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Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document
ARLIS Uniform Cover Page
Title:
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project no. 14241-000;
Submission of final intercept and mail survey instruments, recreation
resources study (RSP 12.5)
SuWa 200
Author(s) – Personal:
McGregor, Betsy (letter of transmittal)
Author(s) – Corporate:
(various)
AEA-identified category, if specified:
Final study plan
AEA-identified series, if specified:
Series (ARLIS-assigned report number):
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 200
Existing numbers on document:
Published by:
[Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2013]
Date published:
April 15, 2013 (letter of
transmittal)
Published for:
Date or date range of report:
Volume and/or Part numbers:
Study plan Section 12.5A
Final or Draft status, as indicated:
Document type:
Pagination:
33 p.
Related work(s):
Pages added/changed by ARLIS:
Notes:
Comprises a letter of transmittal and five attachments.
All reports in the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document series include an ARLIS-
produced cover page and an ARLIS-assigned number for uniformity and citability. All reports
are posted online at http://www.arlis.org/resources/susitna-watana/
April 15, 2013
Ms. Kimberly D. Bose
Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426
Re: Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 14241-000;
Submission of Final Intercept and Mail Survey Instruments,
Recreation Resources Study (RSP 12.5)
Dear Ms. Bose:
On February 1, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission
or FERC) issued its Study Plan Determination (SPD) for 44 of the 58 proposed individual
studies in the Alaska Energy Authority’s (AEA) Revised Study Plan (RSP) for the
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 14241 (Project).1 In the SPD,
the Commission approved AEA’s proposed Recreation Resources Study plan (RSP 12.5)
but required AEA to file additional information for certain survey instruments. The
purpose of this filing is to submit the information requested in the Commission’s SPD.
When approving the Recreation Resources Study plan, the Commission
recommended that AEA implement several modifications to the recreation survey
instruments. AEA’s response to the Commission’s recommended modifications appears
in Attachment 1.
In addition, the SPD noted that several licensing participants had commented on
drafts of the intercept and mail survey instruments that were attached to the RSP. As
such, the Commission recommended that AEA seek additional comments from the
Recreation TWG prior to finalizing the survey instruments, as follows:
Final intercept and mail survey instruments should be filed with the
Commission by April 15, 2013. The Recreation TWG should be allowed
a minimum of 15 days to review the instruments before filing them with
the Commission. The filing should include stakeholder comments on the
instruments and how such comments were addressed.2
In response to the Commission’s recommendation, AEA convened a Recreation
TWG meeting on February 25, 2013, to review the draft survey instruments (which had
been modified since their inclusion in the RSP) and discuss AEA’s plans for pre-testing
1 Study Plan Determination for the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project, Project No. 14241-000
(issued Feb. 1, 2013) [hereinafter, “SPD”].
2 SPD, Appendix B, at B-59.
2
such instruments. During the meeting, the Recreation TWG discussed additional changes
to the instruments, and AEA committed to posting revised draft instruments on its
licensing website by March 7, which would begin the 15-day period for review and
comment by the Recreation TWG.3
On March 7, AEA posted the draft intercept and mail survey instruments for
comment by the Recreation TWG, and requested that written comments be submitted by
March 22, 2013.4 In response, AEA received comments from the National Park Service,
Talkeetna Community Council, Inc., and Coalition for Susitna Dam Alternatives. Based
on these comments received, AEA has revised the final intercept and mail survey
instruments. AEA’s response to these comments appears in Attachment 2 to this letter.5
Finally, the final recreation survey instruments that the Commission’s February 1
SDP requested for filing are attached. The final intercept survey instrument appears in
Attachment 3, and the final mail survey instrument appears in Attachment 4.
AEA appreciates the comments received, which appear in Attachment 5, as well
as the continued involvement of the entire Recreation TWG in the development of the
survey instruments, which are now final. AEA looks forward to reviewing the results of
the recreational surveys during quarterly TWG meetings, as set forth in the Commission-
approved RSP.
If you have questions concerning this submission, please do not hesitate to contact
me at (907) 771-3957.
Sincerely,
Betsy McGregor
Environmental Manager
Alaska Energy Authority
Attachments
cc: Wayne Dyok
Distribution List (w/o Attachments)
3 The agenda and meeting notes for the February 25 Recreation TWG meeting, as well as draft survey
instruments, are available at AEA’s licensing website, http://www.susitna-watanahydro.org/meetings/past-
meetings.
4 The updated draft survey instruments and comment instructions are available at AEA’s licensing
website, http://www.susitna-watanahydro.org/type/documents, under the section entitled “Recreation
Surveys.”
5 Although the Commission’s February 1 SPD directed that AEA only seek additional public comment
on the draft intercept and mail survey instruments, several commenters filed comments on other matters,
such as the Recreation Resources Study generally or other instruments and protocols approved in the
February 1 SPD. AEA has reviewed these comments; due to the focused scope of this filing (which
involves only the intercept and mail surveys), however, no response to these other issues is provided herein.
Attachment 1
AEA Response to FERC Staff Recommendations on Draft Recreation Survey Instruments
ATTACHMENT 1
AEA Response to FERC Staff Recommendations on Draft Recreation Survey Instruments
FERC Study Plan Determination AEA Study Team Action
Modify study area to include the area one-
quarter mile west of the George Parks
Highway and one-quarter mile north of Denali
Highway.
Included in study plan and added to study area
maps.
Include a specific component that evaluates
whether the recreation experience is
“Guided/Unguided” and defines the party size.
Updated survey instruments to include new
questions that address guided or unguided and
party size. See questions 6a and 13 in the final
intercept survey instrument and questions 18
and 22 in the final mail survey instrument.
Add one or more questions addressing
potential user conflict.
Updated survey instruments to include new
questions in both intercept and mail surveys.
See question 9 in the final intercept survey and
question 26 in the final mail survey
instrument.
Remove “Don’t Know” and “Refused” from
intercept survey.
The “don’t know” and “refused” reference
coding blocks were removed from the online
version of the intercept survey, but have been
retained for the field surveys to accurately
document participation rates (but the blocks
are not visible to the survey participant).
Intercept surveys should be conducted through
all fall and winter months of 2013-2014, using
abbreviated survey intercept locations.
The AEA recreation study team will be
conducting monthly intercept surveys through
March 2014. During the months of March-
October, intercept sites will include those
presented in the RSP, and when weather/snow
levels permit along the Denali Highway road
access. During the low daylight months and
extreme cold weather of November-January,
sampling will be limited, when weather
permitting, to the West entrance of the
maintained Denali Highway, Talkeetna, Lake
Louise, and at special events, such as dog sled
and snow machine races as discussed with the
Recreation TWG in the February 25th TWG
meeting.
Attachment 2
AEA Response to Comments on Recreation Resources Intercept and Mail Survey Instruments
ATTACHMENT 2
AEA Response to Comments on Recreation Resources Intercept and Mail Survey Instruments
General Comments
Reference Number Commenter Comment Date Comment or Study Request AEA’s Response
REC-1 NPS 3/7/13 &
3/25/13
“Study area maps accompanying the survey should also include
the likely location of operational buildings, the airport, and
alternative routes for the transmission line and access road. The
location of the dam should also be shown.”
None of the maps used in the Intercept and Mail surveys will
include any project information. Including project information has
the potential to bias the response and is not relevant to
recreational baseline use of the study area.
REC-2 NPS 3/25/13 “The surveys that have not already been field tested (i.e., all of
them except the Recreation Intercept Survey Protocol) should be
given trial runs with naïve subjects – i.e., subjects who are not
agency or consultant employees – prior to the actual study so that
confusing language can be eliminated and other flaws detected.”
The lessons learned in the Intercept survey field pre-test have
been directly applied to the same questions asked in the
Regional Residents Household Mail Survey. Additionally, new
questions only found in the Mail Survey have been pre-tested by
Veritas (Questions 1-12 of the survey).
REC-3 NPS 3/7/13 Concerns about project descriptions that introduce the surveys. Project description information has been removed from the
survey instruments.
Comments Regarding February 22 version of the Intercept Survey
REC-3 NPS 3/6/13 “We do not feel that Questions 10 and 11 of the Intercept Survey
adequately address user conflict. They appear to focus on
detraction to scenic quality and the effect of noise on the
enjoyment of an area. These are primarily aesthetic issues.” WE
also find the term “signs of infrastructure or human activity” in
response to Question 10 to be nebulous, likely to require further
explanation by the surveyor for the respondent to understand.
NPS goes on to suggest a survey question with three parts
regarding conflicts and the nature of the conflicts (see NPS 3/6/13
comment attached).
Based on this comment, as well as recommendations of FERC
staff, AEA made changes to the final version of Questions 9, 10
and 11 to more directly address user conflict and generally
follow the format of the survey question NPS proposed in its
comments.
REC-4 NPS 3/6/13 “We also find the use of the term “signs of infrastructure or human
activity” in Question 10 to be nebulous, likely to require further
explanation by the surveyor for the respondent to understand.”
The pre-test of the Intercept instrument conducted in March did
not indicate any problems in comprehension by respondents and
required no additional explanation by surveyors. For this reason,
this language in the final version of the Intercept and Mail
surveys remains unchanged.
2
REC-5 Talkeetna
Community
Council, Inc.
3/22/12 “Following NPS’s request to add winter intercept sites to the
Winter Recreation Survey (AEA had deemed these “too
dangerous”) we had expected to discuss these sites at the
February 25th TWG. What is the status of these sites?”
During the months of March-October, intercept sites will include
those presented in the RSP, and when weather/snow levels
permit along the Denali Highway road access. During the low
daylight months and extreme cold weather of November-
January, sampling will be limited, when weather permitting, to
the West entrance of the maintained Denali Highway, Talkeetna,
Lake Louise, and at special events, such as dog sled and snow
machine races.
