1. Introduction

Southern California Edison (SCE) is in the process of relicensing their Borel Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 382). To initiate the process, SCE prepared a First Stage Consultation Package (FSCP), which was circulated to the agencies and interested parties for review and comment in June, 2000. SCE received a number of letters commenting on various aspects of the FSCP. Among other things, several parties, including the Sequoia National Forest (SQF), the National Park Service (NPS), and American Whitewater (AW), commented that SCE should conduct a recreation use and/or monitoring study. The following summarizes the comments SCE received regarding recreation use monitoring.

• In their September 12, 2000 letter, the SQF requested that SCE conduct a recreation use and distribution study. According to the letter, "the study would utilize methods and protocols established in the Plan to Monitor Recreation Use for the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project. Survey instruments would be modified in coordination with the SQF, Bureau of Land Management, and other interested parties. Inventory current amount and distribution of all recreation activities in the vicinity of the project. The application would contain a Recreation Use Sampling Plan identifying the sampling objectives, priorities, and population sample, sampling frame, sampling unit, sample design and sample size."

• In their September 5, 2000 letter, the NPS requested that SCE "estimate existing recreation use, activities, and distribution within the project area. Are facilities at capacity, are social carrying capacities being exceeded? The study should be focused on the activities which are expected to increase: whitewater boating, flat water boating (reservoir), fishing, mountain biking, hiking, other day use activities, and camping. Draw conclusions on projected use and activity range."

• The NPS’s September 5, 2000 letter further requested that SCE conduct an angler survey to "determine the amount of existing and future use and where access improvements might be made."

• American Whitewater’s (AW’s) September 11, 2000 letter indicates that the "conservation groups expect a detailed study of recreation use on the Lower Kern River in the reach dewatered by the Borel project and below the project outflow." The letter further indicates that SCE should "conduct a formal recreation use monitoring plan for the Borel reach."…"The recreation use monitoring study should survey users querying them on flow levels relative to quality of experience, trip expenditure information, frequency of visits and place of origin. The survey should be developed collaboratively with American Whitewater, Friends of the River Kern River Alliance and the Kern River Outfitters."

Note thSeveralat many of the letters SCE received include requests for recreation information not directly related to the recreation surveys. For example, the SQF letter requests that SCE conduct a recreation facility development and use suitability study. In this case, some information regarding facility development and use can be obtained through the recreation use study. The recreation use plan described herein therefore addresses these topics, and others, when appropriate.

The remainder of this report briefly describes the Borel project area and associated recreation setting, and describes SCE’s proposed plan to monitor recreation use on the lower Kern River.

It should be noted that study requests and comments concerning recreation surveys at Lake Isabella are still being evaluated and that any survey effort at the lake would be addressed in a separate plan.

1. Setting

The Borel Hydroelectric Project is a 12.0 MW hydroelectric project owned and operated by SCE. The Project is located on the North Fork of the Kern River, in Kern County, California. The Project operates under license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The current license expires on February 28, 2005.

The Borel Project was constructed in 1904 and originally diverted water from the North Fork of the Kern River at a point located just east of the town of Wofford Heights. However, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) constructed the dam creating Lake Isabella in 1953, the Borel Diversion Dam and about 5 miles of the Borel flowline were submerged. The original Diversion Dam still exists beneath Lake Isabella and when reservoir levels drop below about 110,000 acre-feet, the Diversion Dam and flowline are exposed. This situation occurs only during dry water years.

During most water years, water for the Borel Project is drawn directly from Lake Isabella at the Isabella Auxiliary Dam and conveyed through a flowline. The flowline terminates at four penstocks, which direct water through the Borel Powerhouse. The Powerhouse is located on the east side of the lower Kern River, approximately 7 miles downstream of Lake Isabella. Below the Borel Powerhouse tailrace, the Kern River is undiverted for 13 miles, at which point Democrat Dam diverts water into SCE’s Kern River No. 1 (KR-1) Hydroelectric Project.

2.1 Flow in the Lower Kern River

Operation of Lake Isabella controls the majority of flow in the lower Kern River. The lake has a maximum capacity of 570,000-acre feet (AF) and is operated as a multipurpose reservoir. Its primary function is flood control but the reservoir is also managed to meet water rights of downstream users, held mainly by agricultural interests and energy companies, and to accommodate reservoir recreation. During the summer months, nearly all of the water released from Isabella Lake is used to irrigate approximately one million acres of Kern County land in the San Joaquin Valley.

Inflow to Lake Isabella is typical of most streams in the southern Sierra Nevada. That is, flow is lowest during the winter months when most precipitation falls as snow. Flow increases in the spring due to snowmelt, begins to decrease in June or July, and returns to winter lows by September. Storage of water in Lake Isabella during the spring shifts the overall hydrograph downstream of the lake, particularly during average and dry water years. Accordingly, the low flow period downstream of Lake Isabella extends beyond the winter months to early spring (March and April). Peak flows are dampened and occur during the summer irrigation season (June, July, and August) rather than during spring runoff.

