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Show Recreation, Tourism and Cultural Resources Perceptions of GSL vary among local residents. Some find that the lake offers great beauty and quality recreation and significantly enhances the quality of their lives. Others view the lake negatively and find little value in GSL. Out- of- state tourists often view GSL as one of the most well- known of Utah's natural resources, and aspire to visit the lake while visiting northern Utah. The tourism industry and local residents alike desire greater access to GSL provided in a manner that does not impair lake resources ( DPR, 1994). The demand for recreational uses of GSL's resources is expected to grow in the future. The lake's extraordinary numbers of water birds, magnificent sunsets and vistas, no- sink swimming, the trails, wildlife, cultural and range resources and development of Antelope Island and open space next to a growing metropolitan area all point to growing interest in visiting and recreating at GSL. Based on internal and external scoping, the planning team identified a number of interests and concerns with regard to management of GSL's recreation resources, including: • Capacities and uses of existing recreational sites, marinas and other facilities are issues. • Management of AISP needs to be considered. • Recreational boat navigation through existing causeways is a concern. • Camping, hiking, biking, trails, automobile touring and picnicking opportunities and access are issues to be considered. • Hunting, birdwatching and wildlife management area access and opportunities need to be considered. • Hunting and AISP user conflicts are issues to be addressed. • Resource education and interpretation opportunities are issues to consider. • Cultural resource protection needs to be addressed. • Recreational off- highway vehicle ( OHV) use on sovereign lands is an area of concern. • A centralized south shore visitors/ activities area needs to be considered. Although a large number of specific recreation- related concerns and issues were raised during internal and external scoping, the general themes of the concerns related to the numbers and types of recreational opportunities available on GSL, user conflicts, the environmental impacts of recreational uses and educational and interpretive opportunities. Rather than devote discrete sections to discussion of each issue, this section provides a description of the kinds, locations and uses of recreational facilities and opportunities on GSL, existing interpretive and 129 |