REC-6 NPS 3/25/13 “NPS notes that with the addition of the conflict question, it will be
important for the survey administrators to be familiar with the most
likely types of conflict, e.g. motorized vs. non-motorized
recreation; hunting and trapping vs. non-consumptive activities,
and non-recreational activities (subsistence and Watana field
staff) vs. recreation.”
The surveyors are trained to administer the survey, including the
questions on conflict, in a consistent, objective, and professional
manner. Survey staff will not suggest conflict or present types of
conflicts when administering the survey.
REC-7 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 3 – For this survey and others that use the same tables and
classification, NPS recommends the following minor changes to
improve clarity: 1) add the word “tent” to the heading of the 6th
column from the left to denote car camping, e.g. at pull-outs along
the Denali Highway; and 2) replace “wilderness” in the 7th column
heading with “remote.” None of the project area is in designated
Wilderness so this will avoid confusion.”
AEA adopted these recommended changes in the final versions
of the Intercept and Mail surveys.
REC-8 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 13 & 14 – For this survey and the other instruments that use
the same questions, NPS recommends the following changes to
the questions that attempt to differentiate between party and
group size: reverse the order of the questions, eliminate the
easily confusable terms “party” and “group,” and simply ask first
how many people are traveling together with the survey subject,
and second, how many of these people, if any, are sharing
expenses with the subject.”
The questions (verbatim and in same order) have been used
successfully in prior research projects conducted by AEA’s
subconsultant for recreational resources (including more than
7,000 AVSP VI intercept and online surveys). Additionally, the
order and language of the survey questions have been field pre-
tested in the Intercept survey, indicating no problems or
confusion by the respondents. For this reason, AEA did not
include these changes recommended by NPS when finalizing
the Intercept survey.
3
Comments Regarding the February 22 version of the Mail Survey
REC-9 Talkeetna
Community
Council, Inc.
3/22/13 “There appears to be no project description in the mail survey.” The final version of the Mail survey does not include a project
description. The purpose of the survey is to gather baseline data
on recreation use in the study are, not to provide information on
the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project.
See also AEA’s response to REC-1.
REC-10 Talkeetna
Community
Council, Inc.
3/22/12 “Will there be a cover letter of any kind [for the mail survey]?” A cover letter will accompany the mail survey booklet, informing
recipients as to the purpose of the survey (measuring recreation
demand), the importance of their completing the survey, and
contact information if they have any questions about how to
complete the survey.
REC-11 NPS 3/25/13 “The first six pages of this survey appear to be statewide in focus,
and there is no project description or introduction explaining the
purpose of the survey. NPS recommends deleting the first six
pages (which will only fatigue the subjects, making it less likely
that they will complete the survey).”
AEA did not adopt these changes recommended by NPS when
finalizing the Mail survey. While the first six pages are statewide
in focus, this information will provide data to support data
collection efforts for other study plans approved by the
Commission. For example, the data from these questions will
inform the analysis for Section 15.6 Social Conditions and Public
Goods and Services Study. One of the Study’s objectives is to
evaluate what the potential project changes, “might mean
to…recreational activities, recreation and subsistence use
values, quality of life, community use patterns, non-use
environmental values, and social conditions in the area (AEA
2012, p. 15-10).” The data from the questions in the first six
pages will be used to analyze recreation changes. Importantly,
“the study will address changes in recreation by using a Random
Utility Model (RUM) combining existing data, recreation
preference functions from the existing literature, and new data
collection from the Recreation and Aesthetics study (see Section
12.5 and 12.6) (AEA 2013, p. 15-14).” The questions in the first
six pages are the “new data collection from the Recreation and
Aesthetics study.” The RUM will be used to develop a
mathematical representation of outdoor recreation preferences
for the population expected to be affected by the project (this
population includes individuals within and outside the Study
Area). The mathematical representation will characterize
recreation demand in a way that allows identifying recreation
4
preferences and behaviors that occur under the Current and
With-Project conditions. Information needed to develop the
mathematical representation of recreation demand includes trips
taken to locations within and outside the Study Area by the
population expected to be affected by the project. It is possible
to collect this information from secondary sources; however,
primary data is preferred. The primary data collection from the
first six pages will allow cost-effective and accurate (i.e., primary-
data based) assessment of outcomes that the United States
Department of Interior (USDOI) and the National Park Service
(NPS) requested be considered in their previous comments.
See the comment response in REC-15 for a description of these
comments and how the analysis addresses them.
REC-12 NPS 3/25/13 NPS recommends “providing a one-page introduction similar to
the edited versions from other surveys.”
AEA did not adopt these changes recommended by NPS when
finalizing the Mail survey. The purpose of the survey is to gather
baseline data on recreation use in the study area, not to provide
information on the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. A
cover letter will accompany the mail survey booklet, informing
recipients as to the purpose of the survey (measuring recreation
demand), the importance of their completing the survey, and
contact information if they have any questions about how to
complete the survey.
REC-13 NPS 3/25/13 “A map showing not only the boundary of the current study area,
but project facilities, should also be included.”
See AEA’s response to comment REC-1.
5
REC-14 NPS 3/25/13 “The current version of this survey fails to solicit information about
displacement, as requested by NPS and others in our ILP study
requests. Please consider adding this to an existing question (e.g.
Q. 29) or as a separate question.”
AEA did not adopt these changes recommended by NPS when
finalizing the Mail survey. However, the recreation demand
analysis described in AEA’s response to the comment in
comment REC-11 and on pages 15-14 through 15-16 of the
Revised Study Plan (AEA 2012) provides the ability to evaluate
displacement. Specifically, the mathematical representation of
recreation demand, which will be informed by the data collected
from the first six pages of the survey, will allow for cost-effective
and accurate (i.e., primary-data based) assessment of outcomes
that the USDOI and the NPS requested be considered in their
previous comments regarding evaluating the effects of the
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project on recreation:
• “It will be necessary to model demand for future sport
fishing and hunting in the area over the likely term of the
license, i.e., 50 years. Then…the applicant will need to
investigate how both existing and future availability of
recreational experiences in the area would change following
construction and operation of the proposed project” (USDOI
2012).
• “…better questions for capturing pre‐ and post‐project
differences would endeavor to assess demand for potential
new facilities such as reservoir‐based fishing, serviced
campgrounds, maintained trails, a hut system, etc. It is also
important to determine whether some current visitors to the
area might go elsewhere if the project significantly changed
the recreational character of the area” (NPS 2012).
The recreation demand model is designed to evaluate the types
of changes under With-Project conditions presented in USDOI
and NPS’ comments, including the evaluation of displacement.
Specifically, the recreation demand model will be used to predict
how recreation will change under the With-Project conditions.
These predictions will include evaluations of how many of what
type of trips may be reallocated into, as well as out of, the Study
Area under the With-Project Conditions. The recreation demand
model will also inform the analysis of changes in social welfare
associated with predicted trip increases into the Study Area and
displaced trips out of the Study Area.
6
REC-15 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 13 (j) Please clarify that “car camping” (sleeping in a tent in an
undeveloped area) is included in this row. Otherwise please add a
row.”
AEA adopted this recommended change in the final version of
the Mail survey.
REC-16 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 14. There seems to be a disproportionate focus on hunting
details in this question. Subsistence users should not be checking
the activities on the left hand side unless they are referring to their
recreational activities. The question needs an introduction to
instruct subjects who engage in both subsistence and recreational
activities how to answer.”
In response to this comment by NPS, AEA added a new
question to the final version of the Mail survey to accurately
establish if the respondent was hunting for subsistence or
recreation (or both). The purpose of this new question is not to
gather information on subsistence hunting, but to clearly
determine if the respondent is taking part in a recreational hunt.
Since many Alaskan hunters interpret “subsistence” differently,
the most accurate way to know if someone is hunting
recreationally or for subsistence is to ask them the type of tag
they hunted with. Only data from recreational hunters will be
used in the recreation demand analysis and in other reporting.
REC-17 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 18. Please edit this table to add “tent” or “car camping” to the
“undeveloped” column heading and to replace “wilderness” with
“remote.””
AEA adopted these recommended changes in the final version
of the Mail survey.
REC-18 NPS 3/25/13 “Please add “Denali State Park” and/or “K’esugi Ridge”, “along
the Denali Hwy” and “River” (name river) to left hand side location
choices.”
Due to space limitations (and not wanting to eliminate space for
“additional locations”), AEA did not adopt these
recommendations to the final version of the Mail survey.
However, such locations will be captured along with other
additional locations if noted by the respondents.
REC-19 NPS 3/25/13 “Please reverse order of Qs. 20 & 21 and edit as suggested in the
Intercept Survey comments, above [i.e., party and group size
questions] to make it easier for subjects to understand.”
The questions (verbatim and in same order) have been used
successfully in prior research projects conducted by AEA’s
subconsultant for recreational resources (including more than
7,000 AVSP VI intercept and online surveys). Additionally, the
order and language of the questions have been field pre-tested
in the Intercept survey, indicating no problems or confusion by
the respondents. For this reason, AEA did not include these
changes recommended by NPS when finalizing the Intercept
survey.
7
REC-20 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 24, Please replace this the same conflict question added to
the intercept survey; or add this as a new question.”
AEA adopted this recommended change in the final version of
the Mail survey.
REC-21 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 28, Please add the “opportunity to experience challenge or
self-reliance,” and “other” (write-in) to this question.”
In response to this comment from NPS, AEA added a new factor
to this question with slightly altered language: “The opportunity
to challenge yourself.” An “other” was not added, as it could not
be analyzed similar to the other factors since not everyone had
the opportunity to rate the importance of any particular “other”
factor.
REC-22 NPS 3/25/13 “Q. 40 What is the purpose of the cabin ownership question? The
answer might be relevant if it asked whether the subject owns a
cabin in the study area, but in that case, we should also ask if
they own a second home in the area.”
