Recreational Impacts of Coastal Restoration Projects CNREP Presentation Joseph Berlin May 28, 2010

Recreational Impacts were Estimated for Three Projects White Ditch Sediment Diversion Atchafalaya Conveyance Freshwater Diversion MRGO Ecosystem Restoration

White Ditch Sediment Diversion East Bank of Plaquemines Parish One Feature Four Alternatives by size Smallest Study Area

Atchafalaya Conveyance Freshwater Diversion Northern Lafourche Parish Several Features Features combined into Seven Alternatives

MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Orleans Parishes; Hancock County Many Features Features Combined into Multiple Alternatives

Six Steps to Corps Planning Process Identify Problems and Opportunities Inventory and Forecast Conditions Formulate Alternative Plans Evaluate Alternative Plans – Current Phase Compare Alternative Plans Select a Plan

Stages of a Federal Project Reconnaissance Study Feasibility Study Preconstruction Engineering and Design Construction Operation and Maintenance Feasibility Study Includes Alternative Selection Incidental Recreation Benefits are included in Feasibility Study Documents Incidental Recreation Benefits do not affect Alternative Selection

Three Approved Procedures to Measure Economic Benefits of Recreation Travel Cost Method  Requires Detailed Data for Travel Expenses / Travel Distances Contingent Valuation  Requires Surveys of Recreational Users for Willingness to Pay

Three Approved Procedures to Measure Economic Benefits of Recreation Unit Day Values  Based Upon Specified Criteria to Determine Value of Recreation Day  General Recreation - $3.54 to $10.63 per day  Specialized Recreation - $14.40 to $42.09

Estimation of Unit Day Value Hunting and Fishing can be either Generalized or Specialized Recreation Number of Possible Activities Impacts Values Must Account for Net Value Transfer from One Area to Another

Criteria for Estimating Unit Day Values Recreation Experience  Number of Activities Availability of Opportunity Carrying Capacity Accessibility Environmental  Esthetics

Data Sources Used To Estimate the Value of User Days Freshwater Discharges from the Davis Pond and Caernarvon Diversions Salinity Measurements LaDWF Creel Surveys  Target Species – Fish Sought  Fish Caught – Number and Size  Perception Waterfowl  Aerial Survey by Cross Section

Creel Fishing Surveys Intercept Survey Performed by LaDWF Species Sought  Several Species Dominate Speckled Trout and Red Drum (Saltwater) Largemouth Bass (Freshwater) Species Caught - Number and Size Perception of Trip

Data Sources Used To Estimate the Number of User Days Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Department of Wildlife and Fisheries License Data  Hunting and Fishing Licenses  Boat Registration DWF Registry of Boat Launches (Location and Size)

Process of Estimating Benefits A Focus Group was Held for Each Project to Obtain Expert Opinions Various Interest Groups Participated in Focus Groups  Sportsmen  Conservation Groups  Government Agencies  Major Landowners Project Details were presented to the Focus Group  Restoration Measures were Explained  Alternatives were not Available

Focus Group Findings There are Many Potential Impacts on Recreational Fishing Recreational Users are not Flexible about Activities  Hunting and Fishing Remain the Primary Recreation Activities  Little expectation of changing Target Fish Species  Hunting and Wildlife Watching are Seasonal Activities

Specific Conclusions From Focus Groups Oyster Reefs are Important to Recreational Fishing Floating Marsh is Important to Waterfowl Hunting Floodgate Operation is Important to Marina Operators

Coastal Restoration Issues Impacting Recreation Benefits Freshwater Diversions Impact Recreational Fishing  Freshwater and Saltwater Species Coexist in the Same Areas Waterfowl Hunting is Highly Variable between Years  Waterfowl are Impacted by Turbidity, not Salinity

Difficulties in Estimating Impacts Wildlife Watching is Difficult to Measure  Seasonal Migrating Birds Number of Users in Study Area is Difficult to Determine Users can Shift Between Areas Most Areas in Coastal Louisiana have Proposed Restoration Projects

Recreation Benefits Model Atchafalaya Conveyance Results Alt 1 – Utilize Flow Management to Maximize Benefits of Existing Flow Alt 2 - Increase Atchafalaya Inflows and Utilize Flow Management Alt 3 – Grand Bayou Pump and Utilize Flow Management

Recreation Benefits Model Atchafalaya Conveyance Results Alt 4 – Increase Atchafalaya Inflows, Grand Bayou Pump and Utilize Flow Management Alt 5 - Increase Atchafalaya Inflows, and Utilize Grand Bayou Dredging Alt 6 – Houma Navigation Lock Management

Recreation Benefits Model Atchafalaya Conveyance Preliminary Results Without Project Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Alternative 5 Alternative 6 Net present Value $0$2,077,000$2,799,000$1,588,000$1,505,000$252,000$190,000 Annualized$0$102,505$138,137$78,371$74,275$12,437$9,377

Recreation Benefits Model White Ditch Results Alt 1 – 5,000 c.f.s. Diversion Alt 2 – 10,000 c.f.s. Diversion Alt 3 – 15,000 c.f.s. Diversion Alt 4 – 35,000 c.f.s. Diversion

Recreation Benefits Model White Ditch Preliminary Results Without Project Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Net present Value $0$1,206,000$1,278,000$1,421,000$853,000 Annualized $0$57,284$60,704$67,496$40,517

Recreation Benefits Model Conclusion Provides a Consistent Method of Measuring Impacts Uses Standardized Values for Recreation Days Annualizes Benefits over Project Period Based Upon National Economic Development (NED) Procedures  Increase in User Welfare