Recreation Management on the Lewis River: Problems and Soluions in the Pacific NW

摘要

PacifiCorp owns and operates 53 hydroelectric projects in the western United States producing approximately 1,000 MW of electricity. About one-half of this electricity (500 MW in three projects) is generated on the Lewis River in southwest Washington State. Along with nearby Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (Monument) and other Federal and state forest lands, PacifiCorp's three large Lewis River reservoirs also provi8de extensive recreation opportunities for Washington and Oregon residents, especially those in the nearby Portland, Oregon -Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area. The hydroelectric projecs have become a boating and camping backyard playground for residents of this area. As such, the Lewis River provides an opportunity to examine the various recreation management problems faced by an operator of a large hydroelectric project in the Pacific Northwest and to identify ways to resolve those problems. How can an operator appropriately manage its recreation facilities and accommodate large influxes of visitors? This discussion provides examples of recreation management solutions that have been implemented on the Lewis River, as well as other solutions being considered to address the area's growing recreation management oncerns. Key management issues discussed include: (1) a short, intense visitor season, (2) visitor use induced by other adjacent visitor attractions, (3) conflicts between reservoir users, (4) dispersed shoreline use, (5) visitor behavior problems. (6) recreation devleopment, and (7) recreation operations.