2.2 Recreation Resources associated with the Lower Kern River between Isabella Lake and Democrat Dam

The Borel Project facilities are situated on private land, and public lands managed by the Corps, the SQF and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Specifically, the original diversion dam and intake structure, about 5.5 miles of flowline, and the new intake structure are located within the boundaries of Lake Isabella, which is administered by the SQF. The dam structures, gates, and land immediately downstream from the dams are administered and operated by the Corps. Below Lake Isabella, the Borel flowline traverses private land and land managed by the Corps, the BLM, and the SQF.

Developed Recreation Areas

Developed recreation areas on the lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam are shown on Figure 1 and include three river access sites managed by the BLM and three campgrounds and two day use areas managed by the SQF. The BLM river access sites are referred to as Slippery Rock, BLM South and BLM at Keyesville Bridge (BLM North). The SQF campgrounds are referred to as Main Dam Campground, Sandy Flat Campground, and Hobo Campground; the day use areas are referred to as Miracle Hot Springs and Democrat Beach. All of these facilities are described further in the following.

Main Dam Campground. This campground is located on the north side of the Kern River, just below Lake Isabella’s Main Dam, off of Highway 155. The campground is situated on a small parcel of land managed by the SQF that is surrounded by land managed by the BLM to the west and south and by privately held parcels to the east. The Campground consists of 82 family units with fire rings, tables and grills. Water, flush and vault toilets, and a RV dump station are also available. The campground is open form May through September and accommodates visitors using both Lake Isabella and the Kern River.

Slippery Rock. This site is located on the north side of the Kern River, just south of Highway 155 on land managed by the BLM. The site was recently improved by the BLM in coordination with the California Department of Boating and Waterways (CDBW). Slippery Rock can be accessed from Highway 155 by a short paved road, which leads to a relatively large paved unloading area. The paved unloading area provides access to a sandy slope, which has been graded and terraced to facilitate boat launching. Other amenities at the site include double vault accessible toilets, information signs, garbage bins, and large unpaved, but graded parking areas. The entire site has been fenced to direct traffic and pedestrian flow and to protect the surrounding soils and vegetation from damage.

Slippery Rock is heavily used by commercial and private boaters. In addition, it accommodates visitors participating in dispersed streamside activities such as fishing and is used for overnight camping, although no designated campsites are present.

BLM South. This site is located on the south side of the Kern River, just below Lake Isabella, on land managed by the BLM. The site was recently improved by the BLM in coordination with the CDBW. The site can be reached via an unpaved road that begins at Highway 155, about .5 miles north of its intersection with Highway 178. The unpaved road traverses gently sloping terrain for about .5 miles, where it intersects a short paved road, which leads to a small paved unloading area. The paved unloading area provides access to a natural bedrock slope that is used as a boat launch. Other amenities at the site include double vault accessible toilets, information signs, garbage bins, and large unpaved, but graded parking areas.

BLM South is heavily used by commercial and private boaters. In addition, it accommodates visitors participating in dispersed streamside activities such as fishing and is used for overnight camping, although no designated campsites are present. A network of unimproved roads traverses the hillsides between Highway 155 and the Kern River. These roads provide access to segments of the Kern River immediately upstream and downstream of the BLM South site. These areas also receive heavy dispersed overnight and day use.

BLM at Keyesville Bridge (BLM North). This site is located on the north side of the Kern River, about 3.5 miles downstream of Lake Isabella, on land managed by the BLM. The site can be reached via an unpaved road that diverges from Keyesville Road. The access site is located immediately below a Highway 178 bridge crossing but is not accessible from the Highway. The site is unimproved but provides good river access. This site is a designated whitewater boat launch site but is usually only used during dry water years when flows in the lower Kern River are low (Pers. Comm, M. Ayers, 12/21/99).

Sandy Flat Campground. This campground is located on the south side of the Kern River, about .5 miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. The campground is accessible by vehicle via the Old Kern Canyon Road, or from the river by boat. The campground is managed by a concessionaire under permit from the SQF and includes 35 family camping units, some of which are accessible, and accessible vault toilets. The campground can accommodate RV’s up to 24 feet long and is suitable for trailers. Sandy Flat Campground is open from May 1 through September 30, on a first come first serve basis. It is also used as a day use area and day use parking is available for a fee of $5.00 per day.

The Sandy Flat area provides good river access for anglers and boaters. The SQF recently improved the area, with SCE’s help, to provide better access for anglers and boaters. Among other things, the SQF improved the road access to the site and constructed a boat launch. The site now serves as one of four designated launch sites.

Hobo Campground. This campground is located on the south side of the Kern River, about one mile downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. The campground is accessible via the Old Kern Canyon Road and by boat. The campground is managed by a concessionaire under permit from the SQF and includes 35 family camping units, toilets and trash bins. Hobo Campground is open year round both on a reservation system and on a first come first serve basis. The Hobo Fishing Trail extends from Hobo Campground to Sandy Flat Campground and provides good river access. According to the SQF, the campground can accommodate RV’s up to 24 feet long and trailers. Boat launching is not permitted at this campground.

