Amended LT-2020-009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Response 2.1..*ProJectron Response 2.1*Evrdence Response 2.2 Projection * 1. Away fromtheir $ace of residence or h.tsiness and staying overnight in paid acconrrpdatims; With over 1.1 million annual drivers and thousands of birders visiting the Canyon annually, the Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest is sure to be a very \ /ell attended eveni. KEEN anticipates 500 attendees in our third year. Based on 2018 attendance, rlre estimate thai 60% of event attendees will be considered tourists (-300 people) and 80% of them will be staying in paid overnight accommodations (-240 people). 2500 character linit We estimated attendance numbers based on similar bird watching festivals in ihe state that regularly attraci many hundreds of attendees, a survey !\€ conducted in 2014, Kittitas County Tourism and Recreation Plan that identifies wildlife viewing as the third most popular activity and among the highest day-tip ependiture category, and WA State SCORP with nearly 60% of tourists engaging in wildlife viewing activities. We also based our 3rd year numbers on attendance results from last year - our second year of the event. Because of this information, we know that birders visiting the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway are spllt equally between males and females with an average age of 61 years old and over. The majoriiy of respondents lived in Western Washington (King, Pierce, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties) with an income betvreen $100,000 and $149,000. Birders that participated in the survey said that they iypically travel about 100 miles, but will travel between 100 miles and 500 miles to seek out great birding opportunities that have a wide variety and rare bird species. Several survey respondents take yearly trips out of siate or country for birding eperiences. When traveling for birding excursions auay from home, most stay overnight for approximately 2 nights in a motel/hotel. The majority of birders wtro took this survey said that they have been to lhe Yakima River Canyon Scenic Bymy for birding excursions. What they like best about the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Bymy is the variety and number of birds that show up due to ihe diversity of habitat. We also base our projections on use siatistics that ue receive from the Bureau of Land Management about their recreation sites in the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byvray. Recently released use survey numbers showa steady and significant use pattern in the Canyon that shous nearly 400,000 overnight stays in the Canyon during 6 months (May-Oct) in 2017. 2500 character linit 2.To a place fifty niles u none away fromtheir $ace of residence or business for the day or staying overnight; With over 1.1 million annual drivers and thousands of birders visiting the Canyon annually, the Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest is sure to be a very urell attended event. KEEN anticipates 500 attendees in our third year. Based on 2018 attendance, ue estimate that 60% of event attendees will be considered tourists (-300 people) and 20% of them will be staying for the day or staying overnight in non-paid accommodations (-60 people). 2500 character linit