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<br />25 <br />activities also generate the largest potential expenditure <br />volumes in Kittitas County through 2040. <br /> <br />§ Geotourism activities generating LEAST likely visitation after <br />being provided information on Kittitas County attractions – <br />include horse trails (11%), off-road vehicle (ORV) trails (16%), all- <br />terrain vehicles (ATV) trails (16%), hunting and shooting sites (16%), <br />barns and farmsteads (20%), and barn quilts (25%) suggesting that <br />participants of these activities currently know of Kittitas County <br />attractions suggesting that outreach will be least effective for <br />these attractions since they know or have already frequented <br />these destinations. The expenditure projections indicate these <br />activities also generate the least potential expenditure volumes <br />in Kittitas County through 2040. <br /> <br />Public access implications <br />The Kittitas County geotourism demand and economic analysis <br />results indicate the Yakima River contains attributes and assets that <br />currently and potentially generate considerable resident and tourist <br />activities of the most interest and economic potential. Whether this <br />demand and economic potential can be effectively managed to the <br />betterment of the river’s environmental and recreational prospects <br />will depend on the insights incorporated into this public access <br />plan’s proposals and implementation. <br /> <br />Yakima River public access user survey <br /> <br />The purpose of the on-line survey was to verify resident and tourist <br />demand and economic impact of a potential Yakima River public <br />access plan. The consultant team and committee members designed <br />and the county hosted and promoted a river use on-line survey to <br />solicit the behaviors, opinions, and priorities of county residents <br />and tourists during the planning process. The survey was <br />publicized on the county website, distributed to interest groups by <br />committee members, and promoted at the workshops and open <br />houses. <br /> <br />A total of 373 respondents completed the survey. The respondents <br />were self-selected and do not necessarily represent the behavior <br />and opinions of all county residents or tourists. Following are <br />summary findings from the survey – detailed results are provided <br />in Appendix A. <br /> <br />Characteristics in general: <br />§ About 51% of all survey respondents resided in eastern <br />Washington, 46% resided in western Washington, and 3% elsewhere <br />in the US and Canada. <br />§ Survey respondents were of all age, income, and educational <br />groups though predominantly older, middle-upper income, and <br />with college degrees. <br /> <br />Sources of information: <br />§ Primary sources of information were previous personal <br />knowledge, social media, and friends and family. <br />§ Major website sources of information were private (Red’s Fly <br />Shop) and the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife <br />(WDFW). <br /> <br />Volume of activity: <br />§ Survey respondents were very active (more than 26 times per <br />year) participants of fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking and biking on <br />a trail, touring scenic areas, biking on-road, and camping in all <br />county, state, and national locations. <br />§ Survey respondents were active in similar activities on the <br />Yakima and Cle Elum Rivers in Kittitas County but of less frequency <br />in comparison to all annual activity at county, state, and nation <br />sites. <br /> <br />Survey respondents were asked how often they participated in the <br />following activities during an average year at any location in the <br />county, state, or nation – listed in rank order of response. <br /> <br />0 <br /> <br />1-5 <br />6- <br />10 <br />11- <br />15 <br />16- <br />20 <br />21- <br />25 <br /> <br />26+ <br />Fishing 49% 10% 10% 10% 14% 10% 35% <br />Viewing wildlife 17% 22% 16% 7% 6% 4% 27% <br />Hiking/biking on trail 10% 20% 20% 13% 10% 7% 20% <br />Touring scenic areas 8% 22% 21% 17% 8% 7% 18% <br />Biking on-road 44% 19% 7% 6% 5% 3% 15% <br />Camping 14% 34% 19% 11% 7% 4% 10%