Weekend Report 8/15 - 8/16

Recreation Ambassador Program – Weekend Report 8/15 - 8/16

Weekend Summary:

We had Cascade Medical Foundation covering the three River locations (Barn Beach, East Leavenworth Boat Launch, and the Bridge River Access/Icicle Bridge Put-in). Due to concerns with the smoke Saturdays barn beach location was unstaffed. Leavenworth Rotary Club covered the three Forest Service locations (Icicle Gorge, Eight-mile Trailhead, and Colchuck/Stuart Lake Trailhead).

Volunteers and those surveyed reported that the river and shores were very clean, very minimal litter along the route. Mainly golf balls collected by a local family. Bathrooms and trash cans at river locations were well maintained and not overused.  Drinking on the river was noted to be more intense than previous weekends. Trails were reported to be less busy than previous weekends. Smoke was a little better at the trailheads but impactful enough to deter hikers. Bathrooms at Colchuck remain overused and lack toilet paper. Hikers reported trash along the

Colchuck/Stuart Lake Trail. 

Volunteer Impact:

·      Visitor Interactions: Weekend Total 1,015

·      Surveys Conducted: 37

·      Trash Removed: 1 - 30 gallon bag

Survey Highlights 

Visitor Origin:

·      100% of river surveyors were not local.

·      93.75% of trail surveyors were not local.

Recreation Type:

·      81.8% of surveyors went to Colchuck Lake, 9.1% when to Icicle gorge and 9.1% went to Eight-mile Lake.

·      95.24% of surveyors went tubbing and 4.76% went paddleboarding. 

Conditions Reported:

·      Respondents complained about overfull trashcans and lack of toilet paper in trailhead restrooms.

·      Trash seen along the Colchuck trail. 

Post-Recreation Plans:

·      After floating the river 43.75% of surveyors went to a restaurant, 43.75% went to their lodging, 6.25% went to participate in other recreational activities and 6.25% other. 

·      After floating the river 61.90% of surveyors went to their lodging and 38.10% went to a restaurant. 

Transportation & Parking

·      14.29% of river users surveyed had previously heard about the City’s free shuttle free river. 85.71% have not.

·      61.9% of guests surveyed drove their own vehicle, 23.8% walk/biked to their next location, 9.5% shuttled, and 4.8% other. 

For more information, please email Miranda at Recreation@leavenworth.org