This question was included to address the data needs for the
Social Conditions and Public Goods and Service Study (Study
15.6). The question will be used to identify whether repeated,
sequential trips to an individual location reported in the survey
are more likely to be single or multiple-day trips. In pretesting the
survey, respondents reported visiting the same site on
sequential days because they had a cabin at the location and
stayed at the cabin for one or more nights before returning
home. Identifying whether trips are single versus multiple day
will improve the evaluation of the effect that travel costs have on
recreators’ trip-taking decisions. Evaluating the effect of travel
costs is important for the analysis because the RUM used to
inform outdoor recreators’ trip-taking preferences is a multiple-
site, travel-cost-based evaluation of recreators’ trip-taking
decisions.
Attachment 3
Final Recreation Intercept Survey Instrument
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey McDowell Group, Inc. • Page 1
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey
Interviewer Name ___________________________ Refusals________ S1 ______ S2 ______ Q1 ________
Date ____________________ Survey Location (grid number) _______________
Time ____________________ Survey Location (additional info)_____________
Hi, I’m ______________ with the McDowell Group. We’re conducting a recreation study for the
State of Alaska as part of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. I’d like to ask you a few
questions about your recreation in the Study Area. (Show Study Area Map) When you participate
you will be entered in a drawing for your choice of a $1,000 gift certificate from Amazon.com or
Cabela’s.
S1. Are you participating in any outdoor recreational activities on this outing?
1 Yes 2 No (thank and end survey)
S2. Have you completed an in-person Susitna-Watana Recreation survey this year?
1 Yes (thank and end survey) 2 No
1. Are you in the Study Area just for the day, on an overnight visit, just passing through on your way to
somewhere else, or do you live in the Study Area? (Show Study Area Map)
1 Just passing through (Probe, then thank and end survey)
2 Day visit Where are you visiting in the Study Area? (check boxes Q4)
3 Overnight visit (skip to Q1a)
4 Live in the study area (if they are overnighting away from home continue/if day visit skip to Q4)
1a. In total, how many nights will you spend in the Study Area on this trip? # _______ 1 DK/ref.
1b. As of today, how many nights have you spent in the Study Area so far? # _______ 1 DK/ref.
2. Considering your entire trip, are you overnighting in any of these places on this trip? (Show list 1-9)
2a. Are you overnighting anywhere else in the Study Area on this trip?
(Show map, probe for specific grid locations.)
3. How many nights are you spending in _________? 3a. In what type of lodging?
Q 2/3
2a. Grid #
Hotel/ motel/ B&B Lodge
Private home
Established campground (RV/tent/etc.)
Undeveloped/on-road RV/ camper/car/ tent
Remote camping (tent) Other
Q4.
DAY
VISIT
?
01 Talkeetna #51 01
02 Talkeetna Lodge #41 02
03 Trapper Creek #51 03
04 McKinley Princess #41 04
05 Byers Lake #21 05
06 Cantwell #1 06
07 Brushkana #3 07
08 Tangle Lakes #19 08
09 Lake Louise #60 09
10 Other 10
11 Other 11
12 Other 12
13 Other 13
14 Other 14
15 Other 15
16 Other 16
17 Other 17
18 Other 18
4. Are you visiting anywhere in the Study Area without spending the night?
1 None
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey McDowell Group, Inc. • Page 2
5. Please tell me if you have participated, or will participate, in any of the following recreational activities
within the Study Area on this outing. (Show list below, check all that apply) Are you participating in any other
kinds of recreation on this outing? (Record under “other”)
5a. Can you tell me where you have or will ______________ in the study area on this outing?
(Show map, ask for each activity. Record grid numbers.)
6. Which activity was the primary reason for this outing to the Study Area? ______ (activity letter) 1DK/ref.
6aa. How many days will you (primary activity) on this outing? _________ (day=any part of a day) 02 DK/ref.
6a. Did you hire a guide for (primary activity) on this outing? 01 Yes 02 No 03 DK/ref.
6b. Have you ever been to the study area for (primary activity) before this outing?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q7) 3 DK/ref. (skip to Q7)
6c. What year did you first (primary activity) in the study area? ________ 1 DK/ref.
6d. In general, how often do you (primary activity) in the study area? (Read 1-5)
1 More than 10 times per year 4 Once every few years
2 Two to ten times per year 5 Less often
3 Once every year 6 DK/ref.
7. Have you engaged in any other recreational activities in the study area in the last 12 months?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q7c) 3 DK/ref. (skip to Q7c)
7a. Which activities did you participate in on those outings? (Show list, check all that apply, ask for other)
7b. On about how many days in the last 12 mths, not counting this outing, did you (activity) within the study area?
Q5.
This
outing
Q5a. Where
grid #
Q7a.
Past 12 mos.
Q7b.
# of days
A. Alaska Railroad 1 1
B. Bird watching 2 2
C. Bicycling 3 3
D. Camping-remote tent 4 4
E. Camping-RV/cabin/campground 5 5
F. Collecting berries/mushrooms 6 6
G. Dog sledding 7 7
H. Fishing for salmon 8 8
I. Fishing for other species 9 9
J. Flightseeing 10 10
K. Hunting 11 11
L. Hiking/backpacking 12 12
M. Motorized boating (jet, prop, air) 13 13
N. Rafting/canoeing/kayaking/pack raft (non-motorized) 14 14
O. Riding ATV’s 15 15
P. Skiing 16 16
Q. Snow machining 17 17
R. Snowshoeing 18 18
S. Walking/running 19 19
T. Wildlife viewing 20 20
U. Other ________________________ 21 21
V. Other ________________________ 22 22
W. Other ________________________ 23 23
X. Other ________________________ 24 24
5b. (If hunting): Please show me which one of these is your primary harvest objective for this hunt.
No individual information you provide will be shared with anyone. All data will be presented as
group totals. (Show list; select only one.) 2 No (skip back up to Q6)
01 Caribou – Federal subsistence 09 Moose – State community harvest
02 Caribou – State draw permit one bull 10 Moose – State harvest ticket
03 Caribou – State registration permit any caribou 11 Moose – Non-resident
04 Caribou – State community harvest community 12 Bear (brown or black)
05 Caribou – Non-resident 13 Waterfowl
06 Moose – Federal subsistence 14 Ptarmigan
07 Moose – State draw permit any bull 15 Other________________________________
08 Moose – State draw permit cow (Skip Back Up to Q6)
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey McDowell Group, Inc. • Page 3
7c. On this outing, did you travel more than one-half mile from a trailhead or main road into the Study
Area? 1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q8) 3 DK/ref (skip to Q8)
7d. Where was your most recent excursion into the Study Area of more than one-half mile?
(show detail map) grid number/s ____________1 DK/ref.
7e. How often did you encounter other people on that excursion? (read 1-3)
1 Never 2 1 to 6 times 3 >6 times 4 DK/ref.
7f. On that excursion, did you travel on established trails, off-trail, or both?
1 Established trails 2 Off-trail 3 Both 4 DK/ref.
7g. On that excursion, did you camp in the Study Area more than one-half mile from a trailhead or
road? 1 Yes 2 No 3 DK/ref.
8. Overall, how crowded have you felt on this outing while in the Study Area using a scale of 1 – 10,
where 1 means “not at all crowded” and 10 means “very crowded”? (Circle answer)
Not at all crowded Very crowded
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DK/ref.
8a. If 7 to 10: Do you recall any place in particular where you felt crowded?
(Show map, record grid number. Record place name if mentioned. Probe) 1 DK/ref.
Grid # Place name if mentioned
____ _
____ _
____ _
9. On this outing did you experience any conflict with other individuals or groups that negatively
impacted your recreation experience?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q10) 3 DK/ref (skip to Q10)
9a. What type of activity was the other individual or group engaged in?
(could be recreation or other activity)
______________________________________________________1 DK/ref (skip to Q10)
9b. What specifically caused the conflict?
______________________________________________________1 DK/ref
10. Do you recall seeing any signs of infrastructure or human activity that detracted from the scenic quality
within the area?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q11) 3 DK/ref. (skip to Q11)
10a. Specifically, what did you see that detracted from the scenic quality?
(Do not read, check all that apply, probe)
01 Roads 06 Trails
02 Communication towers 07 Vehicles (RV, ORV, motorcycles, cars, etc.)
03 Power lines 08 People
04 Railroad 09 Other: ____________________________________
05 Trash 10 DK/ref.
11. Do you recall if any noises detracted from your enjoyment of the area?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q12) 3 DK/ref. (skip to Q12)
11a. Specifically, what type of noises? (Do not read, check all that apply, probe)
01 Noise from other people 05 Helicopters 09 Chainsaw
02 Gunshots 06 Boats 10 Other_________________________
03 Airplanes 07 Four wheeler/ATV 11 DK/ref.
04 Jet aircraft sonic boom 08 Cars/trucks/RV
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey McDowell Group, Inc. • Page 4
12. Next, I am going to show you a list of outdoor recreation facilities, infrastructure, and sources of
information in the Study Area. Please tell me whether you think there should be a lot more, a little
more, a little less, a lot less, or the same number in the future.
A lot
more
A little
more
The
same
A little
less
A lot
less
Don’t
Know
a. Maintained roads 1 2 3 4 5 6
b. Designated parking areas 1 2 3 4 5 6
c. Roadside toilets 1 2 3 4 5 6
d. RV accessible sites at campgrounds 1 2 3 4 5 6
e. Trail maps 1 2 3 4 5 6
f. Designated trails for non-motorized use 1 2 3 4 5 6
g. Designated trails for off-road vehicles 1 2 3 4 5 6
h. Directional road signs 1 2 3 4 5 6
i. Visitor information 1 2 3 4 5 6
j. Visitor centers 1 2 3 4 5 6
k. Public use cabins 1 2 3 4 5 6
l. Boat launches 1 2 3 4 5 6
m. Facilities for the disabled 1 2 3 4 5 6
[Read] Next, I would like to ask you about the size of your traveling party.
