A Study of the Recreational Impact on Nolin Flood Control Reservoir in West Central Kentucky

The purposes of this study are: (1) to consider factors that influenced the creation of Nolin Reservoir, and the selection of its recreation sites, (2) to consider the growth and the variations in attendance and participation in activities as a function of quantity and quality of available facilities and accessibility, and (3) to trace the changes that the creation of the reservoir has brought on the surrounding land use, value and ownership. Through the use of questionnaires, interviews and field investigations, the purposes were accomplished. Nolin Reservoir was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers. After extensive study, the cost and availability of materials for construction were found to be the major factors in selecting the dam site and public use areas. Attendance and participation at the reservoir and at particular recreation sites were found to vary. Such factors as the physical setting, accessibility, quantity and quality of facilities, and distance of each center to an urban area were found to have played significant roles in the analysis. Tracing the changes in land use, value and ownership, it was determined that agricultural use has been converted into recreational use. This change has brought about other changes. Land values began to rise. In eleven years (1964-1974), land values have increased about 500 percent. The increase in land value had induced many types of land ownerships in the basin. Developers became active, and subdivisions were introduced in 1964. By 1974, there were 75 subdivisions in the basin. Many farmers converted their arable land into housing development and commercial uses of land have also developed