Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Projects & Plans

Recreation Facilities Analysis

Many of the Gifford Pinchot's developed recreation sites were built 30-50 years ago. Since then, visitor preferences and demographics have changed. Some sites no longer serve projected recreation demand; some facilities are in poor shape and do not meet visitors' expectations. To address these changed conditions and national direction, the forest is implementing the Recreation Facility Analysis process for developed recreation sites. The outcome will be a list of prioritized actions to more effectively manage these recreation sites.

Link to National Recreation Facility Analysis web site.

News Releases:

What is Recreation Facilities Analysis?

Recreation Facility Analysis is an analysis tool to help forests align their developed recreation sites with the unique characteristics of the forest, projected recreation demand, visitor expectations, and revenue. National forests across the country are undertaking this process.

Recreation Facility Analysis has three strategic goals:
1. Provide recreation opportunities best suited for the national forest;
2. Operate and maintain recreation sites to meet national quality standards;  
3. Eliminate or reduce recreation site deferred maintenance.

A seven-step process is used to evaluate and prioritize sites for action. The outcome will be documented in a proposed 5-year program of work. Public involvement is vital to ensure that these actions are responsive to visitor needs. Annually, phases of the program will be implemented; additional public involvement will be sought at those times.

Seven Step Process

The Recreation Facility Analysis process involves seven steps, collectively bringing the forest's developed recreation sites in alignment with the forest's unique characteristics, projected recreation demand, visitor expectations and revenue.

STEP 1: Prepare Site Inventory & Financial Data
The inventory of recreation sites is updated, along with estimates of the costs for operation, maintenance, and deferred maintenance for each recreation site.  The Gifford Pinchot National Forest staff completed this step in October 2006.

STEP 2: Identify Unit Recreation Program Niche
Recreation visitor use, market data, and public input are examined to determine the focus of the forest's recreation program. This includes a map of the forest's recreation settings and a characterization of the forest's unique recreation “niche.”

Link to Recreation Program niche. (Adobe Acrobat PDF format - 177 kb)

Recreation niche map (Adobe Acrobat PDF format - 689 kb)

Recreation niche map (.JPEG - 701 kb)

STEP 3: Identify Operational Efficiencies
Recreation sites are examined to determine if operational changes could further reduce costs and eliminate deferred maintenance while maintaining recreation opportunities. A set of possible management actions is developed for each site to reduce costs or provide essential services in other ways.

STEP 4: Rank Recreation Sites
Recreation sites are evaluated against (1) their conformance with the forest recreation niche, (2) their financial and operational efficiency, (3) their effects on environmental sustainability, and (4) their effects on community stability.

STEP 5: Propose 5-year Program of Work to Stakeholders
The proposed 5-year program of work for recreation sites is prepared based upon the analysis completed in the previous four steps. Broader discussions with stakeholders are sought to explore alternative ways of operating sites or building new partnerships.

Proposed program of work summary

STEP 6: Finalize 5-year Proposed Program of Work
The 5-year program of work for recreation sites is refined, based upon the broader discussions with stakeholders.

STEP 7: Implementation
Annually, site-specific steps are proposed to implement the 5-year program of work. Prior to implementation of individual projects, National Environmental Policy Act and other regulatory requirements are completed.

Public Participation:

We welcome your comments and suggestions during this process. Your participation is important to ensure that the results of the Recreation Facility Analysis process meet visitor expectations by offering quality recreation opportunities in places important to people.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest recreation managers invite you to work with them to identify how to best manage these sites and to constructively respond to the proposed program of work. The proposed program of work is available for public review as of November, 2007 (Step 5).

Comments on the proposed program of work will be accepted through January 2008.

Good public participation and communication is an integral part of RFA. We've developed several opportunities to involve our customers and engage conversation. All comments are read and considered. But how do you make a substantive comment about the RFA process?

Specific feedback could include answering the following questions:

• Does our Recreation Niche hit the mark?
• Do the Proposed Actions make sense?
• Have we identified the right tasks at the right places? What have we missed?
• Given the objectives of RFA, what would you propose to do differently?
• What are the opportunities for developing partnerships to help us achieve our objectives?

To be most helpful, comments on the Niche or Proposed Program of Work should be submitted in writing through e-mail or postal mail by January 31, 2008.

The Program of Work will be finalized for implementation after comments are considered. Our goal is to have a finalized Program of Work by the Spring of 2008. However, the Program of Work is still a living document and will be updated as needed. There will be additional opportunities to provide comments when proposed projects are being planned and implemented.

A series of open house meetings were held throughout the area to discuss the proposed program of work, share information and gather comments (Step 5).

For More Informaton:

If you have specific questions or you want to be put on the Recreation Facility Analysis mailing list for future notification, please feel free to contact Robin Rose, Gifford Pinchot National Forest Recreation Program Manager or Chris Strebig, Public Affairs Officer.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
10600 NE 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA, 98682.

Robin Rose (360) 891-5177

or

Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005

You may also submit your questions or requests to be added to the RFA mailing list online to: r6_gp_forest@fs.fed.us (subject line: RFA)

US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Wednesday, 19 December 2007 at 13:36:21 EST