Miracle Hot Springs. Miracle Hot Springs is situated just downstream of Hobo Campground, about 1.5 miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse, and is accessible via the Old Kern Canyon Road. The Miracle Hot Springs area consists of a day use area, which includes a graded but unpaved parking area, a picnic area, a small boat launch, and a trail, which leads to the hot springs. The hot springs are located about .25 miles downstream of the parking area, on river left (looking downstream) and consist of several small cement and boulder pools situated immediately adjacent the Kern River. The main parking area, picnic area and hot springs are managed by a concessionaire arrangement with Friends of the hot Springs under a SQF Special Use Permit. Visitors can park in the parking area and/or use the hot springs for a fee of $5.00 per day. The boat launch area is managed by the SQF and provides river access for boaters and anglers. Boaters dropping off or retrieving their boats may use the ramp for free provided they exit within half an hour (Kern River Update #4, 1999). The Miracle Hot Springs day use area is open year round.

Democrat Beach Day Use Area and Take-out. This facility is located about one mile upstream of Democrat Dam and provides river access for boating, fishing, and picnicking. It is accessible from Highway 178 via a winding, partially paved one-lane road. The site consists of a large, unpaved parking area that is connected to a smaller paved loading area located near the river. The site is not designated as an overnight facility and, as such, has no campsites. However, toilet facilities are present. The site is the designated take-out for the whitewater run upstream and is extensively used by private and commercial boaters and is the last public access point above Democrat Dam. Currently, there are no fees for using this facility.

Delonegha Access and Boat Launch. This site is located on the east side of the river about 13 miles downstream of Lake Isabella, south of the bridge where Highway 178 crosses the Lower Kern River near Delonegha Hot Springs. The site is not currently available for use but the SQF and the California Resource Agency, through grants from the California Department of Transportation and CDBW, are developing the site to provide another river access site and boat launching area. Once complete, visitors will be able to access the river or launch/take-out boats, just downstream of the Highway 178 bridge crossing. Plans for the site are currently being developed.

Dispersed Recreation Areas and River Access Points

Aside from the developed recreation areas described above, access to the lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam is relatively limited. The river parallels Highway 178 but road access from the Highway is difficult owing to the steep terrain and distance between the river and the Highway. Near Lake Isabella, where the river traverses BLM and private land, the river is accessible via secondary and unimproved roads that originate along Keyesville Road and others that traverse Forest System lands southwest of Bodfish. Overnight dispersed use is allowed on most of the public lands managed by the BLM and SQF. Dispersed day and overnight use is particularly common in the vicinity of the BLM South access site described earlier.

From the Borel Powerhouse down, where the river traverses the SQF, the Old Kern Canyon Road provides the best access to the Kern River. The Old Kern Canyon Road parallels Highway 178 on the south side of the Kern River and can be accessed near Democrat Station, near the Borel Powerhouse, and from the west end of Bodfish. Several small roads and trails lead from Highway 178 to a few river access points and trailheads. Three areas in particular, referred to as Black Gulch North and South, and China Gardens, are particularly popular for dispersed day and overnight use. Black Gulch South is located just north and east of the Borel Powerhouse, and occupies the area between the Highway 178 and the Kern River. Black Gulch North is located immediately opposite Black Gulch South on the north side of the Kern River. China Gardens is accessible from an unpaved road that leads off of Highway 178 about one mile west of Democrat Station. China Gardens consists of several beach areas that are popular for both day use and overnight camping. The SQF provides portable toilets at the China Gardens site, but otherwise it is undeveloped.

Whitewater boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking account for much of the dispersed use along the lower Kern River and are activities that will be addressed in the monitoring plan. Accordingly, dispersed recreation areas used by whitewater boaters, and hiking trails in the Project area are briefly described in the following.

Dispersed Recreation Areas used by Whitewater Boaters. The SQF conducted an inventory of the areas along the lower Kern River that could accommodate overnight camping and documented the location of these sites in the Kern River Floating Plan. The Plan identifies seventeen sites along the river that are suitable for overnight camping. According to the Plan, nine of them can serve groups of twenty-five, one will accommodate a group of twenty, two will serve groups of fifteen and the remaining five will accommodate groups of ten. All of these sites are situated downstream of the Borel Powerhouse.

The Kern River is boated both privately and commercially. Presently, four commercial outfitters operate on the lower Kern River under Special Use Permit. These include: Kern River Tours (KRT), Chuck Richards Whitewater (CRWW), Whitewater Voyages (WV) and Outdoor Adventures (OA). The commercial outfitters commonly run two-day trips on the Lower Kern River, camping overnight. As such, the SQF has assigned four large camping areas along the lower Kern River to the commercial outfitters. These four sites are accessible by unpaved roads that are gated and locked to discourage use by non-commercial boaters or other visitors. The KRT, CRWW and WV sites are located about 2 miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse on river left. The OA site is located about 5 miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse on river left.

