OCR Text |
Show important role in the State's recreational plan. The enlarged reservoir would provide increased recreational benefits that should be urgently needed in the near future. By 1980 it is expected that use of the reservoir would approximate 850,000 recreation- days and projections for the year 2000 indicate 1,200,000 days of use,^ 9 Utilization in 1971 was estimated to approach 144,000 recreation days. During 1972, the utilization increased to 502,500 recreation days. 115 The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife1 has estimated that the enlarged reservoir would provide an annual increase of 45,800 man- days of fishing ( based upon original design of 15,320 acres) over the estimate of 206,700 man- days for the existing impoundment. The 19 72 use estimates for fishing were 470,000 fisherman days. The expected increase in fishing would result because there would be an increase in surface area of the reservoir with no decrease in existing quality. However, the net gain in fishing recreation would be offset somewhat by an estimated loss of 18,500 man- days of stream fishing annually because of inundation and reduction of flows in the Strawberry River. In addition there would be recreational losses associated with reductions in deer ( 903 man- days per year) and sage grouse ( 350 man- days per year) habitat. Waterfowl losses were estimated at 800 man- days of hunting. The exact nature of the planned recreational development is presently being worked out in cooperation with the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the State of Utah and the Strawberry Water Users1 Association and is expected to be finalized soon. Reservoir right- of- way will include sufficient land to provide public access to the reservoir shoreline and enough land to satisfy existing and future recreational demands. Public recreation facilities would be designed to conform with State Board of Health standards. Recreational facilities to be provided at the reservoir would include: marinas, boat ramps, camping, and picnicking facilities, motels, restaurants, trailer villages, and roads and trails for riding, hiking and bicycling. A development of this magnitude will require considerable planning and substantial funding, and will also result in significant environmental alteration, much of which will involve removal of existing structures. A further assessment of impacts will be made when plans are finalized. Additional discussion of recreational development is presented in Section D. Proper development of the lands adjacent to the reservoir is expected to substantially reduce the inevitable increase in environmental stress resulting from increased utilization 230 |