Draft EIS/EIR for the San Luis Reservoir SRA Resource ...

5. Environmental Analysis
and resources, 2) the quality of these resources and settings, and 3) the density of
recreational use. Recreation goals and preferences will vary and may even conflict
among users, and Plan Area managers will have to make decisions that guide
recreational uses. Management actions for each alternative are intended as broad
guidelines and may be altered based on actual usage. For example, management
actions may be adjusted during holiday and high-use summer weekends when
visitation is high. Management actions will influence visitor perceptions of the
quality of the recreation experience.
As described in Section 4.3, management zones were assigned to the Plan Area
for each alternative, based on projections for types of use, management actions,
and physical and social settings. For recreational resources, these zones serve as a
guide to understanding the types and locations of the opportunities that make up
the spectrum of recreation intensity (RN, RD, and S for water-based management
and BC and FC for land-based management; Administration and Operations is
not, by nature, a recreation zone). The attributes that differentiate these
management zones have implications on the recreational opportunities and
benefits that recreationists may experience.
Under all alternatives, applicable federal and state regulations would be followed,
and appropriate actions to ensure compliance would be taken. The existing
recreational facilities will be upgraded as necessary to comply with applicable
laws and regulations, such as ADA. At a minimum, existing facilities that are
currently in compliance with governing laws and regulations will continue to be
maintained under all alternatives, and no adverse impacts to recreation would
occur as a result. Regular maintenance will preserve the quality of the facilities,
which would have a beneficial impact for users. Continued use of recreational
facilities would not result in substantial physical deterioration of those facilities.
Seasonal events and activities would continue to be accommodated and are not
anticipated to result in recreation impacts.
Speed limits and no-ski zones in controlled areas of San Luis Reservoir, O’Neill
Forebay, and Los Banos Creek Reservoir will be continued regardless of the
alternative selected, enhancing safety for recreation users such as swimmers who
may be sharing the lake with boaters. These restrictions would also have other
beneficial impacts that could enhance the recreational experience of swimmers
and shoreline campers such as by reducing noise levels, depending on the relative
location and speed of watercraft. Enforcing restrictions would have minor adverse
impacts on some recreational users.
Plan implementation could result in effects to recreation from the following
mechanisms.
Temporary Construction Activities at Camping and Recreation Facilities
Maintenance, expansion, or addition of camp sites, shade ramadas, boat launches,
trails and other recreation facilities could have temporary, minor constructionrelated
impacts such as fugitive dust and noise, disruption to visitor circulation,
and restriction to visitor areas. These activities could affect the quality of the
5-50 San Luis Reservoir SRA
Draft RMP/GP and Draft EIS/EIR