According to the SQF, private boaters do not typically camp at dispersed sites along the river. Most private boaters boat for one day, shuttling their gear between put-ins and take-outs by car. Those that boat for two or more days generally camp at the developed campsites or dispersed areas that are accessible by car. As such, the SQF has not designated camping areas for private boaters.

Trails. The lower Kern River is used by hikers, mountain bikers, and anglers. Neither the BLM nor the SQF restrict these uses along the lower Kern River but bicycles (and OHVs) are required to stay on designated roads and trails. Mountain biking is popular in the Keyesville area and each year the National Off Road Bicycle Association sponsors a stage race called the Keyesville Classic. In 1996, the eighth year of the event, 848 participants competed and more than 2,500 spectators watched the action" (BLM 1996).

There are 7 trails in the vicinity of the project, as follows: Hobo Fishing Trail, Kern River Trail, Mill Creek Trail, Patch Corner, Remington Ridge Trial, East Kern Canyon Trail, and Badger Gap Trail. These trails are shown on USGS 7.5 minute topo maps and are described in SQF pamphlets. Of these, two provide good access to the Kern River. These trails may be included in the recreation survey effort and are therefore described in the following.

Hobo Fishing Trail. This trail is about 0.5 miles long and begins at Hobo Campground and parallels the Kern River northward to Sandy Flat Campground. The Trail traverses relatively gentle slopes and provides good river access for fishing and other streamside activities.

Kern River Trail. This trail is 5.3 miles long and begins on the north side of Highway 178 near the confluence of Delonegha Creek and the Kern River. From Delonegha Creek, the trail heads southwestward, paralleling the Kern River, through open hillsides of grass and oak woodland, terminating about 1.5 miles west of China Garden. The trail provides good opportunities for wildflower viewing, particularly from mid March through late April.

Private Recreation Areas and Access Points

Aside from the public and dispersed recreation areas described above, there are three privately owned areas that have historically been used for recreation and may be used for recreation in the future. These include: 1) a private parcel just west of China Gardens; 2) Delonegha Hot Springs; and 3) Democrat Hot Springs. The property owners currently restrict access to these parcels. However, the SQF is considering purchasing the parcel near China Gardens with the intent of returning it to general forestland without improvements. In addition, the owner of Delonegha Hot Springs has expressed an interest in opening the hot springs as a commercial business. The Delonegha Hot Springs proposal has not been approved owing to the poor access conditions from Highway 178.

Recreation Activities

Recreation activities that occur along the Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam, and in the vicinity of the Borel Project facilities include: whitewater boating, fishing, hiking, biking, equestrian use, camping, nature viewing and/or viewing scenery, picnicking, recreational mining, swimming and wading, and OHV use. According to the SQF, whitewater boating is the most popular activity on the lower Kern River and represents the highest amount of use. Accordingly, it is the focal point of most management activities by the BLM and the SQF, and is described further in the following.

Whitewater Boating. The lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam is about 18 miles long and, with the exception of one portage, is boatable for its entire length. It is possible to run the entire reach in one day but the majority of boaters take two days, camping along the way. The portage is cumbersome with a lot of heavy gear so those boaters who camp generally do so at the designated campgrounds where they can bring in supplies and gear in vehicles. The whitewater resources from Lake Isabella to Democrat Dam are described in a SQF information pamphlet and in two published whitewater guidebooks: The Best Whitewater in California (Lars Holbeck and Chuck Stanley, 1998) and California Whitewater (Jim Cassidy and Fryar Calhoun, 1990), and summarized in the following.

Boaters generally access the lower Kern River between Isabella Dam and Democrat via five designated launch sites. The location of these sites are depicted on Figure 1 and are generally referred to as: 1) Slippery Rock; 2) BLM South; 3) BLM at Keyesville Bridge (BLM North); 4) Sandy Flat and 5) Miracle Hot Springs. Democrat Beach, located about one mile upstream of Democrat Dam, is the designated take-out.

Cassidy and Calhoun rate the lower Kern River class IVp on the International Scale of Difficulty. The "p" denotes that there is one mandatory portage. In this case, the mandatory portage is located at a rapid referred to as Royal Flush. The rapid can be portaged on river right via a relatively wide trail and bridge that was originally constructed by the local commercial outfitters in coordination with the SQF. The bridge was recently replaced through a grant from the CDBW.

According to Cassidy and Calhoun, the lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam is runnable in kayaks at flows greater than about 400 cfs and in rafts at flows ranging from about 700 to 5000 cfs. Flows above 400 cfs are typically present year round during wet and average water years, and from March through August during dry years, both upstream and downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. Conversely, flows high enough for rafting are rarely present either upstream or downstream of the Borel Powerhouse during dry years. During both wet and average years rafting flows (> 700 cfs) are present during most months upstream of the Borel Powerhouse. The Borel Project augments flows downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. As such, downstream of the Powerhouse, rafting flows are typically present all year round during average and wet years.

