Umatilla National Forest

Recreation Facilities Analysis

RFA Background & Goals / RFA Process / Program of Work / Public Involvement / February 2008 Update

The Forest Service continues to place a high priority on providing quality recreation opportunities. However, the demand for recreational opportunities on National Forests far exceeds the ability of the Forest Service to provide those opportunities. As demographics change and new challenges are presented, it is our responsibility to respond and ensure the appropriate recreation services and facilities are available to the public.

To address these concerns, the Umatilla National Forest has completed the Recreation Facilities Analysis (RFA) process to help provide the best recreation opportunities in the right places.

RFA is an analysis tool to assist Forests in creating a sustainable program that aligns their developed recreation sites with visitors' desires and use. Every national forest in the nation will complete this process by 2008. RFA helps ensure that developed recreation sites make sense within each Forest's special characteristics.

As in so many places, operating budgets have been flat or are declining while operating costs have been increasing. Recreation use has been on the rise, yet facilities are aging. Many of the Umatilla’s developed recreation sites were built 30-50 years ago and have received little significant investment in basic maintenance or improvements.

Through the RFA process, the overall goals of our recreation site program are to:

• Focus resources on the most appropriate recreation opportunities to meet changing public desires and demands.
• Maintain or enhance visitor satisfaction with the sites and services provided.
• Meet quality health and safety standards at all developed recreation sites.
• Be financially sustainable and environmentally sound.

The Umatilla National Forest began the RFA process in the winter of 2006. Initial steps included gathering data, reviewing the facilities at each developed recreation site, estimating available finances, and analyzing the strengths of each of the 116 developed recreation sites including campgrounds, cabin rentals and trailheads.

~The Forest's Recreation Niche:
An initial critical step in the process was to define the recreation "niche" which the forest offers. The recreation niche is a combination of what the Umatilla National Forest can uniquely offer and what forest visitors enjoy the most when they come here. It’s what makes a forest special, and fosters quality recreation versus quantity, or trying to be all things to all people. The resulting recreation niche for the forest is "Traditional Ways For New Days," and recognizes that:

• Solitude and tradition are a way of life here.
• There is a strong human connections with the land.
• This Forest is known for its big game viewing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, gathering, viewing, and winter sports.
• Rustic facilities showcasing a rich heritage capture the traditional spirit and connect new and old generations to this timeless landscape.
• Growing cities and small communities surround the forest. It’s a place to teach and maintain traditional values and recreation activities.

~Site Ranking:
Our next step was to evaluate each developed recreation site against established national criteria (including conformance with the forest niche, financial efficiency, and environmental and community sustainability); and then rank the 116 recreation sites according to those criteria. Using this analysis tool, the Forest has completed a program of work for the next five years.

Through the Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA) process, the forest has completed a “five-year program of work” outlining the proposed management of 116 developed recreation sites, including campgrounds, trailheads, and cabin rentals.

This program of work reduces annual operation and maintenance costs by implementing options such as adjusting campground operating seasons, repairing some facilities scheduled for replacement, and changing the size of some campgrounds.

Changing the fee equation is an essential component to meeting recreation program objectives. The forest indentified increasing fees at the 25 campgrounds and recreational cabin rentals where fees are currently charged. The forest will be phasing an additional 19 campgrounds, 13 trailheads, and 2 cabins into the fee program over the next several years in order to help cover the costs of operations and maintenance. Additional fees will be comparable with fees charged for similar amenities by others in the area. Eighty-95 percent of the funds collected at recreation fee sites will remain on the forest. In addition to helping fund routine operations, additional fees will help make sorely needed improvements at many sites such providing new picnic tables and fire rings and repairing or replacing toilets.

Though the Forest has completed the Program of Work, any changes to the fee structure is still subject to public comment. Submit comments

~ Planned Actions:
The program of work is a living document, in that it can be updated as needed. The following is a summary of the management actions defined in the program of work:

• No change to 20 sites
• Change season of use at 28 sites
• Replace or repair features at 27 sites
• Discontinue Concessionaire operation
• Conduct cabin rental feasibility study on 23 buildings (11 are existing rentals)
• Add or increase fees at 59 sites
• No Campground Closures are planned

A complete list of actions for all 116 developed recreation sites is provided: 5-year program of work

For more information on fee changes and new fee sites visit: fee changes

To view the Federal Register Notice (DOCID:fr08fe08-26)

Good public participation and communication continues to be an integral part of RFA. Though the program of work has been completed, comments on the program of work or specific projects will be accepted at any time.

Submit your Comments:

Please take a few moments to jot down your thoughts, observations and opinions and send them to the Umatilla National Forest, Attn: RFA-PAO, 2517 SW Hailey Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801. You may also submit your comments online to: r6 umatilla public inquiries@fs.fed.us.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list, you may contact us at (541) 276-8247 or reply online to: r6 umatilla public inquiries@fs.fed.us.

USDA Forest Service - Umatilla National Forest
Last Modified:  Tuesday, 29-Jul-2008 17:42:36 EDT