Analysis of the recreational use of municipal water-supply areas

A questionnaire survey of municipal water-supply agencies British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California was conducted for the purpose of comparing present management policies within and among the regions. Regression techniques were employed in an attempt to determine what factors influence the intensity of recreation occurring on a reservoir or watershed. A search of available literature was made to establish the 'facts' regarding water contamination through recreational use, the transmission of disease through water supplies, and the treatment of water to eliminate bacteria and viruses. The costs involved in the use or non-use of domestic water-supply areas for recreation were examined as were the major arguments for and against recreational use of these areas. The analysis of the questionnaire returns showed that in comparison with British Columbia, the States of Washington, Oregon and California all exhibited a higher level of water-supply management. Secondary uses were most prevalent in California and all of the respondents classifying themselves as 'secondary-use' agencies included recreation as one of the uses. In contrast to the situation in Washington and Oregon, and especially in British Columbia, recreational use in California was primarily a regulated use and very often planned and managed in detailed fashion with strict controls. The regression and correlation analysis showed some statistically significant but very weak relationships. The equations produced accounted for very little of the variation in the dependent variable (recreational-use score) and had very large standard errors of estimate. For the systems analyzed, the intensity of recreation occurring on a reservoir or watershed was related to such agency characteristics as present population served, percentage domestic use, degree of water treatment, average percentage of municipally or agency managed lands, average percentages of forest and shrub covered buffer and watershed lands and recreation opportunity in surrounding areas. From the search of pertinent literature and the questionnaire results, it was established that well planned and managed recreation facilities can be operated in conjunction with domestic water-supply facilities and have minimal effects on raw water quality. The potential hazard of disease transmission through the water system was fully recognized; however, water treatment techniques that will reduce this risk to a minimum are presently, available. On the basis of the research carried out in this study it was concluded that when conducted in accord with an ecologically sound management plan, recreation and the production of high quality potable water are indeed mutually compatible land uses.Forestry, Faculty ofGraduat