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<br />Fish Creek Reservoir Expansion EIS
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<br />coincide with the proposed 2-year construction plan. T~us, as a result of the construction phase of
<br />the project, recreationists who. visit Fish Creek Reservoir for dispersed and developed recreation
<br />would be temporarily displaced.
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<br />Granite Campground currently records approximately 1,000 Recreation Visitor Days (RVD's) each
<br />summer (USDA, 1992). The primary study area is also commonly used by anglers, mountain bikers,
<br />hikers, and hunters. As a result of the temporary displacement of these visitors, recreational
<br />resources in the secondary study area such as campgrounds, trails, lakes, and parking facilities would
<br />be indirectly impacted by the expansion of Fish Creek Reservoir. The absorption of Fish Creek
<br />Reservoir visitors by facilities in the secondary study area would result in increased pressure on the
<br />recreational resources at these facilities, and could potentially cause a decrease in the quality of some
<br />recreational experiences. Because many of the developed resources in the secondary study area are
<br />already overused (Schmitzer R., 1992), the addition of visitors from Fish Creek Reservoir could
<br />potemially augmem existing problems. Summit Lake and Long Lake, which contain similar
<br />resources and are in close proximity to Fish Creek Reservoir, should absorb the majority of
<br />displaced visitors unable to recreate in the primary study area. Good signage and public awareness
<br />could aid in dispersing visitors.
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<br />Other short term impacts associated with Alternative B include disturbances to the area by
<br />construction-related activities. The visual quality of the primary study area would be affected by the
<br />draining of the reservoir and by the presence of construction vehicles, a construction camp and
<br />borrow pits (See Section 4.11, Visual Resources). Consequently, the quality of the recreation
<br />experience for mountain bikers, hikers and sightseers travelling past the reservoir along FDR 310
<br />would be affected. In the secondary study area, the presence of construction vehicles going to and
<br />from the reservoir along FDR 60 and 310 would also affect recreation experiences.
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<br />tonl!: Term Impacts - Over the long-term, Alternative B would affect future recreation patterns in
<br />the primary study area. Since the proposed expansion includes, as part of project mitigation, plans
<br />to replace the existing campground with an upgraded and slightly larger campground, recreational
<br />use of Fish Creek Reservoir should increase. Plans for the new campground include eight campsites
<br />(with space for eight future sites), additional parking, and an improved boat ramp (See Section 4.9.5,
<br />Mitigation and Enhancements Summary). The new site would also be accessible to the physically
<br />disabled. These modifications would increase the capacity of the campground and would likely affect
<br />the user population. By increasing the capacity and accessibility of Granite Campground, pressure
<br />on over-crowded facilities in the secondary study area would be reduced by better dispersing visitors
<br />throughout the Buffalo Pass area. However, a shift to increased usage on Fish Creek Reservoir
<br />would likely result in minor impacts to the water quality of the reservoir and to the relatively
<br />pristine nature of the area, both of which are valuable characteristics of the reservoir.
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<br />4.9.2.3 Alternetive C . Smeller RlllIerYoir Expension
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<br />If Alternative C is chosen, recreational facilities discussed above would still be inundated and would
<br />need to be replaced. Subsequently, the impacts to recreational resources associated with Alternative
<br />C, Smaller Reservoir Expansion would be identical to those associated with Alternative B, Proposed
<br />Reservoir Expansion.
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<br />4.9.3 Connected Actions
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<br />Future increases in recreational use of Fish Creek Reservoir would be connected to actions other
<br />than the expansion of the reservoir. Increases in visitor use of Fish Creek Reservoir would be
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<br />Page 4.32
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<br />&t>umber 1993
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