13. Including yourself, how many people are traveling in your immediate party? By party, I mean those
sharing expenses such as food, lodging, and transportation.
1 # ______ in party 2 DK/ref.
14. Including yourself, what is the total number of people traveling in your group? By group, I mean friends
or relatives that are traveling with you, but not necessarily sharing expenses.
1 # ______ in group 2 DK/ref.
15. Are you a resident of Alaska?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q15c) 3 DK/ref. (skip to Q15c)
15a. What is your home zip code?______________ 01 DK/ref.
(skip to Q20)
15b. What community do you live in? ____________________ 01 DK/ref. (skip to Q20)
(skip to Q20)
15c. Do you live in the United States?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q16) 3 DK/ref. (skip to Q22)
15d. What is your home zip code?______________ 01 DK/ref. (skip to Q17)
(skip to Q17)
15e. What community and state do you live in? ____________ _____________ 01 DK/ref. (skip to Q17)
(skip to Q17)
16. In what country do you live? (Do not read) 01 DK/ref.
51 Australia 57 Germany 63 Netherlands 69 Taiwan
52 Austria 58 India 64 New Zealand 70 United Kingdom
53 Belgium 59 Italy 65 Russia 71 Other
54 Canada 60 Japan 66 Spain
55 China 61 Korea 67 Sweden
56 France 62 Mexico 68 Switzerland
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey McDowell Group, Inc. • Page 5
NON-ALASKA RESIDENTS
17. Now I’d like you to estimate your traveling party’s total spending within Alaska so far on this trip.
Your best guess is fine. $____________ 1 DK/ref.
18. Did your party purchase any multi-day packages that included lodging, transportation, and activities?
1 Yes 18a. Can you estimate the price per-person for this package? $___________ 1 DK/ref.
2 No
3 DK/ref.
19. Please tell me in which of these areas you have spent money on this trip.
(Read a-e, circle letter.) (show map if needed.)
19a. About how much has your party spent on lodging in (area)? Transportation in (area)?
(Repeat for each area visited and category. If “none,” enter $0. If “don’t know,” enter DK.)
Lodging Transportation
Food/
Beverage
Gifts/souvenirs/
clothing Other
a. Anchorage area $ $ $ $ $
b. Mat-Su Borough $ $ $ $ $
c. Denali Borough $ $ $ $ $
d. Fairbanks area $ $ $ $ $
e. Kenai Peninsula Borough $ $ $ $ $
Total $ $ $ $ $
SKIP TO READ BEFORE Q22
ALASKA RESIDENTS
[Read] Now, I would like to ask you about your trip expenditures.
20. Can you estimate your traveling party’s total spending so far on this outing?
Your best guess is fine. $____________ 1 DK/ref.
21. Please tell me in which of these areas you have spent money on this outing.
(Read a-e, circle letter.) (show map if needed.)
21a. About how much has your party spent on lodging in (area)? Transportation in (area)?
(Repeat for each area visited and category. If “none,” enter $0. If “don’t know,” enter DK.)
Lodging Transportation
Food/
Beverage
Gifts/souvenirs/
clothing Other
a. Anchorage area $ $ $ $ $
b. Mat-Su Borough $ $ $ $ $
c. Denali Borough $ $ $ $ $
d. Fairbanks area $ $ $ $ $
e. Kenai Peninsula Borough $ $ $ $ $
Total $ $ $ $ $
ALL RESPONDENTS
[Read] I have just a few more questions for demographic purposes.
22. In what year were you born? 19______ 01 DK/ref.
23. Including yourself, how many people live in your household for at least six months of the year?
#___________ 01 DK/ref.
24. Please point to the category that best describes your household [income] in 2012? 2 No
01 Less than $20,000 05 $75,001 to $99,999
02 $20,001 to $35,000 06 $100,000 to $149,999
03 $35,001 to $50,000 07 $150,000 or more
04 $50,001 to $75,000
Susitna-Watana Recreation Intercept Survey McDowell Group, Inc. • Page 6
25. Is anyone in your party disabled or have special needs related to outdoor recreation activities?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Read) 3 DK/Ref (skip to Read)
25a. Specifically, what type of needs do they have?
1 Wheelchair access to trails 4 DK/ref.
2 Wheelchair access to facilities 3 Other: _____________________________________________
[Read] To be entered in the drawing for your choice of a $1,000 Amazon.com or Cabela’s gift certificate, I
need your first name and email address. (If no email, ask for phone #) Your contact information will
not be used or shared for any other purpose beyond this study.
1 Refused (thank and end survey)
First name_______________ Email/phone_________________________________________
26. As part of this recreation study we may be conducting additional research. Would you be willing to
participate in a follow-up survey? 1 Yes 2 No
Thank you for participating in this survey!
27. Observed mode of transportation.
01 Car/Van/Truck 06 Alaska Railroad 10 Motorcoach
02 RV/Motorhome/Camper 07 Snowmachine 11 Pedestrian
03 Motorcycle 08 Dogsled 12 Other: _________________
04 Four-wheeler 09 Bicycle
28. Gender (DO NOT ASK) 1 Male 2 Female 3 Unknown
TalkeetnaRiver
S usitnaRiv e r MaclarenRiverSusitnaRiverDENALI HWY
GLENN HWY
RICHARDSON HWY
PARKSHWY
3 1
3 4
1
8
8
LakeLouiseSusitnaRiver
Talkeetna Glennallen
Cantwell
Paxson
DENALIDENALISTATE PARKSTATE PARK
S t u d y
S t u d yA r e a
A r e a
AnchorageAnchorage
Talkeetna
Anchorage
Anchorage
Fairbanks
Paxson
Glennallen
1
3
4
2
CantwellTalkeetnaTalkeetna0 10 205Miles
TalkeetnaRive r
S u s itna River MaclarenRiver3 1
3
4
1
8
8
LakeLouise
DENALI HWY
GLENNHWY
RICHARDSON HWY
PARKSHWY
3 SusitnaRiverDENALIDENALISTATE PARKSTATE PARK
ChulitnaRiverTrapperCreek
Brushkana CreekCampground
ClearwaterCreek Wayside
Tangle LakesCampground
Delta RiverWayside
ByersLake
ClearCreekSwede LakeTrailhead
Nenana RiverAccess
NenanaRiverJoe and JerryLakes Access
MP 120
MP 95
MP 80
MP 60
MP 50
MP 40
MP 30
MP 20
MP 10
Maclaren RiverLodge
Alpine CreekLodge
Gracious HouseLodge
MP 100
MP110
MP120
MP130
MP 140
MP 151
MP 160
MP 170
MP 180
MP 190
MP 200
MP 210
MP 90
Talkeetna Glennallen
Cantwell
Paxson
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16
17
18
19
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41
42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49
51 52 53 54
55 56 57 58
59
60
4
20TalkeetnaTalkeetna0 10 205Miles
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric
Project Intercept Site Recreation Tally
Date ___________ Arrival Time _____________ Location-grid #
Day of the week Su M Tu W Th F Sa Location description _______________________
Surveyors ___________________
Number of surveys completed at this location ______
Upon arriving at location, enter number observed and estimated capacity:
Observed: Estimated total capacity on/of:
_____ Cars/vans/trucks _____ Boat trailers
_____ RVs/campers _____ ATV trailers
_____ Motorcoach _____ Snowmachine trailers
_____ OHV/ATVs _____ Horse trailers
_____ Motor Boats (jet, prop, air) _____ Dog sleds (# of dog box units)
_____ Non-Motor Boats _____ Racks (bike/ski/kayak/etc.- specify)
_____ Snowmachines Other observation comments:
_____ Motorcycles ________________________________________________
_____ Bicycles
_____ Occupied campsites ________________________________________________
_____ Occupied picnic sites/tables
Case# Surveyed Party size Party
type1 Recreation type
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Other
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1 Party type: F=family, C=couple, I=Individual, G=apparent non-family group
Activity codes
01 Alaska Railroad 09Fishing for salmon 16 OHV/ATV
02Attending special event 10 Fishing other 17 Skiing
03Bird watching 11 Flightseeing 18 Snow machine
04Bicycling 12 Hunting 19 Snow shoeing
05 Camping remote 13 Hiking/backpacking 20Wildlife viewing
06Camping RV/cabin/campground 14 Motorized boat 21Other
07Collecting berries/mushrooms 15 Raft/canoe/kayak
08 Dog sledding
Attachment 4
Final Recreation Mail Survey Instrument
Alaska Outdoor Recreation
Thank you for helping us learn more about outdoor recreation activities in Alaska. The next four pages contain questions about your snow machining,
fishing, recreational boating, and hunting outings. Below is a tutorial of how to complete the questions. The text in red illustrates the type of information
that you would provide as answers to your questions. Please review this tutorial before going to Question 1 on the next page.
Recreational Snow Machining Anywhere In Alaska
1. Do you ever snow machine recreationally in Alaska? (Circle the correct choice) Yes GO TO QUESTION 2
No GO TO NEXT PAGE
2. In the table below, please list all of the locations where you snow machined recreationally between January and April 2013. If you did not snow machine
on any day between January and April 2013, please check this box and go to Question 4 on the next page.
Snow Machining between January and April 2013
Describe the location
where you snow
machined
Please be as specific as possible.
Write the name
where you accessed
this location
Trailhead name, nearest town
or point of interest, highway
milepost
Number
of snow
machining days
How many days did
you snow machine at
this location?
Snow
Machining
Location
When did you snow machine at each location?
Please write the number of each Snow Machining Location in the calendar
below. The Snow Machining Location numbers are presented in the column
to the left. Write in the Snow Machining Location number for each day that
you snow machined at that location between January and April 2013.
