Flows and Recretion: A guide to studies for river professionals

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Flow Comparison Surveys of Experienced Users Objective Improve precision of estimated flow ranges for recreation opportunities by surveying experienced users. Generally applicable to boating or fishing when users have a history of use and they are "calibrated" to an existing gage. Typical approach Identify panel of knowledgeable users (usually boaters or anglers) and develop contact information. Develop survey instrument with sections documenting user experience and knowledge, use patterns, and evaluations of conditions and flows. Administer survey, either by mail or telephone, and code responses. Analyze data to summarize responses, with attention to disaggregating dissimilar types of users. Summarize findings in a report. Product Summary of methods and findings. Methods should include descriptions of panel and instrument development, as well as potential sources of error. Findings are typically presented in both tabular and graphic forms appropriate to the analysis. The findings may be presented as a report supplemental to Level 1 and 2 reports. Responsibilities As with other assessments, utilities (or their consultants) have primary responsibility, but agencies and stakeholders commonly review the sampling frame, survey instrument, and analysis plans. Agencies often possess lists of guides or other knowledgeable users (if there is a permit system) to help with panel development. Additional issues Panel development is critical for this option and depends on the availability of knowledgeable users and an existing gage to which they are calibrated. Networking may under - sample "lower profile" but knowledgeable users; networking that attempts to develop samples through multiple channels (e.g., guide lists, boating or angling stores, and launch registers) is one approach to minimizing these problems. Sufficient panel sizes are important for statistical purposes, but the "minimum" number depends on the homogeneity of users and their evaluations. Sub- group panel sizes may be important if comparisons between groups are needed. 24 1 Flows and Recreation: A Guide for River Professionals Cautions & limitations Assessing how well users are calibrated to a gage is important with this method. Pre - testing or pre -study interviews /focus groups should be considered to probe whether users really pay attention to a gage through the range of interest. If there is confusion in how gages are used, controlled flow studies or other options may be necessary. Some users may not independently evaluate flows, and simply repeat "conventional wisdom" about acceptable or optimal flows for a recreation opportunity. Unfortunately, this method is limited in its ability to distinguish independent evaluations from those that are "passed down" over the years. In cases where skill and equipment advances have occurred (e.g., new types of boats or fishing techniques), this method may not be appropriate. For angling, it may be challenging to keep evaluations of fishability (e.g., wadeability, access to fishing water) separate from evaluations of flows for the fishery (i.e., their impressions of biological needs). In these cases, controlled flow studies may be more useful. For more information on this potential confound in any fishability study, see the associated sidebar. "Boat dragging" on Alaska's Gulkana River at low flows. Data from research trips at different flows supplemented boater survey information in this study for a water rights adjudication.