Vision: The Alleghenies will be recognized as one of the nation’s premier outdoor recreation and heritage tourism destinations.

Goal: To enhance the economy of southwestern-central Pennsylvania by effectively developing and marketing the outdoor recreation and heritage tourism assets of The Alleghenies Region.   

Objective: To follow the Cycle Southern Alleghenies product development and marketing process for additional outdoor recreation assets.  Ultimately, Cyclesa will become one component of The Alleghenies Outdoor Recreation and Heritage product.  The entire project will follow a Five-Year Plan for development with emphasizing water-based activity for FY 2006-2007.

Introduction

Water-Based Recreation --  Research indicates that outdoor enthusiasts typically participate in a variety of recreational activities. When they aren't riding their bikes, cyclists enjoy canoeing, kayaking, boating, swimming, diving and fishing challenges.   Adventure travel and eco-tourism seem to be the means to improve and diversify the economy of the region and a natural progression from a successful outdoor cycling program.

• The Alleghenies region is fortunate to have abundant bodies of water suitable for individual and group activities. Fishing opportunities are plentiful in all seven counties. Area state parks contain a multitude of rivers, lakes, streams, licks and runs. Research has identified more than 65 popular fishing sites throughout the region. 

• The Raystown Branch of the Juniata River is a large freestone stream that is stocked for 20 miles - from Bedford Borough to its source in Somerset County.  This area is accessible from U.S. Routes 30 and 31.

• The venerable outdoors magazine, Field & Stream, listed Huntingdon County as one of the top 10 Flying Fishing destinations in the U.S.

• No matter whether one prefers a sedate rowboat outing or a vigorous motorboat ride, research indicates there is ample opportunity in the seven counties for water-based recreation including: sailing, canoeing, kayaking, paddling, powerboats or tubing. Launching and mooring amenities, as well as watercraft concessions are available.

• Scuba diving is becoming a popular activity at Raystown Lake.

• Our lakes and mountains add a special appeal to the sailing experience and provide as much interest as competing areas.

• Research has shown that there are at least 10 successful canoeing and kayaking sites within the region.

• Water skiing offers an refreshing way to spend an afternoon and parasailing promises sky-high adventure at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon.

• Birding and wildlife watching has become a phenomenon in the region. Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, Centre, Blair, Cambria and Somerset counties offer a varied study for enthusiasts interested in American Bald Eagles, mallards, beavers, muskrats, Great Blue Heron Secretive Wood Ducks, Black Bears and the occasional native bobcat.

Some findings on the overall outdoor recreation industry, from the 2001 publication, Outdoor Recreation in America 2001, indicate:

There was a broad increase in outdoor recreation participation, with 20 of the 37 activities registering an increase in the percentage of Americans participating over the past 12 months.

•  The sharpest climbs in reported participation were in wildlife viewing, which was up 4 points from the previous year and motor boating, which was up 3 points from the previous year.
• A 2000 survey showed that 78% of American adults took part in an outdoor recreation activity at least monthly and 34% did so several times a week.  The 2001 survey shows a drop to 70% taking part at least monthly and only 26% several times weekly.
•  In 2001, 82 million U.S. residents 16 years and older participated in wildlife related recreation.
• 34.1 million people fished
• 13.0 million hunted
• 66.1 million participated in some sort of wildlife watching activity including observing, feeding, or photographing fish and other wildlife in the U.S.
• In 2001, there were 1.6 million hunters, 10.2 million anglers, and 12.6 million wildlife watching participants 6 to 15 years old.
• Wildlife enthusiasts’ activity also was reflected in their spending which totaled $108 billion in 2001.  Of this total amount, $28.1 billion was trip-related, $64.5 was spent on equipment, and $15.8 billion was spent on other items.
• In 2001, expenditures by sports persons totaled $70.0 billion.  Trip-related expenditures, including those for food, lodging, and transportation, were almost $20.0 billion-28% of all fishing and hunting expenditures.  Total equipment expenditures amounted to nearly $41.0 billion, 59% of the total.  Other expenditures-magazines, membership dues, contributions, land leasing and ownership, and licenses, stamps, tags, and permits-accounted for $9.1 billion or 13% of all sports persons’ expenditures.
• In 2001, wildlife-watching participants spent $38.4 billion.  Trip-related expenses including food, lodging, and transportation, totaled $8.2 billion, 20% of all expenditures.  A total of $23.5 billion was spent on equipment, 63% of all wildlife-watching expenses.  The remaining $6.7 billion, 17% of the total, was spent on magazines, membership dues, and contributions made to conservation or wildlife-related organizations. 

Waterbased Touring Development Process

Activity	Timeline	Completion
Research was conducted on what the region has to offer and who takes advantage of it.  Information about other states' recreational assets and programs are also obtained regularly.	On-going	On-going
Team Leader Chosen	September 22, 2003
Steering Committee established	October 22, 2003
First Meeting	November 1, 2003
Inventory Confirmed	January1, 2004
Packaging Concept         Development	January	April-2004
Web-site Development Plan	January	April-2004
Plan Completion		May 30, 2004

Challenges:  The first step will be to decide if this ambitious project can be developed by one committee or if  smaller committees need to work on individual activities. 

Conclusion: A Water-Based Tourism Plan incorporating: Fishing, Boating, Canoeing & Kayaking, Tubing, White Water Rafting, Birding and Wildlife viewing opportunities and will be placed on the Alleghenies Outdoor Recreation Web-site along with the Cyclesa on and off-road tour routes.