0
2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
January
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
February
0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24
31
25 26 27 28 29 30
March
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
April
0
0 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
If you snow machined at more than 9 locations and would like to
complete additional trip summaries, you can complete them online at
www.alaskarecreationsurvey.com or check the box to the right and we
will mail you additional summaries once we receive this completed
questionnaire.
Yes, please
send me
additional
summaries
3. What is the total number of days you snow machined between January and April 2013? _________ days
Turnagain Pass Trail Trailhead in Sunnyside
North of Willow by
Susitna North
Willow
Cooper Landing
Willow Lake Loop Trail
Sterling Highway
(Resurrection Pass Trail)
Denali Highway
(South Parks HIghway)
6
12
3
2
1
0
0
0
1
0 1
1
0
0
0 3
22
Tutorial
for your
review and
reference
1 | 2013 Recreational Survey
Recreational Snow Machining Anywhere In Alaska
If you have any questions on how to complete this summary, please refer to the tutorial on Page 1.
1. Do you ever snow machine recreationally in Alaska? (Circle the correct choice) Yes GO TO QUESTION 2
No GO TO NEXT PAGE
2. In the table below, please list all of the locations where you snow machined recreationally between January and April 2013. If you did not snow machine
on any day between January and April 2013, please check this box and go to Question 4 on the next page.
Snow Machining between January and April 2013
Describe the location
where you snow
machined
Please be as specific as possible.
Write the name
where you accessed
this location
Trailhead name, nearest town
or point of interest, highway
milepost
Number
of snow
machining days
How many days did
you snow machine at
this location?
Snow
Machining
Location
When did you snow machine at each location?
Please write the number of each Snow Machining Location in the calendar
below. The Snow Machining Location numbers are presented in the column
to the left. Write in the Snow Machining Location number for each day that
you snow machined at that location between January and April 2013.
Example: Turnagain Pass Trail Trailhead in Sunnyside 6 0 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
January
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
February
0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24
31
25 26 27 28 29 30
March
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
April
0
0 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
If you snow machined at more than 9 locations and would like to complete
additional trip summaries, you can complete them online at www.
alaskarecreationsurvey.com or check the box to the right and we will mail you
additional summaries once we receive this completed questionnaire.
Yes, please
send me
additional
summaries
3. What is the total number of days you snow machined between January and April 2013? _________ days
2013 Recreational Survey | 2
Recreational Fishing Anywhere In Alaska
If you have any questions on how to complete this summary, please refer to the tutorial on Page 1.
4. Do you ever fish recreationally in Alaska? Yes What type of species do you target (circle all that apply)? Halibut Rockfish Trout
(Circle the correct choice) Coho Sockeye Chinook Chum Pink Salmon Grayling Dolly Varden/Arctic char Other
No GO TO NEXT PAGE
5. In the table below, please list all of the locations where you fished recreationally between May and October 2012. If you did not fish on any day between
May and October 2012, please check this box and go to Question 7 on the next page.
Fishing between May and October 2012
Describe the
waterbody where you
fished
Please be as specific as possible.
Write the name where
you accessed this
location
Boat launch, nearest town or
point of interest
Number of
fishing days
How many days did you
fish at this location?
Fishing
Location
When did you fish at each location?
Please write the number of each Fishing Location in the calendar below.
The Fishing Location numbers are presented in the column to the left. Write
in the Fishing Location number for each day that you fished at that location
between May and October 2012.
Example: Kenai River Cooper Landing Boat Launch 10 0 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
May
0 0 0
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
June
0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
July
0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
August
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23
30
24 25 26 27 28 29
September
0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
October
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
If you fished at more than 7 locations and would like to complete
additional trip summaries, you can complete them online at
www.alaskarecreationsurvey.com or check the box to the right and we
will mail you additional summaries once we receive this completed
questionnaire.
Yes, please
send me
additional
summaries
6. What is the total number of days you fished recreationally between May and October 2012? _________ days
3 | 2013 Recreational Survey
Recreational Boating Anywhere In Alaska
If you have any questions on how to complete this summary, please refer to the tutorial on Page 1.
7. Other than fishing, do you ever go recreational boating in Alaska? Yes What type of recreational boating do you do (circle all that apply)?
(Circle the correct choice) Canoeing Kayaking Motor/Air boating Drift boating Rafting Sailing Other
No GO TO NEXT PAGE
8. In the table below, please list all of the locations where you went recreational boating between May and October 2012. If you did not go
recreational boating on any day between May and October 2012, please check this box and go to Question 10 on the next page.
Recreational Boating between May and October 2012
Describe the waterbody
where you went
recreational boating
Please be as specific as possible.
If you went fishing, please
complete a fishing summary.
Write the name
where you
accessed this
location
Boat launch, nearest town or
point of interest
Number of
recreational
boating days
How many days did you
go recreational boating at
this location?
Recreational
Boating
Location
When did you go recreational boating at each location?
Please write the number of each Recreation Boating Location in the
calendar below. The Recreational Boating Location numbers are presented
in the column to the left. Write in the Recreational Location number for
each day that you went recreational boating at that location between May and
October 2012.
Example: Valdez Harbor Valdez 9 0 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
May
0 0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
June
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
July
0
0
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
August
0
0
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23
30
24 25 26 27 28 29
September
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
October
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
If you went recreational boating at more than 7 locations and would like to
complete additional trip summaries, you can complete them online at www.
alaskarecreationsurvey.com or check the box to the right and we will mail
you additional summaries once we receive this completed questionnaire.
Yes, please
send me
additional
summaries
9. What is the total number of days you went recreational boating between May and October 2012? ________ days
2013 Recreational Survey | 4
Recreational Hunting Anywhere In Alaska
If you have any questions on how to complete this summary, please refer to the tutorial on Page 1.
10. Do you ever hunt recreationally in Alaska? (Circle the correct choice) Yes What type of game do you hunt (circle all that apply)?
Big game Small game Upland Birds Waterfowl Other
No GO TO NEXT PAGE
11. In the table below, please list all of the locations where you hunted recreationally between June and November 2012. If you did not go hunting on any
day between June and November 2012, please check this box and go to the next page.
Hunting between June and November 2012
Describe the location
where you hunted
Please be as specific as possible.
Write the name
where you
accessed this
location
Highway milepost, nearest
town or point of interest
Number of
hunting days
How many days
did you hunt at this
location?
Hunting
Location
When did you hunt at each location?
Please write the number of each Hunting Location in the calendar below.
The Hunting Location numbers are presented in the column to the left. Write
in the Hunting Location number for each day that you hunted at that location
between June and November 2012.
Example: Denali Highway Cantwell 6 0 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
June
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
July
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
August
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23
30
24 25 26 27 28 29
September
0
00
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
October
0
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
November
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
If you hunted at more than 8 locations and would like to complete
additional trip summaries, you can complete them online at www.
alaskarecreationsurvey.com or check the box to the right and we will mail
you additional summaries once we receive this completed questionnaire.
Yes, please
send me
additional
summaries
12. What is the total number of days you hunted recreationally between June and November 2012? _______ days
5 | 2013 Recreational Survey
Recreation in the Study Area
13. Do you live within the Study Area highlighted on the map on page 7? 1 Yes (skip to Q14a) 2 No
14. Did you visit the Study Area for any outdoor recreational activities between May 2012 and April 2013?
1 Yes (continue to Q14a-c) 2 No (skip to Q33 on page 14)
RECREATION Between May 2012 and April 2013 Most Recent Trip
Recreation Activities
14a.
Check box for each
activity that you
participated in within
the Study Area.
14b.
About how many days (all
or part of a day) did you
participate in this activity
within the Study Area?
14c.
What activities did
you participate in on
your most recent visit
to the Study Area?
A. Riding the Alaska Railroad 1 # _____ days 1
B. Bird watching 2 # _____ days 2
C. Bicycling 3 # _____ days 3
D. Camping - remote tent 4 # _____ days 4
E. Camping - RV/cabin/campground/roadside tent 5 # _____ days 5
F. Collecting berries/mushrooms 6 # _____ days 6
G. Dog sledding 7 # _____ days 7
H. Fishing for salmon 8 # _____ days 8
I. Fishing for other species 9 # _____ days 9
J. Flightseeing 10 # _____ days 10
K. Hunting 11 # _____ days 11
L. Hiking/backpacking 12 # _____ days 12
M. Motorized boating (jet, prop, air)13 # _____ days 13
N. Rafting/canoeing/kayaking/pack raft (non-motorized)14 # _____ days 14
O. Riding ATV’s 15 # _____ days 15
P. Skiing 16 # _____ days 16
Q. Snow machining 17 # _____ days 17
R. Snowshoeing 18 # _____ days 18
S. Walking/running 19 # _____ days 19
T. Wildlife viewing 20 # _____ days 20
Please write in any additional recreational activities you participated in while in the
Study Area between May 2012 and April 2013
U. Specify other activity______________________________21 # _____ days 21
V. Specify other activity_____________________________22 # _____ days 22
W. Specify other activity______________________________23 # _____ days 23
X. Specify other activity______________________________24 # _____ days 24
2013 Recreational Survey | 6
TalkeetnaRiv
e
r
S usitnaRiv e r
Ma clarenR iverSusitnaRiverDENALI HWY
GLENN HWY
RICHARDSON HWY
PARKSHWY
3 1
3
4
1
8
8
LakeLouiseSusitnaRiver
Talkeetna Glennallen
Cantwell
Paxson
DENALIDENALI
STATE PARKSTATE PARK
StudyStudy
AreaArea
AnchorageAnchorage
Talkeetna
Anchorage
Anchorage
Fairbanks
Paxson
Glennallen
1
3
4
2
Cantwell
0 10 205Miles
Study Area
7 | 2013 Recreational Survey
Your Most Recent Outing to the Study Area
15. What was your primary recreational activity on your most recent outing in the Study Area?
CHECK ONLY ONE ACTIVITY
01 Riding the Alaska Railroad
02 Bird watching
03 Bicycling
04 Camping-remote tent
05 Camping-RV/cabin/campground/roadside tent
06 Collecting berries/mushrooms
07 Dog sledding
08 Fishing for salmon
09 Fishing for other species
10 Flightseeing
11 Hunting
12 Hiking/backpacking
13 Motorized boating (jet, prop, air)
14 Rafting/canoeing/kayaking/pack raft (non-motorized)
15 Riding ATV’s
16 Skiing
17 Snow machining
18 Snowshoeing
19 Walking/running
20 Wildlife viewing
21 Other activity_________________________
16. Where did you participate in your primary activity on your most recent outing in the Study Area? Grid #____________________________
(Please write in the grid number/s found on the map on page 10.)
