Corps of Engineers to release Raystown Lake boating survey

Published Oct. 31, 2018

RAYSTOWN LAKE, Penn. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing a boating survey for Raystown Lake boaters as a part of the boating density study to be used for the Raystown Lake Master Plan revision.

The Corps has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget for the survey to begin.  In the next few weeks, boaters, marina users and other Raystown guests that were previously contacted during the summer boating season will be receiving an email and/or mailed paper survey with information from CDM-Smith, a contractor conducting the survey on behalf of the Corps. 

The survey guidance will provide instructions on how to complete the survey, how to place the unique identifier code to limit responses to one per household and other pertinent information to help survey users in completing the survey. 

During the summer boating season, representatives from CDM-Smith conducted the first portion of the study using aerial surveys to determine the numbers of boats physically using the lake on Saturdays that experienced peak-use. This second part of the survey will take into account boaters’ perceptions of crowdedness and safety and will continue to help identify boating trends and high density use areas.

Boating survey participants have already been identified and additional participants will not be accepted for this survey.  Participants were identified during the summer on boat launch ramps throughout Raystown Lake to ensure that recent boaters of Raystown Lake would be surveyed. 

The last boating survey at Raystown Lake was conducted in 1987 and summarized the boating use, density, and public perceptions at that time. This new survey will assist with the update of the Raystown Lake Master Plan.

The Raystown Lake Master Plan serves as the land-use document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of the lake. Legislation contained in the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WIIN), Section 1309, requires the Master Plan for the Raystown Lake be updated. 

The current 1994 Raystown Lake Master Plan, along with the 1988 boating study, and other project information and materials, can be found on the project’s web page at: www.nab.usace.army.mil/Raystown-Master-Plan-Revision/

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Contact
Allen Gwinn
(814) 658-6810
Raystown Lake

Release no. 18-070