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Recreation Use & Needs Study

Duke Energy is conducting a Recreation Use and Needs Study on lakes Keowee and Jocassee. This study will involve a year-long data collection effort and is intended to guide Duke Energy and its partners, including state resource agencies, local governments and commercial recreation providers in making sound choices about public recreation improvements and future needs on the lakes. This study will provide valuable information and data that will help Duke Energy better manage and plan for public recreation needs through the remainder of the Keowee - Toxaway Project license.

• Final Study Plan Presented to Duke Energy (pdf, 123KB)
• November 16, 2006 Stakeholder Meeting Summary (pdf, 14KB)
• Recreation Use and Needs Study Presentation (pdf, 1.8MB)

Although Duke Energy will evaluate public recreation use and future needs as an integral part of the formal Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process which will begin in 2010, the existing and proposed shoreline development and demand for enhanced public recreation opportunities, especially on Lake Keowee, indicates that a comprehensive re-assessment is needed sooner than that to help Duke Energy and others, manage project recreation resources.

Study Team - Established to assist in finalizing the draft recreation study plan and to manage the actual study. State and federal resource agencies, non-governmental organizations and recreation planning professionals also provided input into the study methodology and surveys.

Stakeholder Team - The Final Study Plan was presented to a group of more than 50 additional stakeholder representatives of state agencies, city and county government, non-government organizations, special interest recreation groups and commercial recreation providers in November 2006. The Study Team will provide additional stakeholder communications on the progress of the study and the final results in the first part of 2008.

The data that will be collected will enhance Duke Energy’s understanding of the recreational resources and use levels on both lakes and will support Duke’s Access Area Improvement Initiative for the lakes.

Beginning in December a variety of methods will be used to collect this data. Residents in Oconee, Pickens and Transylvania counties may receive a questionnaire in the mail. Visitors to public access areas, fishing areas, and state and county parks around the lakes may be asked to be in interviewed (if visitor is willing) about their recreation experience. Additional interviews will be conducted with commercial recreation facility operators, public park managers, and state and local government agencies. Beginning in the spring of 2007, a random sample of shoreline residents, as well as the general population in Oconee, Pickens and Transylvania counties and surrounding counties, will receive a questionnaire in the mail.

Study Team Representatives

Scott Jolley	Duke Energy Lake Services
Tony Bebber	SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Dick Christie	SC Department of Natural Resources
Mark Hall	SC Department of Natural Resources
Steve Pagano	NC Department of Parks and Recreation
Jess Grove	Clemson University, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management
Bill Hammit	Clemson University, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management
Mark Cantrell	US Fish & Wildlife Service
Amanda Hill	US Fish & Wildlife Service
Bill Chambers	US Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Hartwell
Chuck Smith	Friends of Lake Keowee Society
Chris Brink	Pickens County
Olivia Vassey	Pickens County
Phil Shirley	Oconee County
Artie Wilson, Jr.	Transylvania County, NC
Jot Splenda	Consultant, Louis Berger Group
Benji Cannon	Consultant, Duke Energy Lake Services
Bill Ambrose	Consultant, Heron Cove Partners, LLC

Stakeholder Representatives

Keowee SMP

• Overview
• Executive Summary
• Maps
• Recreation Use & Needs Study