Asian American Recreation at Two Corps Lakes in California: A Hmong Case Study

摘要

Research is being conducted at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES) on the existing and future use of Corps of Engineers operating projects by ethnic minority customers. The purpose of this research is to obtain information on minority recreation preferences and needs so that Corps decision makers can use this information in project planning and operations. This technical note presents the preliminary findings of research among one group of Asian Americans and discusses the implications of this research regarding the Corps' working relations with all its Asian American customers. This research effort is a response to Executive Order 12862: 'Setting Customer Service Standards,' and Executive Order 12898, 'Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.' Following an initial plan of study meeting held in Dallas, Texas, in 1995, four ethnic minority groups were proposed to be studied during the 3-year period 1997-1999. These groups include Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans. This technical note presents the preliminary findings of research conducted among one group of Asian Americans, the Laotian Hmong. Two Corps Lakes in California with high Asian American utilization were the focus of the 1998 investigation: Hensley Lake, located near Madera, California, and Pine Flat Lake, located near Fresno, California.