Recreation lock congestion : developing resource management measures

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze 1977 survey data collected on the Upper Mississippi River to determine its potential to formulate effective management measures to help reduce congestion problems associated with recreational and commercial craft passing through the locks. The three-fold objectives of this study were to: a) identify use characteristics that distinguish dredge island boaters that use and enjoy the lock system from those who use it but prefer not to; b) evaluate use characteristics for their potential suggestiveness in developing possible technical measures to solve the lock congestion problem; and c) construct a general managerial approach to preferred solutions which take into account not only considerations of cost-effectiveness but also the interests of two sets of major users, both commercial and recreational. To achieve these objectives, 34 cross tabulated tables were selected for analysis. The tables were then tested (Chi-Square analysis) to determine whether a significant difference existed between the two boaters mentioned above. The results of this study showed that of the 862 dredge island boaters surveyed 35% reported they lock, but prefer not to because "locking through" was not considered part of their recreation experience during their river visit. In addition, analysis of user characteristics in this boater group demonstrated that they are willing to respond to a set of management measures. Of the 30,194 recreational lockages that occurred in 1976 on the Upper Mississippi River, study results indicate a range of 8,454 to 10,568 lockages could represent the user group that prefers not to lock. Additional study sources suggest 15 minutes an average length of time to chamber a recreation party for locking. Therefore, an estimated range of 2,114 to 2,642 hours could be freed for commercial barge tow traffic should 35% of the dredge island users be encouraged to avoid locking. Management measures that appeared feasible to reduce lock use were: a) development of access points, b) construction of newly designed dredge islands, c) management of pool activities and settings, and d) a comprehensive public information transfer and interpretation program...