WORKING ACROSS AGENCY LINES
WORKING ACROSS AGENCY LINES
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
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KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
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UPDATE ON THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT
COUNCIL (THE COUNCIL)
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RECOMMENDATIONS ON CAPACITY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
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OVERVIEW OF VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PLANS
WORKING ACROSS AGENCY LINES
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Visitor Use Management
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
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Visitor Capacity
• 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
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Importance of Visitor Use Management
Proactively planning for visitor use
maximizes the ability of agencies to
encourage access and protect
resources and values
THE IMPORTANCE OF AND CHALLENGES WITH VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR CAPACITY
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The Challenge of Implementation
Inconsistent and inadequate
implementation of VUM and capacity
methodologies across the agencies:
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Not meeting agencies’ missions
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Reduced accountability
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Confusion in the field
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Inability to demonstrate success
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Litigation
THE IMPORTANCE OF AND CHALLENGES WITH VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR CAPACITY
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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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Expected Outcomes
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Consistent guidance across agencies
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Professional and scientific
approach to managing visitor use
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Increased communication and collaboration
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Cost savings and improved efficiency
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More defensible decision-making
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Work Plan
1. Establish guidance directives
2. Develop tools
3. Conduct training
4. Communicate effectively
5. Build institutional capacity
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Highlights for 2012 - 2013
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Developing consistent terminology and a framework for agency
decision-making processes -- on review in 2013
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Integrating guidance into on-going projects
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Developing separate “how-to” guidebooks for:
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the visitor use management framework
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visitor capacity
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visitor capacity for wild and scenic rivers
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indicators and thresholds
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Highlights for 2012 – 2013 (Continued)
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Preparing a clearinghouse of visitor use management information -available on a council website in 2013
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Prepared a communications plan and organized an outreach team
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Recruited over 20 volunteers to support the council’s work
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Coordinating with the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor
Recreation
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Coordinating with related agency programs and councils
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Council Position Paper
• 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 (under development)
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Specific Direction for Wild and Scenic Rivers
• Comprehensive River Management Plans must include visitor
capacities
• Maximum number of people that can be received without
adversely impacting outstandingly remarkable values
• Must manage use within the capacities
• Management decisions in the plan
Ongoing projects: Merced River, Snake River, Virgin River
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Specific Direction for Wild and Scenic Rivers
Near/Above Capacity
High Investment/ Rigor
Below Capacity
Low Investment/Rigor
Acknowledge the adaptive nature & describe adjustment process
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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Direction for National Scenic and Historic Trails
A Comprehensive Plan must provide for the acquisition,
management, development, and use of the trail,
including but not limited to, the following items:
(1) Specific objectives and practices to be observed in
the management of the trail, including the
identification of all significant natural, historical, and
cultural resources to be preserved..., details of any
anticipated cooperative agreements..., and an
identified carrying capacity of the trail and a plan for
its implementation;
(2) An acquisition or protection plan..., along with
detailed explanation of anticipated necessary
cooperative agreements for any lands not to be
acquired; and
(3) General and site-specific development plans
including anticipated costs.
THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)
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QUESTIONS?
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