click through the slideshoW, Then Read Our Digest Below
Q: Just What Exactly Is River Enhancement?
A: The use of rock structures, vegetation, and other materials to modify a river or stream to accomplish goals. LFVC's goals for this project reflect the priorities of the community, the characteristics of the river, and resource availability.
A well thought out river enhancement project has the potential to create many benefits for communities, visitors, and property owners alike. It is clear that our community highly values its fisheries, and private property protection (including bank stabilization). It’s also clear that there is a desire to create more open space so that anybody can enjoy the river, and that signs and guides need to be created to help residents and tourists alike to enjoy our river resources without trespassing.
A well thought out river enhancement project has the potential to create many benefits for communities, visitors, and property owners alike. It is clear that our community highly values its fisheries, and private property protection (including bank stabilization). It’s also clear that there is a desire to create more open space so that anybody can enjoy the river, and that signs and guides need to be created to help residents and tourists alike to enjoy our river resources without trespassing.
Q: What is This Survey?
A: In the spring of 2012, the LFVC mailed a short survey to all Lake City PO Boxes and delivered it to all river front land owners, as well as advertising it online and in the Lake City Silver World. There were a total of 100 respondents.
The survey asked individuals to identify themselves as property owners on or near the river, full –time or seasonal residents, Lake City business owners, or occasional lake city visitor, and then asked a series of questions designed to gauge their preferences with respect to different possible outcomes of river enhancement work. These include: Fish habitat improvements, boating improvements, public access points, extended trails, bank stabilization, signage, and private property protection.
The survey asked individuals to identify themselves as property owners on or near the river, full –time or seasonal residents, Lake City business owners, or occasional lake city visitor, and then asked a series of questions designed to gauge their preferences with respect to different possible outcomes of river enhancement work. These include: Fish habitat improvements, boating improvements, public access points, extended trails, bank stabilization, signage, and private property protection.
Q: WHAt Is its Purpose?
A: The survey is part of a two pronged approach of public outreach with regard to the Lake Fork and Henson Creek River Enhancement Project. Because the river in town passes through private as well as public property, in addition to the survey, individual meetings are being held with riverfront land-owners to ensure that any structures or changes on private property meet with owner’s full approval.
Q: What Did you Find Out?
A: Most respondents rated the following objectives highly: “improve bank and channel stability,” “improve fish and wildlife habitat,” and “protection of private property owners’ rights.” While still generally supported, “Increased access for fishing” rated lower. The lowest rated potential project idea was “improve river access for boaters (kayaks, canoes, rafts, inner tubes),” with seasonal residents and river front land owners least likely to prioritize increased boater access.
Seasonal Residents were more likely to indicate that they enjoyed fishing (89.5%) compared to full time residents (64.4%). Full time residents were more likely to boat (28.9% vs. 15.8%), Inner-tube (24.4% vs. 5.8%), swim (26.7% vs 5.3%), and trail walk (84.4% vs. 52.6%).
Overall, the survey results are not too surprising. In conjunction with direct land-owner meetings, the survey is helping the project develop some clear direction.
FAVORITE RIVER-BASED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
72% of respondents indicated that they enjoyed trail walking
68% enjoy fishing
50% enjoy birding and wildlife watching
42% enjoy photography
25% enjoy boating (rafting or kayaking)
17% enjoy inner-tubing
14% enjoy swimming in the river
BOATING IMPROVEMENTS
Full-time residents were much more likely to be supportive of the idea of seeing more boaters in the river (55.6% vs. 31.6%), and were more likely to say they would use boating improvements personally (35.6% vs. 26.3%). Part-time residents were more likely to be concerned that improvements could result in possible abuse of private property (36.8% vs. 24.4%). 44.2% of land owners who responded indicated that they would like to see more use of the river by others (for boating), while for riverfront land owners that number was slightly lower, at 41.9%. 19.4% of riverfront land owners indicated that they would prefer to see less boater use of the river, and 22.6% of riverfront land owners think current use and access is fine. People who indicated that they were “Lake City Business Owners,” of which there were a total of 17 respondents, indicated overwhelmingly that they would like to see more boater use (76.5%). 35.5% of riverfront land owners indicated that they were concerned that boating improvements could result in a possible abuse of private property.
FISHING IMPROVEMENTS
Full-time residents were much more likely to be supportive of the idea of seeing more anglers in the river (48.9% vs. 21.1%), but were less likely to say they would use fishing improvements personally (20.0% vs. 36.8%). Part-time residents were more likely to be concerned that improvements could result in possible abuse of private property than full-time residents (47.4% vs. 13.3%). 33.6% of land owners who responded indicated that they would like to see more use of the river by others (for fishing), while for riverfront land owners that number was slightly lower, at 29.0%. Only 3.2% of riverfront land owners indicated that they would prefer to see fewer anglers in the river, and 32.3% of riverfront land owners think current use and access is fine. Lake City business owners indicated overwhelmingly that they would like to see more use of the river by anglers (70.6%). 45.2% of riverfront land owners indicated that they were concerned that fishing improvements could result in a possible abuse of private property. Seasonal residents were much more likely than full-time residents to support having only “catch and release” in town (52.6% vs. 26.7%).
