An Inventory, Planning, and Management Tool

Dr. Joshua CarrollRadford UniversityDepartment of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism

HumansResource

Preferences

Needs

Behaviors

Motivations

Social

Conflict

Perceptions

Stakeholders

Livelihoods

Parks

Trails

Rivers

Reefs

Fishing grounds

Carrying capacity

NR’s

Ecological issues

Wildlife

• Interdisciplinary nature: balance social, economic, and

ecological needs and preferences

Rules for Playing Field

Fees

Resource Allocation

Access Points

Catch Limits

Permits

Regulations

Recreation Activity + Setting = Experience > Benefits

Many activities Physical attributes

Social attributes

Managerial attributes

Many dimensions

Multiple senses

Individual

Community

Economic

Environmental

Managers Recreationists Society Manage Consume Gains

Urban

Six WALROS Classes

Suburban

Rural Developed

Rural Natural

SemiPrimitive

PrimitiveSub-classes (11)

Water-skiing

House boating

Fishing

Kayaking

Beach swimming

Picnicking

Canoeing

Camping

Fishing

Kayaking

Hunting

Hiking

Rafting

UrbanRural

DevelopedRural

NaturalSemi

Primitive PrimitiveSuburban

Physical

Permanently fixed, not likely to change soon

e.g., dams, bridges, buildings, parking lots, roads, NR

modifications, natural ambiance, closeness to community

Social

Visitor’s activities, behaviors, perceptions

e.g., visitor presence, impacts, concentration, comforts,

safety, recreation diversity, solitude

Managerial

Managed or changed by agency

e.g., management presence, access, regulations, facilities,

patrols, services

Dispersed campsites

No service

Low density visitation

No routine patrol

High natural ambience

UrbanRural

Developed

Rural Natural

Semi-Primitive PrimitiveSuburban

Resorts

Full service comforts

High density visitation

Law enforcement patrol

Low natural ambience

Setting AttributesPhysical Social Managerial

Experiences

Change of pace

Meet new people

Enjoy safe family outing

Test equipment

Watch others

Relax

Exercise

Change of pace

Solitude

Personal challenge/risk

Self-reliance (Test skills)

Adventure

Mystery

Exercise

UrbanRural

DevelopedRural

NaturalSemi-

Primitive PrimitiveSuburban

Inventory tool

Map current supply

Planning tool

Proposed changes

Management tool

Guide efforts

Set guidelines

Rivers Lakes Coastal zones Marine protected

areas Trail systems Forest lands Parks

Visual map/understanding of resource &

recreation opportunities

Urban

Suburban

Rural Developed

Rural Natural

Semi-Primitive

Primitive

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Urban Suburban RuralDeveloped

RuralNatural

Semi-primitive

Primitive

Urban

Suburban

Rural Developed

Rural Natural

Semi-primitive

Primitive

Fifth largest reservoir in CA

12,500 surface acres

100 miles of shoreline

Long arm greater than 9 miles

Rural

Developed

Rural

NaturalRural

Natural

Rural

Natural

Map/inventory current supply of recreation opportunities

Rural Natural

Suburban

1

7

10

8

6

5

4

2

3

9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100 Urban

Suburban

Rural Dev.

Rural Nat.

Semi-Prim

Primitive

Perc

en

t S

urf

ace

Acr

es

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Perc

en

t S

urf

ace

Acr

es

Rural

Developed

Rural

NaturalRural

Natural

Rural

Natural

Rural Natural

Suburban

Diversify recreation opportunities

Semi-

Primitive

Visual map & understanding of settings & recreation opportunities

Assessment of proposed changes Understandable/intuitive to public Improve communication with stakeholders Defensible decision making Easy & inexpensive High quality, diverse, recreation

opportunities