# Appendix E

Recreational Resources

August 2012Appendix E, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation/EA 

## Appendix E

Recreational Resources

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................. ................. E-1

Recreational Use Areas ........................................................................................................ ......... E-1 Impacts of Disposal Operations ................................................................................................ .... E-8

Conclusion .................................................................................................................... ................ E-8

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure E-1. Participation in Ore gon Coastal Recreational Activities .......................................... E-2 Figure E-2. Ocean (Human Powered) Recrea tion 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 ................................................ E-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 Yaquina Bay North and South ocean dredged material disposal sit es (ODMDS). The information was compiled to determine the potential impacts of disposal operations on recreation.



## Recreational 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 a nd entrance jetties receive a continual influx of

recreationists. South Beach State Park is locat ed 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 Territori al 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 survey also recorded the respondents activities upon their last trip to the Oregon coast. The respondents recreated in four categories: (1) o cean (human powered) recreation, i.e., kayaking, surfing, swimming, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and skim boarding (Figure 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, ti de pooling, and whale watching (Figure E-4); and (4), shoreside recreation, i.e., beach going, scenic enjoyment, storm watc hing, biking/hiking, offroad 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, likely because of wh ale 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/uplo ads/publications/OR_rec_study.pdf (accessed August 2011).Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation/EA E-2 Figure E-1. Participation in Oregon Coastal Recreational Activities

The graph below summarizes the rankings for all recreatio nal 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 activities in Lincoln County, including Newport, because th e 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. Blocks 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-4 Figure E-3. Boating in the Newport, Oregon, Area

Includes sailing, power boating, windsurfing, kite boardi ng, personal water crafts, and tow-in surfing. Blocks 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

Includes tide-pooling, bird watching, and whale watching. Blocks created by respondents indicating what they did, and where, during their la st trip to the Newport area.Appendix A, Yaquina Bay ODMDS Evaluation/EA E-6 Figure E-5. Shoreside Recreation in the Newport, Oregon, Area

Includes beach going, scenic enjoyment, storm watching, bike/hike, off-road vehicles, and photography. Blocks 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-7 Recreational Fishing. Yaquina Bay and the nearshore area ar e heavily used for recreational fishing and boating (Figure E-6). The principal recreationa l fishing that occurs off Yaquina Bay is for salmon and bottom fish. Salmon fishing is done by charter boat and private boat. Bottom fishing 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 its hazardous navigation conditions. Other fishery recreational activities include clamming 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 North and South ocean disposal sites are located in and near recreational fishing areas (see Figure E1). Few conflicts are expected to occur between angl ers 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 sites. These conf licts 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 consider ed an inconvenience rather than a threat to recreational activity. The only serious problem would be a collision between recreational boaters 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 dispo sed over a period of 32 days during the dredging period, which is April through October. Ge nerally, disposal is expected to occur up to 6 days in April or May,

then from June 15 to October 31.

When dredged material is deposited at ocean disposal sites, turbidity increases in the surrounding waters. This results in reduced visual quality of the area and may disrupt the 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 Yaquina North and South ocean disposal sites should have little impact on recreation in the area. During disposal operations, the turbidity in th e surrounding water increases. Any impact this may have on sport angling or visual quality of the area is temporary and limited in area. Some inconveniences may be experienced by recreational boa ters 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 e ither detrimental to ocean fauna or disrupt sediment deposition along the coastline, further information shou ld be collected to determine more specifically what extent the impacts have on recreation. Howe ver, until any of these impacts are observed, future disposal of dredged material at the proposed sites is not expected to have any substantial effects on

recreation.