A Method to Analyze the Effects of Fluctuating Reservoir Water Levels on Shoreline Recreation Use

Abstract

Fluctuations of numerous reservoirs have demonstrated that a direct relationship exists between water level and shoreline quality. An increasing acknowledgment that the recreation segment of many multipurpose projects forms one of the more active basic economic catalysts for regional growth has helped to justify the maintenance of constant, or near constant, levels during the recreation season. A methodology whereby the optimum water level for a reservoir can be identified, based on an analysis of recreation potential of the shoreline at different lake levels, presents an opportunity to quantify comparisons of variations in recreation quality. Applications of the methodology may also be made to assess shoreline damages due to flood levels. A shoreline inventory taken before a major flood may be compared to an inventory taken after the flood: differences in physiographic rates illustrate the loss of shoreline use due to erosion, to loss of tree cover, and to change of beach materials. Further uses of the methodology include economic comparisons of the value of maintaining constant lake levels with the value of maintaining flood storage levels. Dollar values attached to shoreline rates provide an estimate of the loss of shoreline use due to flood storage levels, which may be compared with the benefit of flood prevention in the floodplain of an adjoining river basin.