October 24, 2018

Honorable Kimberly D. Bose Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426

Re: Wilder Dam Project No. 1892
Bellows Falls Project No. 1855
Vernon Dam Project No. 1904
Connecticut River Conservancy Recreation Survey Summary and Results submitted in regard to Study 30 (Recreation)


Dear Secretary Bose,

The Connecticut River Watershed Council, Inc. (CRWC), now doing business as the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is a nonprofit citizen group established in 1952 to advocate for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of the Connecticut River and its four‐state watershed. We have been participating in the relicensing of the five hydropower facilities on the Connecticut River since the beginning of the process in late 2012.

In November and December of 2017, Connecticut River Conservancy conducted an online survey and a series of public meetings to collect additional information about recreational infrastructure needs in the Wilder, Bellows Falls and Vernon Hydroelectric project areas.

Attached please find the summary of information compiled as a result of the online survey, four public meetings, and resulting one-on-one conversations with towns, recreation commissions, recreation outfitters and individual stakeholders.  The survey results were compiled and then sent out again to recreational stakeholders watershed wide for review and additional comments before being finalized.

CRC is submitting the attached to be included in the record for consideration of required recreational development as per 18 CFR § 2.7.  This information has previously been shared with Great River Hydro for their consideration.  I have included that communication below.

Sincerely,

Kathy Urffer
kurffer@ctriver.org
802-258-0413

(The recreation Survey Summary is very large so it is not posted here.  If you would like a pdf version, email kurffer@ctriver.org)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: Kathy Urffer [mailto:kurffer@ctriver.org] Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 10:35 AM
To: ‘John Ragonese’; Jennifer Griffin
Cc: afisk@ctriver.org; Andrea Donlon; bob@americanwhitewater.org; ‘Norman Sims’; ‘tom.christopher@comcast.net’
Subject: Recreation survey summary

John and Jen,

I hope you had a relaxing labor day weekend!

Attached please find the summary of the recreation survey that CRC compiled as a result of the online survey, public meetings, and resulting one-on-one conversations with towns, recreation commissions, individual stakeholders, etc.  The survey results were compiled and then sent out again to recreation stakeholders watershed wide for review and additional comments. It was specifically geared toward infrastructure needs and the development of possible new access areas.  I am copying our whitewater friends here to make sure that they have this information as well.

Please consider these results as you continue to develop the recreation plan.

In one of the recent Study 9 meetings, Bob Nasdor brought up the question of having a stakeholder meeting focused on recreation issues.  Can you anticipate when we might be able to have that meeting?

Much appreciated!

Kathy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kathy Urffer
River Steward
Connecticut River Conservancy, formerly Connecticut River Watershed Council
PO Box 6219 | Brattleboro, VT 05302 | ctriver.org
802-258-0413 | kurffer@ctriver.org