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<br />001111 <br /> <br />. ' <br /> <br />Without this state program use would have increased unchecked and <br />unsupervised. <br /> <br />There have been only minor economic benefits as a result of increased <br /> <br /> <br />use. Only two riverside towns have profited. It seems that most <br /> <br /> <br />visitors bring their own equipment and supplies. In addition, even <br /> <br /> <br />though out-of-state use has increased, local guides and outfitters are <br /> <br /> <br />in less demand due to the complete river information issued by the state. <br /> <br />C. Conclusions <br /> <br /> <br />-- The major controversial issue in the Allagash is increased usage. <br /> <br /> <br />-- Increases in out-of-state use is attributable to post designation <br /> <br /> <br />maps and brochures, however, overall use figures have leveled off. <br /> <br /> <br />-- Designation did cause an immediate increase in use. <br /> <br /> <br />-- The increase of use that did occur as a result of designation <br /> <br /> <br />was a small percentage of the use that would have occured anyway. <br /> <br /> <br />-- Designation accelerated th~ rate at which the use increased, <br /> <br /> <br />but controls would have been needed anyway. <br /> <br /> <br />Recreation use has not seriously downgraded the river environment. <br /> <br /> <br />Local landowners do not welcome the increased use, believing that <br /> <br /> <br />it costs them more road maintenance and causes some trespass <br /> <br /> <br />problems. <br /> <br /> <br />-- Economic benefits to the locals in the area have been less than <br /> <br /> <br />dramatic. <br /> <br /> <br />Designation did not directly protect the river environment, but <br /> <br /> <br />has served to expedite ongoing state protective action in the <br /> <br /> <br />river corridor. <br /> <br />i <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />-8- <br />