Various Clients

Recreational Use and Demand Assessments and Shoreline Management Planning (Nationwide)

Berger is recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in recreation and shoreline management planning, as evidenced by the number and scope of projects we have successfully completed in this field. Many of these studies, some of which are referenced below, were completed for situations where recreational capacity was strained and a comprehensive plan was required to manage access and shoreline development. The work often required extensive stakeholder consultation and buy-in, which we obtained through the development and implementation of rigorous survey tools, high quality data analysis, and detailed stakeholder presentation. Following is a summary of some of the key work related to recreational use assessments and shoreline management planning that Berger has provided for its clients:

Facility Inventories

Berger completed recreation facility and site assessments and evaluations as components of a number of studies, including Upper American River Project, CA; Spokane River Project, WA, Smith Mountain Project, VA; Holyoke Project, MA; Catawba-Wateree Project, NC and SC; Mottville Project, MI; Lake of the Ozarks Project, MO; Fifteen Mile Falls Project, VT; Housatonic Project, CT, Claytor Lake Project, VA and Keowee-Toxaway Project, NC and SC. Berger inventoried the facilities and conditions of individual sites, evaluated capacity and current use levels, and projected future demand. In addition, Berger assessed facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Whitewater Boating Studies and Flow Assessments

Berger designed and implemented whitewater boating studies to assess the feasibility of whitewater boating opportunities affected by hydropower project operations and the potential effects on environmental resources associated with growth of whitewater recreational use. For these studies, Berger identified and recruited whitewater boaters with sufficient skills to provide fair and unbiased input to participate in the studies. Berger assessed the resources and prepared survey instruments in coordination with the client and local, regional and national boating organizations. Berger also assessed the environmental and economic effects of various flow alternatives, as well as the effects on fish and aquatic resources. Recent whitewater boating studies include Upper American River Project; the upper and lower Spokane River, ID; Falls Village and Bulls Bridge sections of the Housatonic River, CT; and Rhinelander Paper bypassed reach, WI.

Recreational Use Data Collection and Analysis

Berger completed numerous studies that involved the collection of extensive survey and interview data. The data collected included visitation rates, length of stay, economic expenditures, recreational activities, recreation facilities needs, and conflicts with other recreationists. Berger staff provided expertise in statistical methods and analysis and worked with stakeholder representative groups to determine the best methods for collecting and analyzing data. Recent recreational use studies include Upper American River, Chili Bar, Fifteen Mile Falls, Mottville, Holyoke, Housatonic, Smith Mountain, Claytor Lake, and Keowee-Toxaway hydroelectric projects to assess recreation needs and trends.

Future Recreational Use and Needs Projections

Berger developed future use projections to help managers determine the need for additional facilities or use limitations for many of the recreation use studies, such as the Catawba-Wateree system, Fifteen Mile Falls, Lake of the Ozarks, Mottville, Candlewood Lake on the Housatonic River, and Smith Mountain Lake studies. Berger’s future use projections are based on recreation use visitation estimates along with future population projections for surrounding counties. These estimates are then assessed in the context of regionally specific recreational use trend data developed by Dr. H. Ken Cordell for the U.S. Forest Service and modified by Berger to meet the needs and circumstances of specific projects.

Carrying Capacity Assessment

Berger assessed recreation carrying capacity on numerous hydroelectric project reservoirs. These assessments included both physical and social carrying capacity factors. For the Catawba-Wateree recreation study, Berger conducted a number of aerial and ground-based boat counts on the five most popular reservoirs. Once entered into Berger’s database, these records were used to create boating density maps with GIS technologies. Interviews were also used to link perceived levels of crowding with specific locations. Berger then used the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Recreation methodologies to determine physical boating carrying capacity based on the number of usable acres of water and the types of activities that took place. Berger has conducted similar studies at Smith Mountain and Leesville Lakes, Comerford, Moore and McIndoes reservoirs on the upper Connecticut River, Candlewood Lake, and Lake Keowee and Jocassee. Berger staff is familiar with current carrying capacity methodologies, such as Limits of Acceptable Change, Visitor Impact Management, Carrying Capacity Assessment Process, Visitor Activity Management Process, Water Resource Opportunity Spectrum, and the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection models. Berger staff co-authored a discussion paper on reservoir management, describing innovative methods to improve the accuracy of analyzing watercraft carrying capacity.

FERC Form 80

Berger has prepared various Licensed Hydropower Development Recreation Reports (Form 80) for a number of our clients. In preparing the reports, Berger staff provided expertise to help licensees determine the level of effort and appropriate data collection techniques to acquire the information necessary for the Form 80s while considering individual project needs and characteristics. Public Outreach Berger has significant experience with a variety of passive and direct stakeholder involvement techniques, including focus groups, consultation with resource agencies and NGOs, public meetings and workshops, kiosks, survey and survey design, as well as other outreach experiences (one-on-one interviews.

Shoreline Management Planning

Berger has been extensively involved in developing, implementing and reviewing Shoreline Management Plans (SMP), especially for FERC-licensed reservoirs. The SMPs are often important in support of FERC relicensing activities. In developing shoreline management strategies, Berger assists in the identification of needs, goals and objectives; reviews shoreline management planning trends; identifies stakeholders and issues; and identifies resources and constraints. Specific Berger SMP assignments include Lake Tillery SMP, the 5-year update of the Catawba – Wateree Project SMP, Lake of the Ozarks SMP, and preparation of the Environmental Assessment for the Yadkin Project SMP filed with FERC. The SMPs provide the licensees with comprehensive planning guidelines to help then meet the requirements of their license to operate the project and protect the scenic, recreational, environmental, cultural, and power production values of the project.