Recreation Use Monitoring

The lower Kern River is boated both privately and commercially. The SQF monitors the private and commercial whitewater boating programs through on-the-ground monitoring as well as through different permit processes. Private boating use is monitored through the issuance of annual private boating permits and the associated manifest system. On-the-river monitoring, as well as shore-based, site specific monitoring, occurs during the course of the whitewater boating season. Commercial whitewater outfitters operate under Special Use Permit. The public service they provide is monitored both on the river and at their overnight camp sites each season. General recreation use is documented through the district recreation program’s staff.

SQF Manifest System. Private boaters who use the lower Kern River above Democrat Dam are required to obtain annual permits from the SQF. Each day, a completed SQF manifest must be left at a designated drop-off point for the specific river run prior to the first launch. If new passengers are added to a trip during the day, a new manifest must be completed and left at a designated drop-off point prior to the next launch. Both the manifest form, as well as a river user comment form, are provided for the public’s use and convenience at all the designated river access points. They are also available at SQF offices. Information about the permit system, as well as safety information, is disseminated to the boating pubic by using the bulletin boards at these designated river access points (SQF, October 10, 2000).

By requiring a manifest to be completed, the SQF accomplishes several goals. It enables the SQF to compile data detailing how much use the river resource is receiving. Also, the manifest documents when and where boaters are putting in. This allows the SQF to determine what areas area being boated and by how many persons. This can establish trends that can be used in making future management decisions. The vast majority of the boating pubic has been very cooperative in obtaining their private boating permits and completing manifests. (SQF, October 10, 2000)

Observational Visitor Counts. SQF personnel also periodically record information on use of the developed recreation sites along the lower Kern River. According to the SQF, these "counts" are considered only ballpark estimates and are done primarily on holiday weekends. Personnel from either the fire prevention or recreation patrols conduct the counts, which are used to determine District-wide estimates for annual reporting purposes.

Commercial Permits. Commercial use of the lower Kern River requires a SQF Special Use Permit. Currently, four commercial whitewater outfitters hold Special Use Permits to operate on the lower Kern River. The commercial outfitters are required to report to the SQF the number of user days, by river section, for each month they operate on the lower Kern River. Each year the SQF monitors all commercial whitewater boating use on and off the water.

Recreation Use Statistics

Only limited data are available on activities and site-specific use of the lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam. Based on discussions with the SQF, it is believed that data on use of the overnight campgrounds within the project area are available. The SQF also compiles data regarding use within the entire Greenhorn District, which includes the lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam. In general, total recreation use during the years 1988 through 1993 for the Greenhorn Ranger District has been steadily increasing and ranged from a low of 395,100 RVD’s in 1988 to a high of 529,100 RVD’s in 1993. (One RVD is defined as one person for 12 hours, or 12 people for one hour, or any equivalent combination.)

The permit and manifest system provides the SQF with more specific records regarding commercial and private whitewater boating use along the lower Kern River. Commercial rafting use has varied each year but ranged from a low of 5,746 RVD’s in 1991 to a high of 14,248 RVD’s in 1993. SQF records indicate that commercial boating use on the lower Kern River is typically highest in June and July and tapers off in August. A minimal amount of commercial boating occurs during April and May. SQF records indicate that between 1991 and 1993, private boating ranged from 2,292 RVD’s to 4,167 RVD’s.

2. Proposed Plan to Monitor Recreation Use

This section describes SCE’s proposed plan to monitor recreation use in the Borel Project reach and in the undiverted reach between the Borel Powerhouse and Democrat Dam (study area). The plan describes the objectives of the monitoring study, the approach to designing and implementing the study, and the sampling procedures for data collection. In addition, drafts of the forms to be used for conducting the user surveys are included in Attachment A.

The AW, the NPS and the SQF requested that SCE conduct a recreation use monitoring study, including the evaluation of recreation visitor use and distribution. The NPS and the SQF further requested that this study identify important characteristics of visitor activities, including whitewater boating, flatwater boating, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, other day use activities, and camping. The AW suggested that users should be queried on flow levels relative to quality of experience, trip expenditure information, frequency of visits, and place of origin. Based on these study requests, specific objectives of the monitor study are as follows:

• Estimate the level of recreation use, by activity and time period, at different locations within the study area, and

• Describe important characteristics of users of the study area, including place of residence, frequency of visits, activity participation, other recreation areas visited, quality of experience, local spending patterns, and perceptions about recreation quality.

Data collected by implementing this monitoring plan will be used to address these study objectives.

It is important to note that the Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) requested that SCE conduct a creel census and the NPS requested that SCE conduct an angler survey. The creel census and angler survey have different study objectives than those described in this plan, and they are addressed in a separate plan. However, the timing of the creel census and angler survey, including the analysis of survey data, is being coordinated to the extent practicable with the recreation visitor study described in this plan.

