Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning John M. Baas, Ph.D Timberline Associates

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Overview Background Background Organization of Best Practices Guide Organization of Best Practices Guide Where to obtain information Where to obtain information Best practices examples Best practices examples Work in progress Work in progress How to contribute How to contribute

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Background No single source of published information on recreation resource planning. No single source of published information on recreation resource planning. Purpose of project to develop an internet-based “best practices” guide on recreation resource planning. Purpose of project to develop an internet-based “best practices” guide on recreation resource planning. Project started in 2007, NARRP sponsorship initiated in Project started in 2007, NARRP sponsorship initiated in 2008.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Principles Don’t re-invent the wheel. Don’t re-invent the wheel. Focus on area-wide, not site level planning. Focus on area-wide, not site level planning. Focus on rapid dissemination, self-published chapters available online. Focus on rapid dissemination, self-published chapters available online. Adhere to QA/QC principles. Adhere to QA/QC principles. Target toward early career professionals. Target toward early career professionals. Strive for diversity of authors and viewpoints. Strive for diversity of authors and viewpoints.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Organization of Chapters Chapter 1, Introduction Chapter 1, Introduction Chapter 2, Principles Chapter 2, Principles Chapter 3, The Planning Process Chapter 3, The Planning Process Chapter 4, Scoping Chapter 4, Scoping Chapter 5, Studies and Inventories Chapter 5, Studies and Inventories Chapter 6, Estimating Supply and Demand Chapter 6, Estimating Supply and Demand Chapter 7, GIS Applications Chapter 7, GIS Applications

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Organization of Chapters Chapter 8, Collaborative Planning and Public Outreach Chapter 8, Collaborative Planning and Public Outreach Chapter 9, Managing the Recreation Planning Process Chapter 9, Managing the Recreation Planning Process Chapter 10, Analyzing Alternatives Chapter 10, Analyzing Alternatives Chapter 11, Planning and Decision-making Chapter 11, Planning and Decision-making Chapter 12, Plan Implementation Chapter 12, Plan Implementation Chapter 13, Emerging Issues Chapter 13, Emerging Issues Chapter 14, Case Studies Chapter 14, Case Studies

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Accessing the Best Practices Guide

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Best Practices Examples

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Example 1: Recreation Capability Modeling for Spring Mountains NRA

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Recreation Capability Modeling for Spring Mountains NRA GIS-based model focused on trail and facility development. GIS-based model focused on trail and facility development. Potential recreation development constrained by several major factors. Potential recreation development constrained by several major factors. Model for “coarse filtering” of recreation capability. Model for “coarse filtering” of recreation capability.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Spring Mountains NRA Regional Setting

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Recreation Activities Modeled Highly developed summer and winter campgrounds. Highly developed summer and winter campgrounds. Summer and winter picnic areas. Summer and winter picnic areas. Winter campgrounds. Winter campgrounds. Designated summer and winter camping. Designated summer and winter camping. Trailheads. Trailheads. Low and High mileage trails. Low and High mileage trails.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Importance Ratings Criteria Criteria importance for low mileage trails Slope for trails 1 Proximity to Roads 1 Proximity to day use areas and campgrounds 0.75 Proximity to scenic vistas 0.50 Proximity to user created trails 0.50

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Landscape Criteria- Low Mileage Trails Criteria Highly Capable Fairly Capable Not Capable Proximity to day use areas and campgrounds LT 0.25 mile GT 0.25 miles but LT 0.50 miles GT 0.50 miles Proximity to Roads* LT 2 miles GT 2 miles, LT 4 miles GT 4 miles Proximity to user-created trails overlapoverlap no overlap

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Capability Assessment Identify the relevant landscape criteria. Identify the relevant landscape criteria. Identify the importance of each criterion. Identify the importance of each criterion. Use capability criteria to estimate the capability for the entire project area. Use capability criteria to estimate the capability for the entire project area. Multiply capability criteria ratings by importance. Multiply capability criteria ratings by importance. Sum the ratings to generate capability scores for the entire landscape. Sum the ratings to generate capability scores for the entire landscape. Break the scores into 4 categories ranging from no to high capability. Break the scores into 4 categories ranging from no to high capability.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Recreation Capability Modeling Conclusions Data manipulation steps time consuming. Data manipulation steps time consuming. Model works reasonably well for area-wide planning, but doesn’t replace site level analysis. Model works reasonably well for area-wide planning, but doesn’t replace site level analysis. Model useful for identifying trail corridors, but not specific alignments. Model useful for identifying trail corridors, but not specific alignments.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Example 2: Framework for Planning for and Determining Visitor Capacity

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Background Forest Service LAC Draft policy (1980). Forest Service LAC Draft policy (1980). Visitor Capacity was solved ( s). Visitor Capacity was solved ( s) Recreation Capacity Congress Recreation Capacity Congress Federal Interagency Task Force on Visitor Capacity on Public Lands and Waters Federal Interagency Task Force on Visitor Capacity on Public Lands and Waters.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Definition Visitor capacity is the supply, or prescribed number, of appropriate visitor opportunities that will be accommodated in an area. Visitor capacity is the supply, or prescribed number, of appropriate visitor opportunities that will be accommodated in an area.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning When to make a visitor capacity decision Ripe Premature- Not Ripe Post Mature – Not Ripe Level 3 Analysis – Extraordinary Level 2 Analysis – Ordinary Level 1 Analysis – Modest Time Visitation

