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<br />001108 <br /> <br />B. Significant Issues <br /> <br />- INCREASED RECREATION USE <br /> <br />Viewpoints on whether or not recreation use has increased as a direct <br />result of national designation vary, depending on the status of the <br />respondent. It does appear however'that out-of-state use has increased <br />as a result of the designation. Maps and brochures appear to have been <br />a factor. River managers did note about a 10% drop in the number of <br />visitors from 1973 to 1974. This was attributed to energy Shortages. <br />It was also noted that local use fell off in proportion to non-local <br />visitation. Private landowners feel strongly that designation has <br />caused large increases in visitation. The state officials however view <br />the situation differently. Usage of the river was rising prior to <br />designation and continued to rise until 1974 when the 1973 use figure of <br />50,361 visitor days dropped to 45,294. The difference in where the 1 <br />recreationists come from has been the major change. Out-of-state <br />use was almost directly a result of publicity. Winter use increases <br />were also attributed partially to designation. Ice fishing, snow <br />mobiling and cross-country skiing have increased to the point where <br />the Bureau feels that a winter staff for the river area is needed. <br /> <br />Planners in the <br /> <br />feel however that increased <br /> <br />recreation use would have occurred regardless of designation. The most <br />that can be said about the increased use is that the increase that did <br />occur were only partially attributed to the designation. The nearby <br /> <br />, <br />r <br />St. John River has had a commensurate increase in use, without designation. <br /> <br />-5- <br /> <br />......... <br />