The study will be carried out in three work phases: design of the data collection effort, collection of recreation use data, and data analysis and reporting. Each of these work phases is described below.

As requested by several reviewers of the FSCP, a collaborative process was used to design the data collection effort. A 7-step process that encouraged input from interested parties was followed. These steps (and completion dates) are as follows:

1. A preliminary draft plan for monitoring recreation use is distributed for review (Feb. 27)
2. Reviewers submit comments on the draft plan (March 13)
3. Survey firm is retained to collect use data (March 23)
4. Comments on the plan are discussed with commenters and the survey research firm and the draft plan is revised (April 11)
5. Final monitoring plan is distributed (April 13)
6. Survey forms and protocol are field tested and revised, as necessary (by April 19)
7. Collection of use data begins (by April 20)

The first step was preparing and distributing the draft plan. Comments and suggestions from interested parties on the plan were reviewed and, in some cases, discussed with the commenting party. The draft plan was then revised in response to these comments. The collection of use data is scheduled to begin by April 20.

As suggested by the SQF and AW, data collection methods and protocols similar to those used in SCE’s KR-1 monitoring study will be used. Two user surveys (general visitor survey and whitewater boating survey) and a vehicle count study will be conducted to collect the data needed to achieve the study objectives. A separate survey of whitewater boaters is being conducted to collect, in a somewhat different format, more detailed information on the whitewater boating experience. Questions in the general user survey also are included in the whitewater boating survey.

As described in more detail in the Sampling Procedures section below, the user surveys and vehicle counts will be conducted at randomly selected locations between the main dam at Isabella Lake and Democrat Dam (Figure 1). Data will be collected at developed and dispersed recreation areas near the river, and potentially at parking areas and pullouts along the Old Kern Canyon Road and along the non-freeway segments of State Highway 178. Locations where use and vehicle data will be collected are as follows:

• Main Dam Campground
• Slippery Rock
• BLM South
• BLM North
• Sandy Flat Campground
• Hobo Campground
• Miracle Hot Springs
• Delonegha Access and Boat Launch (dispersed)

• Black Gulch (dispersed)
• China Garden (dispersed)
• Democrat Beach

These 11 sites will be assigned to three geographic clusters for sampling purposes. The first cluster includes the Main Dam Campground, Slippery Rock, BLM South, and BLM North. The second cluster includes Sandy Flat Campground, Hobo Campground, and Miracle Hot Springs. The third cluster includes Delonegha Access and Beach Area, Black Gulch, China Garden, and Democrat Beach. Additional sites such as pullouts along the non-freeway segment of Highway 178 or along Old Kern Canyon Road may be added if observations made during vehicle count days indicate that visitor use of these other areas is more than incidental.

Collection of use and vehicle data will begin in mid-April of 2001 and continue through March of 2002. Data will be collected during two seasons: April through October, and November through March. The April through October period covers the primary recreation season for fishing, whitewater boating, and other general recreation activities. The November through March period represents the secondary season for recreation on the Lower Kern and collection of data is expected to be more limited.

The user surveys will be conducted at sampling locations during different times of the day corresponding with three survey periods: 8 a.m. to noon, noon to 4 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For sampling purposes, weekdays include Monday through Thursday and weekend days include Friday through Sundays and Monday holidays. The days selected for user surveys and vehicle counts will be randomly selected each month over the primary and secondary recreation season.

Similar to the KR-1 use monitoring study, SCE is not proposing at this time to rely on information currently collected in the SQF’s manifest system to monitor use in the study area. However, as with the KR-1 monitoring study, SCE will work with the SQF to evaluate the effectiveness of the manifest system.

Data from the user surveys and vehicle counts will be tabulated and summarized for inclusion in the draft and final Application for License. The user survey data will be reported by preparing frequency distributions for each question, including cross-tabulations for key variables (e.g., activities and locations). Questions pertaining to the quality of the recreation experience will be correlated with flow conditions.

Data from the vehicle counts will be used to estimate the number of people participating in different activities. The number of activity occasions by river reach, by type of activity, and by season will be estimated. An activity occasion is defined as one individual participating in one activity during any reasonable portion or all of one day, and is one of the standard units used by the SQF to estimate recreation use. Use data also may be converted to Recreation Visitor Days.

This section describes the procedures for implementing the three data collection efforts (general visitor survey, whitewater boating survey, and vehicle counts) in the study area. It should be emphasized that the procedures described below will be re-evaluated after 2-4 weeks of data collection and also periodically during the sampling period to determine whether changes are needed. Protocol modification is likely as better information becomes available on the level and distribution of recreation use in the study area.

For purposes of describing the sampling procedures, the following terms and associated definitions are used.

Typically, the first step in the sample design process is to determine the sample size for the survey. Because very limited information is currently available on the level and distribution of recreation use in the study area, specific sample size objectives are not established. Alternatively, the survey effort is designed to collect sufficient data to have a sample that is representative of the patterns of use, and that is consistent with generally acceptable standards for sample sizes to achieve desirable statistical properties.