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Adaptive Visitor Capacity Management Time Level of visitation Capacity Range A B C D Visitation Acceptable At Risk Unacceptable

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning The level of analysis increases longer you wait. Ripe Premature- Not Ripe Post Mature – Not Ripe Level 3 Analysis – Extraordinary Level 2 Analysis – Ordinary Level 1 Analysis – Modest Time Visitation

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning How to make a capacity decision 1. Sound professional judgment. 2. Full consideration of important information. 3. Use Public Planning Process. 4. Disclose capacities within alternatives.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning What is the hard part about making a visitor capacity decision? Need for clear and meaningful: management goals and objectives management goals and objectives desired recreation opportunity desired recreation opportunity desired future conditions desired future conditions management zones management zones The devil is not in the details. It is in not being detailed.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Example 3: Recreation Resource Standards and Monitoring

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Why Monitor? Needed component of a long-term management strategy. Needed component of a long-term management strategy. Helps maintain acceptable range of social and resource conditions. Helps maintain acceptable range of social and resource conditions. Provides a basis for appropriate management responses. Provides a basis for appropriate management responses. Allows for adaptive management. Allows for adaptive management.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Indicators and Standards Indicators: variables that define the social and resource conditions of an area Indicators: variables that define the social and resource conditions of an area Standards: minimum accepted condition of an indicator Standards: minimum accepted condition of an indicator

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Social Indicators and Standards Example Key Indicator StandardMethod Managemen t Action Daily average number of encounters while on trail. 20 encounters with other parties per day on the trail. Count number of encounter s per day. -attempt to redistribute use -implement permit system

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Biophysical Indicators and Standards Example Indicator: Number of new user created campsites Standard: No more than 10% increase per year over 2010 baseline number

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Conclusions about Standards and Indicators Often the forgotten element in planning. Often the forgotten element in planning. Difficulty in choosing standards and indicators is common. Difficulty in choosing standards and indicators is common. Transparency is important. Transparency is important. There are a lot of “how to” examples. There are a lot of “how to” examples.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Example 4: Content Analysis of Public Comments Black Hills Travel Management Plan EIS

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Background Forest Service received approximately 700 letters and s with 2,000 comments Forest Service received approximately 700 letters and s with 2,000 comments Comments assigned to 16 categories Comments assigned to 16 categories Identified four issue areas: Identified four issue areas: Effects on natural and cultural resources Effects on natural and cultural resources Effects on recreational opportunities Effects on recreational opportunities Effects of transportation system design on management capabilities Effects of transportation system design on management capabilities Social and economic concerns Social and economic concerns

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Content Analysis Guidelines Need a home for everyone’s comment. Need a home for everyone’s comment. Categories should be well-defined. Categories should be well-defined. Need a transparent way of progressing from comments to major categories, to issues. Need a transparent way of progressing from comments to major categories, to issues.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Comment Categories Add motorized routes Add motorized routes Remove motorized routes Remove motorized routes Off-road opportunities Off-road opportunities Accessible (ADA) opportunities Accessible (ADA) opportunities Environmental concerns Environmental concerns Enforcement concerns Enforcement concerns No off-road opportunities No off-road opportunities Special use permits Special use permits Big game retrieval Big game retrieval Roads versus trails Roads versus trails General disagreement General disagreement Multi-use conflicts Multi-use conflicts Partnership/cooperation Partnership/cooperation Duplicate records Duplicate records Forms with no comments Forms with no comments

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Work in Progress GIS applications for analyzing wildlife habitat constraints. GIS applications for analyzing wildlife habitat constraints. Rapid recreation capability assessment. Rapid recreation capability assessment. Social networking tools for public outreach. Social networking tools for public outreach. Economic sustainability analysis for facilities planning. Economic sustainability analysis for facilities planning.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Conclusions Black Hills Travel Management Content Analysis Analysis addressed a controversial topic with many comments. Analysis addressed a controversial topic with many comments. Clear distinction made between comment categories. Clear distinction made between comment categories. Clear link between comments, categories, and issues. Clear link between comments, categories, and issues.

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning A Special Thanks to Contributors! More than 50 recreation planning professionals have contributed to the guide thus far More than 50 recreation planning professionals have contributed to the guide thus far Contributions for today’s examples from: Contributions for today’s examples from: Kevin Gabel, Entrix Kevin Gabel, Entrix Sergio Capozzi, AECOM Sergio Capozzi, AECOM Dr. Glenn Haas, Aukerman Haas and Associates Dr. Glenn Haas, Aukerman Haas and Associates Tom Willems, Black Hills National Forest Tom Willems, Black Hills National Forest Bob Rinehart, New York Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Bob Rinehart, New York Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation

Best Practices in Recreation Resource Planning Questions/Want to contribute? For more information about this project please contact: John Baas at For more information about this project please contact: John Baas at