Three major occurrences in recent years have emphasized a need for new data concerning reservoir-based recreation patterns. These occurrences were: (1) the increased rate of construction of new, large reservoirs by federal agencies (2) the increasing demand for recreation space and fishing water and (3) the establishment of large national recreation areas around federal reservoirs. The present project was designed to study the development of recreational use patterns at a new reservoir, around which a national recreation area was planned.