Approach
Increased numbers of visitors and shifting seasonality of opportunities may cause recreationists to inadvertently or unknowingly put themselves and the natural resources they are visiting at risk. When appropriately applied, this approach can serve to protect fragile natural resources from risks that stem from increased visitation or irresponsible use. Examples could include limiting access during exceedingly wet conditions, after rain-on-snow events, and/or during other marginal conditions that contribute to rutting, damage, and improper road or trail drainage. Other examples could include implementing closures of lakes or rivers during periods of high temperatures to protect aquatic organisms or human health. Visitation could instead be directed to alternate sites by providing water features or covered picnic areas in less-sensitive locations. When limiting access is not feasible, the impacts of visitation could be limited by providing more restrooms and trash facilities in heavily used areas.
Tactics
- Limit access during exceedingly wet conditions, after rain-on-snow events, and/or during other marginal conditions that contribute to rutting, damage, and improper road or trail drainage.
- Use physical barriers to inhibit visitors from damaging natural resources, e.g. sand fences in order to direct beach-goers away from delicate dune vegetation.
- Adjust timing of river access and number of in-stream boating/rafting permits when hazards to public safety dictate, for altered peak-flow timing and duration, or for over-congestion of waterways,
- Implement river closures or prohibit fishing at times of uncharacteristically high stream temperatures and/or low stream flows that are stressors for at-risk aquatic species.
- Implement restrictions on access to lakes and reservoirs when conditions are conducive to the spread of waterborne pathogens, such as harmful algal blooms or incidence of E. coli.
- Implement a reservation system for access to overcrowded sites or areas where expanded visitation exceeds the carrying capacity for that site or area.
- Create features that attract visitors to alternate areas, such as water features away from sensitive areas of the creek bed or shaded picnic areas in places that are less sensitive ecologically.
Strategy
Strategy Text
Higher temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier spring runoff will lengthen the season for warm-weather recreational activities. The total number of people participating in outdoor recreation is expected to grow along with projected population increases, though per capita participation rates are likely to decrease in activities such as snowmobiling and backcountry skiing. Both total participant numbers and participation per capita are projected to increase for some forms of water-based recreation, which, combined with anticipated lower baseline summer streamflows, is likely to produce access issues and overcrowding. A longer and hotter snow-free season will create opportunities to increase available access at expanded times of the year, but also challenges in how to permit users, staff facilities, and protect natural resources at times when facilities had not historically been open and seasonal employees are not yet on staff. Providing high-quality recreational experiences under these conditions to a diverse and expanding population is a challenge. This strategy seeks to provide options for how to safely and flexibly administer new modes and methods of visitation while continuing to protect and natural and cultural resources.
O’Toole, D.; Brandt, L.A.; Janowiak, M.K.; Schmitt, K.M.; Shannon, P.D.; Leopold, P.R.; Handler, S.D.; Ontl, T.A.; Swanston, C.W. Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Outdoor Recreation. Sustainability 2019, 11, 7030.