Page 69 - Clackamas County Watertourism Strategic Plan. Final.v3

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WATER-BASED TOURISM IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON THE PEOPLE
4-27

Willamette Falls Locks
The survey briefly examined the market demand for locks usage by recreational boaters. Respondents
were asked two questions to indicate how frequently they might use the locks. First, a full description of
the locks was provided, and they were asked if they might use the locks at least once per year at no cost.
Second, they were asked how frequently they might use the locks at 5 different prices ($0, $5, $10, $15,
$20).

In the first question, respondents were asked “If the locks were open and allowed upstream and
downstream traffic, would you use it at least once per year at no cost to you?”. The respondents were
asked to select one of the four following choices:
1. I don’t even know about the locks, so I can’t say
2. I know about the locks, but I am not sure if I would use it
3. I probably would not use the locks at least once per year at no cost to me
4. I probably would use the locks at least once per year at no cost to me
Responses 1 and 2 are combined and considered “maybe.” Responses 3 and 4 are no and yes respectively.
The results are show in table 3-24.

Approximately 166,668 water recreation enthusiasts, or 16% of the State’s total water recreation
population would use the locks at no cost. Most of them are motor boaters. Nearly 30% of the state’s
motor boaters or about 51,302 of them would use the locks at least once per year at no cost. Anglers represent the smallest percentage of all groups (13%) but because of their
large population, they amount to 110,750 users. Approximately 4,600 paddlers would use the locks or 23% of the total paddler population in the State of Oregon. Almost twice as
many total respondents (29%) said they would not use the locks at no cost. Another 55% or 589,000 water recreation enthusiasts were undecided.
Table 4-24 Estimated Market Participation in the Locks (at least once per year at no The second question estimates the market demand for the number of trips taken through
cost) the locks. Respondents were asked to write the number trips they would expect to take in

Yes % No % Maybe % one year at five different price ranges, including free. Respondents indicate that they
Anglers 110,750 13% 255,668 29% 507,801 58% would take a total of approximately 2130 trips per year at different price ranges. About
Motor Boaters 51,302 29% 50,036 29% 73,470 42% half of those trips would be taken if the price was free. In the previous question, 317
Paddlers 4,616 23% 7,373 37% 7,853 40% respondents (in all three groups) said they would use the locks at least once at no cost.
Total 166,668 16% 313,077 29% 589,124 55% Dividing the total number of free trips demanded (1006) by the number of respondents
indicating they would use it at no cost (317), results in an average of three trips per party if
the cost were $0.