17. Had you ever been to the Study Area for this primary activity prior to your most recent trip?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q18 on the next page) 3 Live in study area
17a. What year did you first visit the study area for this activity? Year ________
(If you live within the Study Area, please indicate what year you moved there.)
17b. In general, how often do you participate in this activity in the Study Area?
01 More than 10 times per year 04 Once every few years
02 Two to ten times per year 05 Less than once every few years
03 Once every year
15a. (IF HUNTING WAS YOUR PRIMARY ACTIVITY)
Which of these was your primary harvest objective? (Do not include trapping.)
Please select only one.
01 Caribou – Federal subsistence
02 Caribou – State draw permit one bull
03 Caribou – State registration permit any caribou
04 Caribou – State community harvest
05 Caribou – Non-resident
06 Moose – Federal subsistence
07 Moose – State draw permit any bull
08 Moose – State draw permit cow
09 Moose – State community harvest
10 Moose – State harvest ticket
11 Moose – Non-resident
12 Bear (brown or black)
13 Waterfowl
14 Upland game birds
15 Other ________________________
2013 Recreational Survey | 8
Your Most Recent Outing to the Study Area
18. Did you hire a guide for any portion of your most recent outing to the Study Area? 01 Yes 02 No (skip to Q19)
18a. Did you hire the guide for your primary activity? 01 Yes 02 No
19. On your last outing, did you spend a night anywhere in the Study Area (besides your primary residence if you live in the Study Area)?
01 Yes 02 No (skip to Q22 on page 11)
20. How many nights did you spend in the Study Area on your last outing? # _______ (If you live in the Study Area, count only nights away from home.)
21. Please record how many nights you spent in each location below and the type of lodging. For additional locations, write in the location name and the grid
number found on the map on page 10.
Grid
Number
Hotel/motel/
B&B Lodge Private home
Established
campground
(RV/tent/etc.)
Undeveloped/on-
road RV/ camper/
car/ tent
Remote
camping (tent)Other
EXAMPLE: Denali Hwy Mile 45 #3 4 2
Talkeetna #51
Trapper Creek #51
Byers Lake #21
Cantwell #1
Brushkana Creek Campground #3
Tangle Lakes #19
Lake Louise #60
Additional location:
Additional location:
Additional location:
Additional location:
Additional location:
Additional location:
Please continue to next page.
9 | 2013 Recreational Survey
TalkeetnaRi ver
S u sitna River
M aclarenR iver3 1
3
4
1
8
8
Lake
Louise
DENALI HWY
GLENNHWY
RICHARDSON HWY
PARKSHWY
3 SusitnaRiverDENALIDENALI
STATE PARKSTATE PARK
ChulitnaRiverTrapper
Creek
Denali
Brushkana Creek
Campground
Clearwater
Creek Wayside
Tangle Lakes
Campground
Delta River
Wayside
Byers
Lake
ClearCreekSwede Lake
Trailhead
Nenana River
Access
N enanaRiverJoe and Jerry
Lakes Access
MP 120
MP 95
MP 80
MP 60
MP 50
MP 40
MP 30
MP 20
MP 10
1MP 90
MP 100
MP110
MP120
MP130
MP 140
MP 151
MP 160
MP 170
MP 180
MP 190
MP 200
1
MP210
Gracious House
Lodge
Alpine Creek
Lodge
Maclaren River
Lodge
Talkeetna
Cantwell
Paxson
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9
10
11 12 13 14 15 16
17
18
19
21
22 23 24 25 26 27
28
29
30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42
43 44 45 46 47 48 49
51
52 53 54
55 56 57 58
59
60
4
20
0 10 205Miles
Study Area Grid Locations
2013 Recreational Survey | 10
Your Most Recent Outing to the Study Area
22. Including yourself, how many people were traveling in your immediate PARTY, sharing expenses such as food, lodging, and transportation on your most
recent outing in the Study Area?
# ______ in party
23. Including yourself, what was the total number of people traveling in your GROUP on your most recent outing in the Study Area?
(A group is defined as friends or relatives traveling with you, but not necessarily sharing expenses.)
# ______ in group
24. Was there anyone in your party with a disability or special need related to outdoor recreation activities?
1 Yes 24a. Specifically, what type of needs do they have? 1 Wheelchair access to trails
2 No 2 Wheelchair access to facilities
3 Other: _____________________________________________
25. On your last outing in the Study Area, did you feel very crowded, somewhat crowded, or not crowded?
01 Very crowded 02 Somewhat crowded 03 Not crowded (skip to Q26)
25a. If somewhat or very crowded: Do you recall any places in particular where you felt crowded? 1 No (continue to Q26)
Please write in the name of the location/s below and the grid numbers of those locations (Map on page 10).
Place names Grid #
_________________________________ _______
_________________________________ _______
_________________________________ _______
26. On your last outing did you experience any conflict with other individuals or groups that negatively impacted your recreation experience in the Study Area?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q27)
26a. What type of activity was the other individual or group engaged in? (This could be recreation or other activity.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
26b. What specifically caused the conflict?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
27. What signs, if any, of infrastructure or human activity detracted from the scenic quality within the Study Area? (Check all that apply)
01 Nothing 06 Roads 11 Other: ______________________________
02 Communication towers 07 Trails
03 Power lines 08 Roadside camping areas
04 Railroad 09 Vehicles (RV, ATV, motorcycles, cars, etc.)
05 Trash 10 People
Please continue to next page
11 | 2013 Recreational Survey
Your Most Recent Outing to the Study Area
28. What noises, if any, detracted from your enjoyment of the Study Area? (Check all that apply)
01 Nothing 05 Helicopters 09 Noise from other people
02 Gunshots 06 Boats 10 Heavy equipment (road work, quarries, construction)
03 Airplanes 07 Four wheeler/ATV 11 Chainsaw
04 Jet aircraft sonic boom 08 Cars/trucks/RV 12 Other_______________________________
29. On your most recent outing, did you travel more than one-half mile from a trailhead or main road into the Study Area on foot,
in an off-road vehicle, by watercraft, or by a small airplane that landed in a remote part of the Study Area?
1 Yes 2 No (skip to Q30)
29a. Which modes of transportation did you use to travel more than one-half mile into the Study Area? (Check all that apply)
01 Walked/hiked 04 Non-motorized watercraft (canoe, kayak, raft etc.)
02 Off-road vehicle 05 Airplane (Landed more than one-half mile into the Study Area.)
03 Power boat 06 Other: __________________________________
29b. If you traveled by foot or off-road vehicle, did you travel on established trails, off-trail, or both?
1 Established trails 2 Off-trail 3 Both 4 Did not travel by foot or off-road vehicle
29c. Did you camp in the Study Area more than one-half mile from a trailhead or main road? 1 Yes 2 No
30. When considering your most recent outing, how important were the following factors in your decision to recreate in the Study Area?
(Please circle your answer)
Very important Somewhat important Not important
a. Wildlife viewing opportunities 1 2 3
b. The opportunity to hunt 1 2 3
c. The opportunity to fish 1 2 3
d. The opportunity to experience remote Alaska 1 2 3
e. The opportunity to experience solitude 1 2 3
f. The opportunity to challenge yourself 1 2 3
g. The scenery 1 2 3
2013 Recreational Survey | 12
Your Most Recent Outing to the Study Area
31. Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? (Please circle your answer)
I recreate in the
Study Area because…Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Disagree
a. This area means a lot to me.1 2 3 4 5
b. No other place can compare to this area.1 2 3 4 5
c. Recreating here is more important to me
than doing it in any other place.1 2 3 4 5
d. This area is close to my home.1 2 3 4 5
e. My family has been coming to this area for
generations.1 2 3 4 5
32. Below is a list of outdoor recreation facilities, infrastructure, and sources of information in the Study Area.
Please indicate whether there should be more, less or the same in the future. (Please circle your answer)
A lot more A little more The same A little less A lot less
a. Maintained roads 1 2 3 4 5
b. Designated parking areas 1 2 3 4 5
c. Roadside toilets 1 2 3 4 5
d. RV accessible sites at campgrounds 1 2 3 4 5
e. Trail maps 1 2 3 4 5
f. Designated trails for non-motorized use 1 2 3 4 5
g. Designated trails for off-road vehicles 1 2 3 4 5
h. Directional road signs 1 2 3 4 5
i. Visitor information 1 2 3 4 5
j. Visitor centers 1 2 3 4 5
k. Public use cabins 1 2 3 4 5
l. Boat launches 1 2 3 4 5
m. Facilities for the disabled 1 2 3 4 5
13 | 2013 Recreational Survey
Demographics
33. In what year were you born? 19______
34. Your gender: 1 Male 2 Female
35. Are you married? 1 Yes 2 No
36. Including yourself, how many people live in your household for at least six months of the year? #___________
37. Do children under the age of 18 live in your household? 1 Yes 2 No
38. Which category best describes your household income before taxes for 2012?
01 Less than $20,000 04 $50,001 to $75,000 07 $150,000 or more
02 $20,001 to $35,000 05 $75,001 to $99,999
03 $35,001 to $50,000 06 $100,000 to $149,999
39. Which category best describes your race?
01 White 04 American Indian or Alaska Native 07 Some other race
02 Black or African American 05 Asian
03 Hispanic 06 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
40. What is the highest degree or level of school you have COMPLETED?
01 Less than 9th grade 04 Some college, no degree 07 Graduate or professional degree
02 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 05 Associate’s degree
03 High school graduate, GED, or alternative 06 Bachelor’s degree
41. Are you a professional guide for any recreation activities?
1 Yes Q 41a. What type of activities do you guide? (Check all that apply)
2 No (continue to Q42) 01 Snow machining 03 Hunting 05 Other_________________________
02 Fishing 04 Boat/float tour
42. Do you or your family own a cabin in Alaska?
1 Yes Q42a. Approximately where is your cabin located? ____________________________________
2 No Cabin location
43. As part of this recreation study we may be conducting additional research. Would you be willing to participate in a follow-up survey?