A trained interviewer will be assigned to conduct the surveys in the field five days a week throughout the sampling periods. In-person interviews will be conducted on four of the five days each week, with the fifth day devoted to vehicle counts. Two weekend days (including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and two weekdays (Monday through Thursday) will be randomly selected each week for in-person interviews. All 3-day weekends (including Monday holidays) will be included for sampling. The specific days for conducting surveys will be randomly selected during the two sampling periods, as described below.

Based on data collection experience along the KR-1 Project reach, we anticipate minimum completion rates averaging 6 surveys per day during the primary recreation season (April through October) and 3 surveys per day during the secondary recreation season. Based on these completion targets, it is estimated that approximately 670 in-person interviews will be completed during the 7-month primary recreation season and about 240 surveys during the 5-month secondary season. It should be emphasized that these estimates are based on conservative completion rates and the actual number of completed surveys is likely to be higher.

Our target for sampling tolerances is to obtain a sampling error of no more than +/-5.0% with 95% confidence, which is a generally accepted standard for level of precision in outdoor recreation surveys. The sample sizes described above are expected to meet or exceed these targets for the population of users as a whole. To achieve these sampling tolerances for specific user groups, particularly groups that participate in water-dependent activities such as fishing and waterplay, additional information is needed on the proportion of total use that each group represents. This type of information, including total use and use by type of activity, will be reviewed at different checkpoints throughout the survey periods to help refine the sampling procedures.

Randomization of Sampling Periods and Locations. An important step in the sampling process is to randomize sampling locations, days and sampling periods throughout the survey periods (April 2001 through October 2001, and November 2001 through March 2002). Each day of the survey period will be divided into three sampling periods (time blocks during which the interviewer will select recreation users to interview): 8:00 A.M.-12 Noon, 12 Noon to 4:00 P.M., and 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

The sampling points will be at the developed and dispersed recreation areas previously identified and potentially at parking areas and pullouts along the non-freeway segment of State Highway 178 and along Old Kern Canyon Road. Because the river along the Borel study area is much less accessible than along the KR-1 study area and because there are more developed recreation areas, there will be fewer sampling locations for the Borel study area (about 11) than for the KR-1 study area (about 30).

Using systematic sampling of sites with a randomized start, in-person interviews will be completed at sampling points within each of the three river sections (clusters) in the study area. A 4-hour sampling period will be randomly assigned to one of the river segments, and a site location within the river section will be randomly selected as the starting point for the surveys. The interviewer will then move up-river or down-river to the next site location within the river section once all potential respondents have been intercepted at a particular location. After 15 minutes of inactivity at any sampling point, the interviewer would move to the next site location within the river section. For each day of sampling, two of the three sampling periods (8 AM to Noon, Noon to 4 PM, and 4 PM to 8 PM) will be randomly assigned to one of the river sections.

Random Selection of Recreation Users at Each Sampling Point. To minimize selection bias and to ensure that the survey results can be generalized to the population of recreation users, a system of random selection of recreation visitors also will be implemented to the extent feasible. Because most interviews will occur at campgrounds and day use areas with a relatively high density of users, a randomized approach to selecting survey participants is considered important for minimizing potential selection bias. A set of random numbers will be generated for each sampling period. These random numbers will be used to count off recreation users at a sampling point and to select which users will be interviewed. The unit of measurement in the study will be individual recreation users and not recreation parties or groups. Therefore, every member of a party will be counted off individually. As recreation users are counted, only those users whose random numbers have been selected for that sampling period will be asked to complete an interview.

As an example, the following protocol will be used to select campground visitors for completing the recreation use survey.

• The total number of campsites in each campground will be determined prior to the beginning of data collection.

• The campsite numbers for each campground will be entered into a database for the purpose of randomization.

• For each data collection period that a campground will be sampled, a random sample of site numbers for that campground will be generated from the computer database. These are the sites where interviews will be conducted during the survey period for that campground. Each campground would only be sampled one time during a 24-hour period to avoid surveying some of the same people. If an individual has been interviewed during a visit by the interviewer on a previous day, that person would not be eligible for an interview. The number of sites for surveys during each sampling period will be based on a percentage of the total number of sites. For example, if there are 35 sites in a campground, we will attempt to survey 20% of the occupied sites, which means that if the campground is full, a person from each of 7 randomly selected sites would be surveyed. If only 5 sites are occupied on a visit, only one randomly selected site would be sampled. This type of proportionate sampling will help to guard against over-representing campers during periods of low use, and under-representing campers during periods of heavy use.

• Persons 18 years of age and older who are camped in the sites that are randomly generated in the procedure described above will be eligible to be surveyed. If there is more than one adult in the campsite, data collection personnel will ask for the first names of each adult who is camped in that site, and will sequentially number each name. Data collection personnel will then use a random numbers table to select the number beside the name of the person to be interviewed. Because there is expected to be no more than four or five adults in a campsite under most circumstances, this approach should be quick and easy.

