# Appendix E

Recreational Resources

February 201 2Appendix E, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA 

## Appendix E Recreational Resources

Table of Contents

Introduction

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- 1 Recreational Use Areas

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- 1 Impacts of Disposal Operations

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- 8 Conclusion

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- 8

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure E

- 1. Participation in Oregon Coastal Recreational Activities

................................ .......... E

- 2 Figure E

- 2. Ocean (Human Powered) Recreation in the Newport, Oregon, Area

....................... E

- 3 Figure E

- 3. Boating in the Newport, Oregon, Area

................................ ................................ ..... E

- 4 Figure E

- 4. Wildlife Viewing in the Newport, Oregon, Area

................................ ...................... E

- 5 Figure E

- 5. Shoreside Recreation in the Newport, Oregon, Area

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- 6Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 1 

## Appendix E Recreational Resources

Introduction

This appendix identifies the major recreational use areas in the vicinity of the proposed Yaquina Bay North and South ocean dredged material disposal sites ( ODMDS )

. The information was compiled to determine the potential impacts of disposal operations on recreation.



## R ecreational Use Areas

The Yaquina Bay vicinity offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities during all seasons of the
year. The primary categories of activities are likely beachcombing, wildlife viewing from shore or a boat, and fishing (Figure E

- 1)

. Nearby beaches and entrance jetties receive a continual influx of recreationists. South Beach State Park is located adjacent to the Yaquina Bay south jetty and provides camping and day

- use facilities and beach access.

Non

- consumptive Use

. In a survey of Oregon residents conducted by Surfrider Foundation, NaturalEquity, and Ecotrust for Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan Amendment process in 2011, Lincoln County was the most visited county in Oregon to recreate in within the year prior to the study. 1 The

su rvey also recorded the respondents activities upon their last trip to the Oregon coast. The respondents recreated in four categories: (1) ocean (human powered) recreation, i.e., kayaking, surfing, swimming, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and skim boarding (Fi gure E

- 2); (2) boating, i.e., sailing, power boating, windsurfing, kite boarding, personal water crafts, and tow

- in surfing (Figure E

- 3); (3) wildlife viewing, i.e., bird watching, tide pooling, and whale watching (Figure E

- 4); and (4), shoreside recreatio n, i.e., beach going, scenic enjoyment, storm watching, biking/hiking, off

road vehicles, and photography (Figure E

- 5).

All of these categories of activities occurred in medium to high popularity on the beach or very close to it, while wildlife viewing, l ikely because of whale watching activities, was the only activity that occurred at the North or South ODMDS; only one to three people (out of the 4,072 respondents) indicated they recreated in this area.

1 Surfrider Foundation et al. 2011. Non

- consumptive Ocean Recreation in Oregon: Human Uses, Economic Impacts, and Spatial Data. 60 pages. http://surfrider.org/images/uploads/publications/OR_rec_study.pdf ( a ccessed August 2011)

.Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 2 Figure E

- 1

. Participati on in Oregon Coastal Recreational Activities

Th e graph below summarizes the rankings for all recreational activities along Oregon’s coast as a percent of all survey respondents over a 1

- year period

. The ranking of activities is likely similar for activiti es in Lincoln County, including Newport, because the survey recorded Lincoln County as having the highest recreational use on the Oregon coast ( Surfrider Foundation 2011).Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 3 Figure E

- 2

. Ocean (Human Powered) Recreation in the Newport, Oregon

, Area Includes kayaking, surfing, swimming, SCUBA diving, snorkeling and skim boarding. B locks created by respondents indicating what they did and where during their last trip to the Newpor t area.Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 4 Figure E

- 3

. Boating in the Newport, Oregon

, Area

I ncludes sailing, power boating, windsurfing, kite boarding, personal water crafts, and tow

- in surfing. B locks created by respondents indicating what they did, and where, during their last trip to the Newport area.Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 5 Figure E

- 4

. Wildlife Viewing in the Newport, Oregon, Area

I ncludes tide

- pooling, bird watching, and whale watching. B locks created by respondents indicating what they did, and where, during their last trip to the Newport area.Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 6 Figure E

- 5

. Shoreside Recreation in the Newport, Oregon, Area

I ncludes beach going, scenic enjoyment, storm watching, bike/hike, off

- road vehicles, and photography. B locks created by respondents indicating what they did and wh ere during their last trip to the Newport area.Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 7 Recreational Fishing. Yaquina Bay and the nearshore area are heavily used for recreational fish ing

a nd boat ing (Figure E

- 6 )

. The principal recreational fishing that occurs off Yaquina Bay is for salmon and bottom fish. Salmon fishing is done by charter boat and private boat. Bottom fish i ng is done along the south reef area by charter boat for black rockfish and lingcod. The north reef is not fished to any extent because of it s hazardous navigation conditions. Other fishery recreational activities include cla mming in the bay and along the beach

, and spear fishing along the jetties.

Figure E

- 6. Recreational FishingAppendix E, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation / EA E

- 8 

## Impacts of Disposal Operations

The proposed North and South ocean disposal sites are located in and near recreational fishing areas (see Figure E

- 1) . Few conflicts are expected to occur between anglers and dredge operations due to the availability of alternate fishing sites. Conflicts between disposal operations and recreationists may occur as the dredge is en route to the ocean disposal site s . These conflicts may include time delays for recreational boaters caused by the passing of the dredge or an increase in navigational hazards during congested periods. Conflicts such as these can be considered an inconvenience rather than a threat to recreational activity. The only serious problem would be a collision between recreational bo aters and dredge traffic. Accidents of this nature are rare because the dredge moves at a slow speed and the potential for collisions is low. In addition, dredged material is expected to be disposed over a period of 32 days during the dredging period , wh ich is April through October . Generally, d isposal is expected to occur up to 6 days in April or May, then from June 15 to October 31.

The proposed ocean disposal sites are at least 2

, 000 f ee t from the end of the jetties, and 3

, 000 f ee t from the nearest beach. There are pinnacles in the vicinity of either site. When dredged material is deposited
at ocean disposal site s , turbidity increases in the surrounding water s . This results in reduced visual quality of the area and may disrupt t he feeding patterns of sport fish. Both of these situations are temporary (minutes to a few hours) and limited in area, with normal conditions returning as soon as the sediment settles.



## Conclusion

The use of the proposed Yaquina North and South ocean disposal sites should have little impact on recreation in the area. During disposal operations, the turbidity in the surrounding water increases. Any impact this may have on sport angling or visual qu ality of the area is temporary and limited in area. Some inconveniences may be experienced by recreational boaters and anglers. Disposal activities typically

occur over a period of 32 days in April through October ( up to 6 days in April or May, then from June 15 to October 31 )

. Overall, the disposal operations appear to pose no serious threats to recreation.

If future studies indicate the disposal operations are either detrimental to ocean fauna or disrupt sediment deposition along the coastline, furthe r information should be collected to determine more specifically what extent the impacts have on recreation. However, until any of these impacts are observed, future disposal of dredged material at the proposed site s is not expected to have any substantia l effects on recreation.