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<br />:. I I :- <br /> <br />With regard to reservoir levels, data indicates that users clearly prefer higher wat~r levels. <br />However, changes in reservoir water level do not seem to have as pronounced an effect on <br />recreation activities or opportunities as changes in river flow. regardless of the given <br />reservoir level, a vast m~jority of the users contacted rated their experience as highly <br />satisfactory and most users indicated that they would return to the site again under identical <br />conditions. Results for both river and reservoir recreation activities are discussed in more <br />detail below. <br /> <br />5.1. River Fishing <br /> <br />Study results indicate that in general, the majority of the anglers using the river prefer lower <br />flows (below 600 cfs). However, optimum conditions vary considerably depending on the <br />type of angling and individual skills and experience. <br /> <br />, As a general rule, flows in the range of 300 cfs to 600 cfs are strongly preferred by bank and <br />wade anglers. Flows between 600 cfs and 900 cfs are considered 50/50, and flows greater <br />than 900, cfs are less preferred. Spin and bait anglers tend to be more tolerant of higher <br />flows (greater than 900 cfs) than fly anglers. Flow preferences for float fishing are also <br />higher with optimum conditions ranging from 800 cfs to 1000 cfs. <br /> <br />While the data on angler needs indicates a clear preference for low~r flows, results from all <br />three studies also indicate that a relatively high percentage of the anglers contacted (20-30 <br />percent) considered flows greater than 1,000 cfs to be acceptable/good. This implies that <br />opportunities do exist for fishing at higher flows and that many anglers even , prefer higher <br />flows. This conclusion is further supported by data from the 1991 VPI study that, while <br />inclusive, indicates satisfied anglers can be found at almost all flows, low or high. <br /> <br />During the 1992 creel census, which included over 1,500 river anglers) anglers were ask to <br />iridicate whether they felt flows were" good" , "too high" , or "too low" on the day of the <br />survey. Results, as shown in Figure 5.2, indicate that as many as 80 percent of the anglers <br />surveyed considered conditions to be "good" at flows in the 300 - 400 cfs range. Less than <br />30 percent of the anglers contacted considered conditions to be "good" at flows greater <br />than 900 cfs. Similarly, the percentage of anglers that indicated flows were "too high" was <br />small (5%) at flows less than 500 cfs, but large (almost 80%) at flows greater than 900 cfs. <br /> <br />At flows between 500 and 900 cfs there was roughly an even split between anglers that <br />indicated flows were" good" and anglers that indicated flows were" too high". At flows in <br />this range roughly 40 percent of the anglers were satisfied while the remaining 60 percent <br />would have preferred some other flow condition (either higher or lower). These results <br />suggest that flows between 300 and 500 cfs are clearly superior (with 80 percent of the <br />anglers satisfied), flows between 500 and 900 cfs are marginal (about half the anglers <br />satisfied and half unsatisfied), and flows between 900 and 1,500 cfs are sub-par <br />(approximately 25% of the anglers satisfied and 75% unsatisfied). <br /> <br />Arkansas River Water Needs Assessment <br />Recreation Report - Draft <br /> <br />Page 12 <br />September 20, 1996 <br />