Recreation Facility Analysis
What's New
Final Documents
5-Year Proposed Program of Work
[45-page PDF: 1.7 mb]
To see a short slide show about this process, click the link below.
Recreation Facility Analysis Slide Show
[PDF: 1.7 mb]
For more information on this project, contact:
Amy Tinderholt
(509) 664-9367
Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forests
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Where will you be able to use a motor vehicle on the National Forest?
Learn about and participate in the Access Travel Management process.
(formerly Recreation Site Facility Master Planning)
Do You Enjoy Recreation Sites on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests?
Many of the developed recreation sites on the Okanogan - Wenatchee National Forest were built more than 50 years ago and are showing their age. Over the years, some of these sites have accrued a maintenance back-log (deferred maintenance) and are in disrepair. Along with aging facilities, visitor preferences and demographics have changed. A number of recreation sites provide facilities or services that no longer meet visitor expectations or are not suited for projected future recreation demand.
The Forest Service has reviewed over 360 developed recreation sites on the Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forests through a national process called “Recreation Facility Analysis” (RFA). This process allows the Forest Service, with ideas and information from you and others, to provide the best developed recreation opportunities in the right locations on the forests.
The Forest Service wants to ensure developed recreation sites match the unique characteristics of the forest, projected recreation demand, visitor expectations, and budget.
RFA has three strategic goals:
- Provide recreation opportunities best suited for the national forest.
- Operate and maintain recreation sites to meet national quality standards.
- Eliminate or reduce recreation site deferred (back-log) maintenance.
The outcome is a Five Year Program of Work for developed recreation sites, including options such as: removing or eliminating a cost source; changing the season of use; reducing the service frequency; closing the site; closing and decommissioning the site and/or facilities; increasing / improving services; converting the site type; constructing a new site; changing the operator or workforce; changing the fees; or making no changes.
The Proposed Program of Work is a sort of road map to guide the Forest in providing a sustainable, quality recreation program. It is not a "decision document" in the way an Environmental Analysis is; it can be adapted and adjusted over the course of the next five years to help move us toward our goals.
Final documents
5-Year Proposed Program of Work
[45-page PDF: 1.7 mb]
To see a short slide show about this process, click the link below.
Recreation Facility Analysis Slide Show
[PDF: 1.7 mb]
Seven Steps of Recreation Facility Analysis
The RFA process involves seven steps, each bringing the Forests’ developed recreation sites in closer alignment with our unique characteristics, projected demand, visitor expectations, costs of operation and maintenance, and revenue. Your participation and feedback is needed throughout the process to ensure that these actions are responsive to visitor needs.
1. Prepare Site Inventory Data (Complete)
Forest Service staff updates recreation site inventory including estimates for the costs of operations, maintenance, and deferred maintenance for each site.
2. Develop Okanogan and Wenatchee Forests’ “Recreation Niche” (Complete)
Thanks to all who participated in the development of our draft Recreation Niche. Click here to review the Niche which is used to characterize the forests’ recreation program by describing their unique characteristics & settings, and public activities, opportunities and experiences best provided in those settings.
Visitor use, market data and public input are being examined to determine the forests’ recreation program ‘niche’. This focus guides the management of the program for the coming decade.
3. & 4. Identify Operational Efficiencies and Rank Developed Recreation Sites (Complete)
Sites are ranked based on the site’s Contribution to the recreation ‘niche’, financial and operation efficiency, effects on environmental sustainability, and effects on community stability.
5. Propose a 5-Year Program of Work (Complete)
Review staff work and public input; consider social, political and broader program goals to develop a 5-year proposed program of work. Present the proposed program of work to the public for comment.
6. Finalize the 5-Year Program of Work
(Complete)
The 5-year program of work for recreation sites is refined based on broader discussions with the public and stakeholders.
7. Implementation (2008 - 2012)
Determine the appropriate site specific public involvement based on the individual tasks in the program of work. Complete any required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other agency coordination requirements.
Site specific public involvement will be scheduled as needed.