Your contact information will not be used or shared for any other purpose.
1 Yes 2 No
43a. To follow up with you, may we have your email address or phone number?
Email address or phone number__________________________________________________
2013 Recreational Survey | 14
PASSCODE
Attachment 5
Recreation TWG Comments on Draft Intercept and Mail Survey Instruments
Comments of the National Park Service on Susitna Watana Hydro Project FERC P-14241
3/7/13 Recreation Survey Instruments
General Comments
The goal of the various surveys is to collect information about baseline recreational
opportunities and experiences in the Watana project area. These surveys are not intended to
assess support for or opposition to the project. Therefore it is important that the surveys avoid
appearing to “sell” the project to survey subjects. To this end, NPS appreciates the deletion of
language from project descriptions that emphasized potential project benefits such as its
theoretical power production absent any environmental flow release requirements, while
failing to disclose any negative impacts.
NPS has further recommendations about the project descriptions that introduce the surveys
and protocols. The latest drafts include information about the number of generating units and
their faceplate power ratings. Instead of providing this technical information, which is not
relevant to a survey subject’s understanding of the project’s footprint or likely impacts on
recreation, NPS suggests that the project introduction be edited to replace these generation
details with references to the new access road, airport, and operations buildings that would be
constructed in the project area. These facilities, along with the transmission line already
included in the project summary, are likely to affe ct recreational access and the character of
recreational experiences in the project area, so are highly relevant to survey subject’s
understanding of the purpose of the surveys and the geographical area that would be affected
by the project.
Study area maps accompanying the surveys should also include the likely location of
operational buildings, the airport, and alternative routes for the transmission line and access
road. The location of the dam should also be shown. Where the locations of reaches, the dam,
etc. are referred to in the surveys, consistent nom enclature should be used. NPS recommends
that PRMs instead of RMs be used to ensure that survey subjects are able to relate to study
plans and reports from other disciplines, and to ensure that the recreation and aesthetics
results consistent with the other studies.
Is it accurate to state that the reservoir would be “2 miles wide at widest” at the mouths of
tributaries when the reservoir is full? If not, please correct this statement. Please include the
length as well as the width of the reservoir.
The surveys that have not already been field tested (i.e., all of them except the Recreation
Intercept Survey Protocol) should be given trial runs with naïve subjects – i.e. subjects who are
not agency or consultant employees -- prior to the actual study so that confusing language can
be eliminated and any other flaws detected.
Recreation Intercept Survey
Our comments are on 3/7/13 version of this document, which lacks several changes made
before and during the 3/15-17 field test, including the addition of the NPS-recommended
conflict question, deletion of the memorable scenery location question, and other as-yet
unpublicized changes we have been told were made as a result of the field test. NPS notes that
with the addition of the conflict question, it will be important for the survey administrators to
be familiar with the most likely types of conflict, e.g. motorized vs. non-motorized recreation;
hunting and trapping vs. non-consumptive activities; and non-recreational activities
(subsistence and Watana field staff) vs. recreation.
Q. 3 – For this survey and the others that use the same tables and classifications, NPS
recommends the following minor changes to improve clarity: 1) add the word “tent” to the
heading of the 6th column from the left, to denote car camping, e.g. at pull-outs along the
Denali Highway; and 2) replace “wilderness” in the 7th column heading with “remote.” None of
the project area is in designated Wilderness so this will avoid confusion.
Q. 13 & 14 -- For this survey and the other instruments that use the same questions, NPS
recommends the following changes to the questions that attempt to differentiate between
party and group size: reverse the order of the questions, eliminate use of the easily-confusable
terms “party” and “group,” and simply ask first how many people are traveling together with
the survey subject, and second, how many of these people, if any, are sharing expenses with
the subject.
Winter Recreation Executive Interview Protocol
Q. 1. “First of all, do you use the river Susitna River corridor in the capacity . . .” NPS suggests
this consistent wording; winter use is not really of the river per se but of the river corridor
including the floodplain and riparian areas, which, when frozen and snow covered, are not
easily distinguished.
Q.5. NPS suggests adding references to problems with overflow to both the transportation and
recreation sections of this question. E.g., solicit detail about the timing and location of
overflow, and the degree to which it impedes safe travel, especially for repeat users of a given
area.
Q. 9. The surveyor should be prepared to prompt for information about conflicts between users
and uses, including details concerning who or what the interview subject sees as the provoker
vs. the provoked.
Questions 10 and 11 are somewhat duplicative. NPS recommends merging into a single
question asking whether the Susitna corridor “offers unique opportunities” and if not, what
other areas are similar. Then substitute a new question, to go before the uniqueness question,
asking subjects what attributes of the area are important to them, e.g. AK Range scenery, good
trail conditions, proximity to access points, easy route finding, solitude, nature, time with
friends and family, etc. This question will help provide information about winter recreational
experiences, not just the supply of opportunities.
River Recreation and Access Internet Survey
Like the Winter Recreation survey, this survey also lacks questions about the attributes of the
recreational experience, e.g. challenge, solitude, scenery, appropriateness for novice boaters,
etc. NPS strongly suggests substituting a question like this for each reach in place of the
existing questions 42-44 about whether the river’s recreational opportunities are better/worse
than average. On any river, there will be trade-offs between opportunities for high challenge
vs. opportunities for a family float. The project may alter the supply of such opportunities in
different ways, increasing some and decreasing others. We need to characterize which
opportunities are valued now in order to understand the baseline and evaluate future effects.
A displacement question – one which asks where the subject would go if project-related
changes decreased or eliminated the kinds of opportunities sought by the subject – would be a
very useful addition to this survey. NPS requested that displacement data be collected for this
project in its original ILP Study Request.
P.1. Please rewrite the project description in the introductory paragraph to help subjects
understand --infrastructure, flows, access, experie nces. They don’t need to know how many
turbines there will be. They do need to know that a new access road and facilities such as an
airport and multiple buildings will be constructed north of the dam site.
NPS suggests that the following language can be simplified: “Your participation in this survey is
important to the study’s success. Please base responses on your direct experience from your
trip rather than guidebooks, group opinions or historic flow preferences. Advances in boat
design have expanded the range of suitable flows on many rivers.” A discussion of changes in
boat designs is not relevant to the survey’s goals. Also, the second sentence could be read to 1)
instruct subjects not to talk about their own historic flow preferences, when in fact we do want
them to tell us what flows they prefer if they know this, and 2) to discount any conclusions
about optimal flows they may have reached after discussions with others on the same trip,
when in fact this is a perfectly valid way for boaters to assess flow suitability. Let’s just focus on
asking them to relate their own experiences.
At the bottom of this page, please add a reference to the 2014 Focus Groups that FERC required
to be added to the RSP. It seems likely that many internet survey subjects will also participate
in the focus group.
Q. 17. Suggested edit: “availability of time with family/friends”
Q. 20 & 21. NPS suggests that these questions may be confusing to some subjects. For
example, most anglers would see fishing as their primary activity and boating as a means to fish
(secondary). Hunters are likely to view the hierarchy of hunting vs. floating the same way – in
remote areas of Alaska, the primary reason for boating during the cold, rainy fall is to transport
heavy game out of roadless areas at less expense than flying. Those using planes to access the
river might be confused about whether this use was recreational or a form of transportation.
Q. 26 – This question provides an opportunity to find out if the survey subjects rented
watercraft for their trip. “Did you hire a commercial outfitter as a guide or rent a boat for the
river portion of this most recent trip on the Susitna River?”
Q. 28 & 29. Is anyone using snowmobiles to access the river for float trips? If not, this column
should be deleted.
Q. 32. By not collecting any information about where boaters who floated past Sunshine ended
their trip we are missing an opportunity to learn more about Lower River recreation. This will
be important information if, as seems likely based on 2012 study reports and revised study
plans for other resources, project operations result in a narrower, deeper Lower River with
reduced or eliminated braiding, encroachment of riparian vegetation onto existing gravel bars,
loss of tributary deltas and associated backwater pools, and consequent loss of spawning
habitat. These morphological changes are likely to affect recreational access and destinations.
Indian Creek is upstream of Gold Creek so these should be re-ordered in the table.
Q. 33 This question introduces scenario testing to a survey that otherwise focuses on
collecting baseline data. NPS strongly objects to the inclusion of this question. We contend
that it violates the survey’s objectivity because it evaluates a single scenario that addresses only
one of the many project-induced changes that could affect river recreation: changed access. It
is not even clear to NPS what exactly “changed access” means (More roads to the river?
Project infrastructure that puts public lands off-limits to recreationists? A dam blocking
downstream river trips?), and thus is likely to be even less clear to survey subjects. The existing
question completely glosses over a major form of “changed access” that will affect users of
Reach 1: the inundation of Class I-III moving water by a large, stillwater reservoir and
termination of the riverine portion of any float trip. NPS strongly urges elimination of this
question until a set of scenarios can be developed collaboratively by AEA and all stakeholders
and tested for all categories of recreation.
