A Study of Water-Based Recreation on the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 7 and 8).
Abstract
This report presents the findings of a pilot carrying capacity study conducted on Pools 7 and 8 of the Upper Mississippi River. The purpose of the study was to determine boaters' perceptions and preferences regarding resource, social, and managerial conditions on that portion of the river and to measure and document current levels and patterns of boating activity on the two pools. The pilot test objective was to develop management information- gathering procedures that could be applied systematically to each of the pools in the Upper Mississippi River system. A total of 335 boaters were interviewed at public launch sites, and 560 boaters who use private means of access or who enter through the locks returned mailed questionnaires. Boat locations were mapped and counts derived from 12 overflights of the study area. The survey results provided substantial information about the origin and use patterns of the boater groups surveyed. The importance to boaters of specific types of recreation opportunities (e.g., good fishing, relative quiet, and solitude) are highlighted. In addition, boaters' concerns about heavy boat traffic and related social issues, as well as concerns about physical changes to the river (e.g., sedimentation), are detailed. Recommendations for improving boating conditions are given.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA315222
Entities
People
- James J. Vogel
- John P. Titre
- Kenneth C. Chilman