Interagency Visitor Use Management Council - Keith Brown, Kerri Cahill

WORKING ACROSS AGENCY LINES

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Presentation Overview

• History and mission of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (the Council)

• Update on the council’s activities

• Overview of the council’s position paper and visitor use management framework

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• History and mission of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (the Council)

• Update on the council’s activities

• Overview of the council’s position paper and visitor use management framework

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4 THE IMPORTANCE OF AND CHALLENGES WITH VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR CAPACITY

The Challenge of Litigation

Inconsistent and inadequate implementation of VUM and capacity methodologies across the agencies:

• Not meeting agencies’ missions

• Reduced accountability

• Confusion in the field

• Inability to demonstrate success

• Litigation

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The Challenge of Implementation

Proactively planning for visitor use maximizes the ability of agencies to encourage access and protect resources and values

Importance of Visitor Use Management

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The Interagency Visitor Use Management Council

Mission: Provide guidance on long-term visitor use management policies and give direction on the most pressing needs by building technical competencies and improving interagency coordination.

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• Consistent guidance across agencies

• Elevate the professional and scientific approach to managing visitor use

• Increased communication and collaboration

• Cost savings and improved efficiency

• More defensible decision-making

Expected Outcomes

• History and mission of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (the Council)

• Update on the council’s activities

• Overview of the council’s position paper and visitor use management framework

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1. Establish guidance directives 2. Develop tools 3. Conduct training 4. Communicate effectively 5. Build institutional capacity

Work Plan

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• Developed a visitor use management framework for agency planning and decision-making processes, includes common definitions for key terms

• Compiled and analyzed agency policies on visitor use management

• Developing separate “how-to” guidebooks for: — visitor capacity — indicators and thresholds

• Collaborated with the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council on their guidebook for “Addressing User Capacities in Comprehensive River Management Plans”

Highlights for Recent Council Activities

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• Developed council operating procedures and recruited over 15 volunteers to support the council’s work

• Prepared a communications plan and organized an outreach team

• Developing a council website for council products and a clearinghouse of existing visitor use management information

• Coordinating with the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation

• Coordinating with related agency programs and councils

Highlights for Recent Council Activities (Continued)

• History and mission of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (the Council)

• Update on the council’s activities

• Overview of the council’s position paper and visitor use management framework

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• Shift focus from narrow concept of visitor capacity to the broader concept of visitor use management

• Key terms are consistently defined across agencies • Presents a visitor use management framework to be integrated into

agency decision making processes -- using a sliding scale approach • Specific guidance for applicable legal requirements re: capacity

— Wild and Scenic Rivers — NPS General Management Plans — National Scenic and National Historic Trails

Council Position Paper

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Process for managing all characteristics of visitor use and settings • Sustain resource conditions and visitor

experiences • Variety of strategies and tools

— Education — Site Management — Regulation — Enforcement — Rationing/allocation

Visitor Use Management

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• Subcomponent of visitor use management

• Maximum amounts and types of visitor use that an area can accommodate

• While sustaining desired resource conditions and visitor experiences

Visitor Capacity

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Visitor Use Management Framework

Purpose:

• Make decisions about VUM

• Analytical thought process

• Apply to all VUM issues/concerns

• Not a stand-alone process

• Flexibility - Sliding scale of analysis

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Visitor Use Management Framework

Criteria:

• Unified guidance (multi-agency) • Defensible, transparent process, agency accountability • Desired conditions defined • Proactive response to changes in resource and social conditions • Clarify role of visitor capacity • Compatible with existing planning processes • Executable by field-level staff • Incorporate the sliding scale of analysis

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Visitor Use Management Framework

1) Clarify project purpose and need. 2) Review the area’s purpose,

legislation, policy and management direction.

3) Assess existing information and current conditions.

4) Develop project planning strategy.

Element 1 – Build the Foundation

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Visitor Use Management Framework

5) Define desired conditions

(resources, recreation opportunities, visitor experiences).

6) Define suitable visitor uses, facilities, and services based on desired conditions.

7) Determine acceptable levels of impact.

Element 2 - Define Visitor Use Management Direction

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Visitor Use Management Framework

8) Compare and document the differences between existing and desired conditions and, for visitor related impacts, clarify the specific links to visitor use characteristics.

9) Identify visitor use management strategies and actions to achieve desired conditions.

10) Where necessary, identify visitor capacities and strategies to manage use levels within capacities.

11) Develop monitoring strategies.

Element 3 - Identify Management Strategies

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Visitor Use Management Framework

12) Implement management actions. 13) Conduct and document ongoing

monitoring and evaluate the effectiveness of management actions in achieving desired conditions.

14) Adjust management actions if needed to achieve desired conditions and document rationale.

Element 4-Implement, monitor, evaluate, and adjust

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QUESTIONS?