• Data collection personnel will ask to interview the person that was randomly selected. If the person selected is likely to return during the interviewing period, the interviewer will come back to the site to interview the selected person. If the person is not likely to be there, or if the interviewer returns to the site and the person is still not available, the next available person on the list will be interviewed. This approach helps to reduce selection bias associated with interviewing the most convenient person who often times occupies the campsite because they are not engaged in other activities (e.g., hiking, fishing, etc). The person who often hangs around the campground is the least interested in the resource and may simply come along on the trip because the rest of the family wanted them to come.

• If the campsite that was randomly selected for the survey is unoccupied during the data collection period, the data collection personnel will proceed to the next occupied site and follow the selection protocol outlined above.

It is recognized that the number of recreation visitors encountered during certain times of the year, particularly during the secondary recreation season and during weekdays, may preclude use of this type of randomization; however, we will use the procedure to the extent practicable. At this time, the density of users during different sampling periods and times is unknown. Consequently, the sampling procedures will need to be refined as more information becomes available.

As previously indicated, a separate survey will be conducted with whitewater boaters. The form for conducting this survey is included.

Interviewers will intercept whitewater boaters at boating take-out points, which are identified on Figure 1. We will coordinate with whitewater boaters (both commercial outfitters and private boaters) who boat this stretch of the river to identify take-out times at take-out points and to better define the whitewater boating season. Although the survey effort would initially focus on the take-out points identified in Figure 1, other boater access points would be identified as the whitewater boating season progresses. These may include designated put-ins, undeveloped turnouts, and the commercial boating camps.

The sampling strategy for the whitewater survey is to obtain a statistically valid sample of whitewater boaters that use commercial outfitters, and private boaters. During the whitewater boating season, an interviewer will be assigned at least one day each week to conduct the whitewater boating surveys. The sampling unit for the survey is the whitewater boating trip; consequently, repeat visitors would be interviewed to obtain sufficient data about perceptions of the experience at different flow levels.

Based on data collection experience for the KR-1 Project reach, the timing of interviews with whitewater boaters is an important factor. We understand that the river reach from Isabella Lake to Democrat Dam is used for both day trips and two-day trips. We will work closely with the commercial outfitters and private whitewater boating interests to develop a schedule for conducting the whitewater boating surveys that is effective and as convenient as possible for the boaters.

It should be noted that the sampling locations for the whitewater boating survey will not be randomized since boaters are accustomed to using the same put-in and take-out locations. Sampling will accommodate this regularity, so sampling times and locations will not be randomized.

As previously indicated, one day each week will be devoted to counting vehicles at each sampling location. In addition, interviewers will count and log the number of vehicles parked at sampling locations during sampling days for the user surveys.

The vehicle count data will be used to estimate the average number of vehicles at each site on weekdays and weekend days during the two sampling periods. Vehicle counts will be conducted at all locations designated for visitor surveys. The number of parked vehicles observed will be recorded hourly over a 4-hour sampling period at different locations within the assigned river reach.

The following protocol will be followed in conducting vehicle counts.

• The day of the week for conducting car counts will be randomly selected for each week of the study.

• Sampling periods for recreation sites in each reach of the study area will be divided into two 4-hour blocks – one morning and one afternoon. The reach to be sampled and the site where car counts are to begin during each 4-hour block will be randomly selected.

• Data collection personnel assigned to conduct the vehicle counts will document the starting time, reach and site number for each 4-hour time block. The number of vehicles at the site will be recorded together with the time of the count.

• Data collection personnel will proceed to the next site along the assigned reach, count the number of vehicles present at the site, and record the time of the count.

• The procedure described above will be repeated until all sites within the reach have been visited and counts have been completed.

• All sites within the reach will be visited and counts completed once every hour during the 4-hour sampling block for that reach. Therefore, every site in the reach being sampled during a 4-hour block will be visited four times and have four vehicle counts together with the times for those counts.

Prior to the first date scheduled for the general user survey and whitewater boating survey, the interviewers will receive instruction and training by the survey crew leader. Training will be conducted in the field. The interviewer will become familiar with the data forms and how the forms should be completed. In addition, the interviewers will become familiar with the sections to be surveyed.

Since the interviewers will be spending much of his/her time interacting with the public, emphasis during training will also include public relations/etiquette and potential emergency situations. The interviewers will be trained to always keep in mind that they are interrupting the visitor’s privacy and leisure time to request information, and contact should be established in as courteous as manner as possible. Interviewers will be trained to greet anglers, introduce themselves, and briefly explain the purpose of the survey and then ask visitors if they are willing to participate. If visitors do not want to participate, the interviewer will not pressure them, but ask them if there is a better time to talk with them.

Training will also involve a discussion of what to do in emergency situations. If possible, interviewers will be equipped with a cell phone and will carry a list of emergency contact numbers (local law enforcement, medical, and fire agencies). Interviewers will also be encouraged to receive or refresh basic emergency certification in CPR/First Aid procedures.