Company logo; a stylized red castle, with the following text below: US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
Walla Walla District

Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D
Natural River Drawdown Engineering




Annex M
Recreation Access Modification Plan


Table M-1 Proposed Modifications to Recreation Sites


Annex M: Recreation Access Modification Plan

M.1 General

This study annex concerns the evaluation of the effects of reservoir drawdown on recreation areas and/or boat accesses along the Snake River from its mouth to the Idaho border, approximately 230 river kilometers (140 river miles). Affected reservoirs include Lake Sacajawea (Ice Harbor Reservoir), Lake West (Lower Monumental Reservoir), Lake Bryan (Little Goose Reservoir), and Lower Granite Lake (Lower Granite Reservoir).

M.2 Methods

Each of the 33 recreation areas were evaluated and assigned a ranking of low, medium, or high regarding the potential impact of the drawdown. Table M1 represents modifications to recreation sites. This annex does not attempt to evaluate post drawdown recreation usage at each of the affected recreation areas. That topic is addressed in other sections of this study.

 
Table M1
Proposed Modifications to Recreation Sites
Location Launch
Ramp
Parking Other Access
Road
Parking Launch
Ramp
Other
Lake Sacajawea (Ice Harbor Reservoir)
North Shore Ramp 2 2,800 Toilet, shelter        
Charbonneau 2 5,000 Toilet, shelter, swim beach, marine dump station 1,710 5,600 2 lane Toilet
Levy 2 5,500 Swim beach, handling docks 735 5,600 2-lane ramp Toilet
Fishhook 2   Boat moorage, swim beach, and fixtures   2,200 2-lane  
Windust 1   Swim beach   2,200 2  
Matthews 1   Handling docks     2  
Lake West (Lower Monumental Reservoir)
Devils Bench 2 25-car 2 vault toilets        
Ayers Boat Basin 2   4 handling docks,
2 picnic shelters,
vault toilet
       
Lyons Ferry State Park   44-car-trailer Flush toilet facility, swim beach and fixtures,
4 picnic shelters
  8,000 2 Vault toilet
Lyons Ferry Marina 2 44-car-trailer,
22-car
Flush toilet facility, handling docks, swim beach and fixtures, restaurant, and maintenance building        
Texas Rapids 2     2,100   2  
Riparia              
Lake Bryan (Little Goose Reservoir)
Little Goose Landing 2   Handling docks        
Central Ferry State Park 4 73 car-trailer Handling docks, marine dump station 2,500 6,700 2 Vault toilet
Garfield County Ramp 2 Gravel Vault toilet        
Willow Landing 2   Handling docks, vault toilet        
Illia Landing 2 11-car trailer Vault toilet, picnic tables, mooring docks        
Illia Dunes              
Boyer Park and Marina 3   Flush toilet, gas dock facility, marine dump station, hotel, restaurant, handling docks, swim beach 740 6,700 2 Vault toilet
Lower Granite Lake(Lower Granite Reservoir)
Offield Landing 1 15-car trailer,
10 car
Handling dock, sun shelter, vault toilet        
Wawawai County Park              
Wawawai Landing 1 27 car-trailer Swim beach and fixtures, picnic facilities, chemical toilet 3,911 5,000 2 Vault toilet
Blyton Landing 1 17 car-trailer,
19 car
         
Nisqually John Landing     Picnic facilities, vault toilet        
Chief Timothy State Park 4 Car-trailer Handling docks, marine dump station 1,470 6,667 2 Vault toilet
Hells Canyon Resort (Redwolf Marina) 2   Marina, gas dock facility, marine dump station, log breakwater, handling docks 611 5,000   Vault toilet
Greenbelt Ramp and Boat Basin 2 34 car-trailer,
34 car
Floating boathouse, marine fueling station, handling docks 660 5,000 2 Vault toilet
Southway Ramp 2   Chemical toilets, handling docks 1,470 5,000 2 Vault toilet
Swallows Park     Swim beach facilities, handling docks 1,223 5,000 2 Vault toilet
Hells Gate State Park 6 X Handling docks, marina, commercial moorage, marine fueling station, marine dump station, swim beach facilities 1,223 6,667 2 Vault toilet
Chief Looking Glass Park and Marina 2   marina        
Clearwater Park     X        
Clearwater Ramp           2  

Considering existing site facilities, features, usage, access, and topography, the study team determined the general impacts of drawdown and mitigative actions required to maintain water access to the post drawdown water levels. The team determined that it would be best to close some sites because of the post drawdown water level and/or the site’s proximity to dams and other areas that would remain operational. Estimated post drawdown water elevations were derived from 1957 topographic surveys.

M.3 Assumptions

The study team assumed that the Corps would continue to manage and maintain currently owned lands within the study area. It was assumed that lessees would not be responsible for removal of facilities such as marina moorage, restaurants, hotels, or facilities left in-the-dry as a result of drawdown. This annex does not address mitigation to landowners or lessees for direct effects on current businesses and/or personal liabilities.

M.4 Site Modifications

Site modifications include actions such as abandoning part or all of the facility, demolition of part or all of a facility, and relocation boat ramps, parking lots, and visitor facilities. Table M1 summarizes the modifications at each site.

Demolition of facilities is the removal of all buildings, roads, parking lots, utilities, guardrails, light poles and restoring the site to a relatively undeveloped condition. It does not include removal of vegetation. For some recreation areas the entire area is to be demolished. For others, only marinas and boat ramps are to be demolished. Functions such as day use and camping may continue.

For those recreation areas where boat access to the river is necessary, the existing ramp and associated features will be demolished and a new ramp, parking, and facilities constructed as appropriate for the new river conditions.

M.5 Conclusions

Two of the 33 recreation areas evaluated for this study would not be affected by the drawdown; two would be closed to river access and 11 would close entirely. The remaining 18 areas would require modifications for river access. Nine marinas or boat moorage facilities would no longer exist. All swimming beaches, as they currently exist, would be impacted due to severe changes in the water elevations. For sites with irrigated lawns, wells or extended river intakes would be required to ensure continued vegetation. Table M1 provides a detailed listing of all the recreation areas evaluated, with the associated site modifications resulting from drawdown.


List of Appendixes

Annex A Turbine Passage Modification Plan

Annex B Dam Embankment Excavation Plan

Annex C Temporary Fish Passage Plan

Annex D River Channelization Plan

Annex E Bridge Pier Protection Plan

Annex F Railroad and Highway Embankment Protection Plan

Annex G Drainage Structures Protection Plan

Annex H Railroad and Roadway Damage Repair Plan

Annex I Lyons Ferry Hatchery Modification Plan

Annex J Habitat Management Units Modification Plan

Annex K Reservoir Revegetation Plan

Annex L Cattle Watering Facilities Management Plan

Annex N Cultural Resources Protection Plan

Annex O Irrigation Systems Modification Plan

Annex P Water Well Modification Plan

Annex Q Potlatch Corporation Water Intake Modification Plan

Annex R Other River Structures Modification Plan

Annex S Potlatch Corporation Effluent Diffuser Modification Plan

Annex T PG&E Gas Transmission Main Crossings Modification Plan

Annex U Hydropower Facilities Decommissioning Plan

Annex V Concrete Structures Removal Plan

Annex W Implementation Schedule

Annex X Comprehensive Baseline Cost Estimate


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