127 



There are certain ancillary facilities and services necessary to realize 

 the full potential of estuarine recreation. First and foremost is ade- 

 quate access to the rese^rved areas such as parks, wildlife refuges, 

 beaches and roadways, waterways, and paths. The Chesapeake Bay 

 is an excellent example of a large estuarine system with limited public 

 access; most of the access sites available to the public are privately 

 controlled and charge user fees. 



Additional support services and facilities may range from nothing 

 but access trails for wilderness areas to expensive resort type commu- 

 nities with shopping, hotel or motel accommodations, and restaurants. 



The activity on which the recreation area is based generally deter- 

 mines the minimum support facility and service needs. Swimming 

 requires, in addition to beach, sanitary facilities and life guards, as well 

 as such items as food shops and beach equipment rental booths. If the 

 beach is extremely popular, motels, specialty shops, and a whole spec- 

 trum of commercial enterprises will develop. If boating is the prime 

 activity, launching ramps, marinas, and repair shops will be needed in 

 addition to basic sanitary facilities. If fishing is the prime activity, 

 bait and tackle shops are needed. It is evident that the extent of devel- 

 opment of support service is almost unlimited, depending on the pop- 

 ularity of the recreational area (fig. IV.2.13) . 



Just how the popularity or importance of a particular recreational 

 activity or area is measured presents another problem. Ideally, the 

 importance could be defined as the sum of all the individual users' 

 values. Since this figure is difficult if not impossible to obtain, some 

 index of use must be developed. Table IV.2.3 shows some possible 

 indices of use and some of their characteristics. 



TABLE IV.2.3.— INDICES OF RECREATIONAL USE OF ESTUARINE AREAS 



Index factor Advantages Disadvantages 



Number of visitors... Direct indication of popularity May have to be estimated; does not indicate 



type ot activity. Difficult to evaluate eco- 

 nomically. 



Duck stamps sold _ Readily available from records; gives a Does not relate to estuarine area alone; not 



partial dollar value. always an indicator of use. 



Hunting licenses sold-- ..do Do. 



Fishinglicensessold ..do Many States do not require licenses for salt 



water fishing. 



Fishing participation days An indicator of one specific type of No records to furnish figures; no indicator of 



recreational use; shows pressure on fisherman success. No monetary values 

 a particular area. attached. 



Yacht club memberships.. Records available to supply information. May not be true i ndicator of participation in 



use. Applies to only a small segment of 

 total user group. 



Marina slips Information readily available; indicates Not a true indicator of boating activity be- 



a capacity figure; gives indication of cause of the mobility of transient boats, 

 value. 

 Parking area atlaunching ramps.. Indicates estimated use importance of Does not reflect actual use; no indication of 

 popularity. number of people or size of boats or type 



of use. 



Boat registrations Available from records Not all boats required to be registered. 



Trailer boats are extremely mobile and 

 registrations do not show area of use. 

 Charter boats operating including May be indicative of potential traffic Could be difficult to obtain. Does not reflect 

 tours and passenger spaceavail- from given location or of desirability actual use, only capacity, 

 able. of an area for fishing or sightseeing. 



Nonresident hunting and fishing Information readily available from Not necessarily specific to estuarine zone; 

 licenses. records. Indicates interest by out- fishing licenses may not be required in 



of-State residents. salt water areas. 