NATURALIZED OPEN SPACE and TRAILS on the RIVER NORTH of the 8 ½ STREET BRIDGE
This idea was responded to positively by all groups, indicating that the area immediately north of the 8 ½ street bridge might prove to be a good early area of focus of the project. If outside money is found for such a project, the naturalized space could become a valuable asset to Lake City, greatly improving the north entrance to the town.
Comments
The most common comment was in regards to public river access in town. Many respondents expressed that these issues can be resolved with increased and better signage and education. Many respondents also expressed enthusiasm for the local economic benefit of different aspects of the project; these were usually full-time residents and business owners. Several land owners and seasonal residents expressed concerns about private property abuses and possible tax increases. Many people were most excited about the prospect of increased habitat; usually also expressing high support for “catch and release fishing” only in town. One commenter lamented that there was not a single picnic table along the river where his/her elderly parents could eat lunch, and that there’s not even a public picnic table at the lake!
Seasonal Residents were more likely to indicate that they enjoyed fishing (89.5%) compared to full time residents (64.4%). Full time residents were more likely to boat (28.9% vs. 15.8%), Inner-tube (24.4% vs. 5.8%), swim (26.7% vs 5.3%), and trail walk (84.4% vs. 52.6%).
Overall, the survey results are not too surprising. In conjunction with direct land-owner meetings, the survey is helping the project develop some clear direction.
FAVORITE RIVER-BASED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
72% of respondents indicated that they enjoyed trail walking
68% enjoy fishing
50% enjoy birding and wildlife watching
42% enjoy photography
25% enjoy boating (rafting or kayaking)
17% enjoy inner-tubing
14% enjoy swimming in the river
BOATING IMPROVEMENTS
Full-time residents were much more likely to be supportive of the idea of seeing more boaters in the river (55.6% vs. 31.6%), and were more likely to say they would use boating improvements personally (35.6% vs. 26.3%). Part-time residents were more likely to be concerned that improvements could result in possible abuse of private property (36.8% vs. 24.4%). 44.2% of land owners who responded indicated that they would like to see more use of the river by others (for boating), while for riverfront land owners that number was slightly lower, at 41.9%. 19.4% of riverfront land owners indicated that they would prefer to see less boater use of the river, and 22.6% of riverfront land owners think current use and access is fine. People who indicated that they were “Lake City Business Owners,” of which there were a total of 17 respondents, indicated overwhelmingly that they would like to see more boater use (76.5%). 35.5% of riverfront land owners indicated that they were concerned that boating improvements could result in a possible abuse of private property.
FISHING IMPROVEMENTS
Full-time residents were much more likely to be supportive of the idea of seeing more anglers in the river (48.9% vs. 21.1%), but were less likely to say they would use fishing improvements personally (20.0% vs. 36.8%). Part-time residents were more likely to be concerned that improvements could result in possible abuse of private property than full-time residents (47.4% vs. 13.3%). 33.6% of land owners who responded indicated that they would like to see more use of the river by others (for fishing), while for riverfront land owners that number was slightly lower, at 29.0%. Only 3.2% of riverfront land owners indicated that they would prefer to see fewer anglers in the river, and 32.3% of riverfront land owners think current use and access is fine. Lake City business owners indicated overwhelmingly that they would like to see more use of the river by anglers (70.6%). 45.2% of riverfront land owners indicated that they were concerned that fishing improvements could result in a possible abuse of private property. Seasonal residents were much more likely than full-time residents to support having only “catch and release” in town (52.6% vs. 26.7%).
NATURALIZED OPEN SPACE and TRAILS on the RIVER NORTH of the 8 ½ STREET BRIDGE
This idea was responded to positively by all groups, indicating that the area immediately north of the 8 ½ street bridge might prove to be a good early area of focus of the project. If outside money is found for such a project, the naturalized space could become a valuable asset to Lake City, greatly improving the north entrance to the town.
Comments
The most common comment was in regards to public river access in town. Many respondents expressed that these issues can be resolved with increased and better signage and education. Many respondents also expressed enthusiasm for the local economic benefit of different aspects of the project; these were usually full-time residents and business owners. Several land owners and seasonal residents expressed concerns about private property abuses and possible tax increases. Many people were most excited about the prospect of increased habitat; usually also expressing high support for “catch and release fishing” only in town. One commenter lamented that there was not a single picnic table along the river where his/her elderly parents could eat lunch, and that there’s not even a public picnic table at the lake!