Such scenarios will need to include project details that are as yet unknown, e.g. the preferred
location of the new access road and other project infrastructure, and information about likely
changes to river morphology, flows, riparian vegetation, ice and sediment dynamics, and fish
and game habitat. Until other biophysical studies are completed, it would be difficult to
develop a set of scenarios that accurately encompass the likely range of project-related effects.
Whitewater Table
Surveyors should anticipate questions about the difference between WW boating and
“technical” boating and be prepared to explain the difference.
NPS suggests editing the “Number of Portages” caption to read “Portage or Lining Difficulty.”
For portages, it’s not just the number, but the length and difficulty that matter, and lining is a
commonly-used alternative in Alaska to a full portage around an obstacle or un-runnable
segment. The surveyor should be prepared to explain that “difficulty” encompasses the
number, length, and hazardousness of these detours.
Q. 39 Please edit the final entry to read “# of times I had to portage or line around around
unnavigable sections . . .”
Recreation Mail Survey
The first six pages of this survey appear to be statewide in focus, and there is no project
description or introduction explaining the purpose of the survey. NPS recommends deleting
the first six pages (which will only fatigue the subjects, making it less likely that they will
complete the survey) and providing a one-page introduction similar to the edited versions from
the other surveys. A map showing not only the boundary of the current study area, but project
facilities, should also be included.
The current version of this survey fails to solicit information about displacement, as requested
by NPS and others in our ILP study requests. Please consider adding this to an existing question
(e.g. Q. 29) or as a separate question.
Q. 13(j) Please clarify that “car camping” (sleeping in a tent in an undeveloped area) is included
in this row. Otherwise, please add a row.
Q. 14 – There seems to be a disproportionate focus on hunting details in this question.
Subsistence users should not be checking the activities on the left hand side unless they are
referring to their recreational activities. The question needs an introduction to instruct subjects
who engage in both subsistence and recreational activities how to answer.
Q. 18 – Please edit this table to add “tent” or “ca r camping” to the “undeveloped” column
heading and to replace “wilderness” with “remote.”
Please add “Denali State Park” and/or “K’esugi Ridge”, “along Denali Hwy” and “River” (name
river) to left hand side location choices.
Please reverse order of Qs 20 & 21 and edit as suggested in the Intercept Survey comments,
above to make it easier for subjects to understand.
Q. 24 – Please replace this with the same conflict question added to the intercept survey; or
add this as a new question.
Q. 28 – Please add the “opportunity to experience challenge or self-reliance,” and “other”
(write-in) to this question.
Q. 40 What is the purpose of the cabin ownership question? The answer might be relevant if it
asked whether the subject owns a cabin in the study area, but in that case, we should also ask if
they own a second home in the area.
1
P.O. Box 320, Talkeetna AK 99676 susitnadamalternatives@gmail.com
www.susitnadamalternatives.org
3/22/13
Comments to Alaska Energy Authority
Draft Recreation Resources Study and River Recreation Flow and Access Study
2013 Surveys
The goals of Revised Study Plan 12, Recreation and Aesthetic Resources, is to
research, describe and establish recreational supply and demand (current and
future projections) and to assess reasonably foreseeable recreation needs by both
Alaskans and visitors.
1. The Coalition for Susitna Dam Alternatives (CSDA) asserts the necessity of
the inclusion of the Lower Susitna River in the Recreation and Aesthetics
Study Area.
This is necessary in order to get a true picture of how project impacts will affect and
change the character, availability, and access for recreational opportunities.
The Revised Study Plans and 2012 studies of ice processes, instream flows, riparian
vegetation, etc are showing project impacts below Sunshine and the intersection of
the Susitna River with the Parks Highway. The Federal Power Act, regulations, and
the Integrated Licensing Process requires equal consideration for non-power values
of the river. By having a lesser study area, this is not happening.
There are many stakeholder concerns on project impacts in the lower river
regarding the Deshka River recreational activities, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and
the Iron Dog Snowmachine Race to name a few activities.
The decision to broaden the study area will be made by the applicant in 2014. Thus,
a whole season will be lost. There are questions about how that impacts the overall
data collection especially if there are unusual weather related events.
2
2. There are concerns with the introductory sections of the draft River Access
Survey Instrument for Internet and the draft Winter Corridor Recreation
Executive Interview. These introductions are the same for both surveys.
• The statement “Preliminary studies have indicated the surface
powerhouse should have 3 generating units with an installed capacity of
600 megawatts of renewable energy.” should be deleted. This is
unnecessary. The goal of these surveys is to get the subjects to tell
what they do and where they go in the overall project area. All those
subjects need is a good description of the project area and the
geographical extent of the facilities.
• The next sentence should have extra language. After “powerhouse and
related facilities” should be added “of permanent roads,
transmission line and an 8000 foot cargo jet runway.” The current
introductory language minimizes the project footprint and
emphasizes the project benefits which are unknown at this time.
• It is incorrect to describe the reservoir in the introduction as “two
miles wide (at widest).” AEA’s own maps show that the reservoir
width at Deadman Creek will be 7 miles wide. And if the dam height is
increased in the future, the reservoir would be even wider. The
language should read “with current dam height, it will be seven
miles (at widest).”
Submitted by Becky Long
Talkeetna Community Council, Inc.
PO Box 608
Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
To : bmcgregor@aidea.org
Subject: Comments Re. AEA’s Revised Study Plan
Recreation Survey Instruments
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project No. 14241-000
These comments are submitted by the Talkeetna Community Council, Inc. (TCCI),
the elected local advisory body that represents public interests for the Community
of Talkeetna, Alaska, an unincorporated National Historic Tow nsite located within
the Matanuska-Susitna Borough 90 river miles south of the proposed Susitna-
Watana Dam.
The Talkeetna Community Council has many concerns about the Proposed
Susitna-Watana Dam; with this statement TCCI presents the most critical concerns
regarding AEA’s Recreation Survey Instruments. The proposed studies will
attempt to represent base line data for existing Susitna watershed conditions as
well as attempt to identify potential impacts from operations of the proposed
project.
The studies which focus on recreation are of critical concern to the
community of Talkeetna and other No. Susitna residents. The recreational
opportunities available in the Susitna watershed are valuable to both quality of life
and regional economics. TCCI maintains the importance of thoroughly examining
the natural conditions and resources present in the current Susitna River watershed
and how they determine the ecological and economic future of the region.
TCCI concerns include, but are not limited to, the following key issues:
RE: 12-6 River recreation and Access Survey (formerly 12-4 in AEA RSP )
Project Description
TCCI has reviewed the survey instrument and requests the project description
include an expansion of “related facilities” in the last line:
“The powerhouse, dam, and related facilities would be linked by a transmission
line ( or lines) connecting to the Railbelt Intertie”
The description should clearly identify facilities such as “ access corridor, 5,000
foot runway, and temporary construction camp.” The access corridor and runway
will be permanent and will have pertinent impacts on recreation.
Reservoir Width - the width of the reservoir at Watana Creek exceeds the current
description of “ two miles at it’s widest”. Correction required.
2013 Executive Interview Protocol - Winter Recreation on the Susitna River (
Winter River Corridor Executive Interview)
TCCI requests the same addtions/corrections to the project description in this
instrument as noted above.
Other Survey Instruments-
TCCI has reviewed the original draft of the River Recreation and Access Survey
and has not received the updated changes following TWG edits. In the original
RSP drafts there were discrepancies in project descriptions - some noted “the dam
and reservoir will alter downstream navigation and access” and others notes “the
dam and reservoir could alter downstream navigation and access”. They should
both consistently read “will”.
Recreation Studies -
On page 12-52 of the RSP the study notes :
“if possible, trappers using the river corridor will be interviewed”.
“ A few winter residents in cabins upstream of Talkeetna will be queried”
The study should mandatorily include trappers using the river as well as ALL
residents of Chase who depend on the river for access.
Recreation and Recreation Flow Studies should be extended below the Susitna
River Bridge to include the Lower River. TCCI is especially concerned with
recreational outfitters and launch owners who will be ne gatively effected by altered
flows in both summer and winter.
Questions -
1.)There appears to be no project description in the mail survey. Will there be a
cover letter of any kind?
2.) Following NPS’s request to add winter intercept sites to the Winter Recreation
Survey ( AEA had deemed these “too dangerous”) we had expected to discuss
these sites at the February 25th TWG. What is the status of these sites?
Conclusion - TCCI is regularly contacted by consultants or surveyors working
within the council boundaries. As mentioned in the introduction of these
comments, the council is particularly focused on the recreational suite of studies.
The TCCI Susitna Dam Committee has requested to be included in the executive
interview process and has received no contact regarding survey details. We have
requested the executive interview list to ensure all pertinent operators in our
boundary are represented. TCCI has spoken with Bob Koenitzer re garding the
executive interview list which has been compiled and he has directed us to AEA
for our review request. Please advise as to when this draft will be available for
review and comment
Whitney Wolff
Co-Chair TCCI Susitna Dam Committee
1
Kirby Gilbert
From:Betsy McGregor <BMcGregor@aidea.org>
Sent:Friday, March 22, 2013 5:23 PM
To:Kirby Gilbert; Kramer, Tim (tim.kramer@urs.com)
Subject:FW: Talkeetna Community Council Inc. - Recreation Survey Comments
ͲͲͲͲͲOriginalMessageͲͲͲͲͲ
From:WhitneyWolff[mailto:traleika@alaska.net]
Sent:Friday,March22,20134:17PM
To:BetsyMcGregor
Subject:TalkeetnaCommunityCouncilInc.ͲRecreationSurveyComments
Pleasenote:TCCIincludedthelengthoftherunwayatthedamat5Kanditshouldbecorrectedto8K.
Thanks,
WhitneyWolff
TCCI