A most important part of the area study is the evaluation of access routes, both by land 

 and by water. Good vehicle access routes will be required, including some offsite road 

 construction. Whether this must be done as part of the project cost or will be a cooperative 

 effort by the local public road department, must be determined at this stage of planning. 

 Similarly, if an entrance channel is needed from the main water body to the harbor site, the 

 study must reveal whether it will be provided by others or will be a project obligation. 



Ownership and acquisition problems must also be evaluated at this time. If the developer 

 does not already hold all the land and water area in fuU ownership, the probable cost of 

 aquisition must be determined or the terms of a possible lease agreement negotiated with 

 the current owner. If the water area is owned by the State or Federal Government, some 

 arrangement for its proposed use as a small-craft berthing or launching-basin facility must be 

 agreed upon during the feasibiUty studies. 



/. Geophysical Characteristics. After the proposed boundaries of the site have been 

 established, certain field investigations will usually be needed to support a construction cost 

 analysis. The extent of exploratory work done at this time will vary with the geophysical 

 characteristics of the site and prior knowledge obtained from construction in adjacent or 

 similar land formations. The purpose is to reveal information needed to determine the 

 relative difficulty of dredging or excavating wherever the work is to be done, and to evaluate 

 bearing capacity, slope stability, and other soil mechanics of the various formations to be 

 encountered. Some exploration and soil testing may be deferred to a later stage of planning, 

 but on a small project or one that appears feasible, it may be more economical to obtain the 

 field data while mobilized for such work. 



Other geophysical data to be aquired at this time should include wind, weather, tide, and 

 wave statistics or data on river flows or lake levels needed for design of protective structures, 

 berth construction, and anchorages. Temperature trends must be analyzed to determine 

 what kind of seasonal changes in harbor usage to expect and whether snow, ice, or frost wiU 

 be troublesome. Extremes of heat in summer often place covered berthing systems in high 

 demand. 



g. Market Potential. A study of boating habits and experience records of other 

 small-craft faciUties in the area will often provide the information needed to determine the 

 probable requirements for berthing faciUties, ramps, and hoists. In an area newly opened to 

 boating, such as a reservoir on a lake or bay to which vehicle access has recently been 

 provided, the numbers, types, and sizes of craft that will be attracted to the faciUty must be 

 estimated. This will require a study of distances to population centers, boating recreation 

 opportunities offered at the body of water served, and experience records of similar 

 installations at other newly opened areas under similar circumstances. 



In urban areas where other facilities are available within easily traveled distances, a study 

 must be made of spheres of influence of such facilities in relation to the one under 

 consideration. Because boating is stiU an expanding form of recreation in most areas, the 



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