 – Houma Navigation Lock Management
Recreation Benefits ModelAtchafalaya Conveyance Preliminary Results
Without Project
Alternative 1
Alternative 2
Alternative 3
Alternative 4
Alternative 5
Alternative 6
Net present Value
$0 $2,077,000 $2,799,000 $1,588,000 $1,505,000 $252,000 $190,000
Annualized $0 $102,505 $138,137 $78,371 $74,275 $12,437 $9,377
Recreation Benefits ModelWhite Ditch Results
Alt 1 – 5,000 c.f.s. Diversion Alt 2 – 10,000 c.f.s. Diversion Alt 3 – 15,000 c.f.s. Diversion Alt 4 – 35,000 c.f.s. Diversion
Recreation Benefits ModelWhite Ditch Preliminary Results
Without Project
Alternative 1
Alternative 2
Alternative 3
Alternative 4
Net present Value
$0 $1,206,000 $1,278,000 $1,421,000 $853,000
Annualized $0 $57,284 $60,704 $67,496 $40,517
Recreation Benefits ModelConclusion Provides a Consistent Method of Measuring
Impacts Uses Standardized Values for Recreation
Days Annualizes Benefits over Project Period Based Upon National Economic
Development (NED) Procedures Increase in User Welfare