Forest Management

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.

This study will look at the operation and maintenance of the campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, lookouts, visitor centers, and other facilities in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie (MBS) National Forest to assure that sound economic decisions are made that meet current and future visitor and community recreation needs.

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.

The analysis process involves seven steps, each bringing the Forest's developed recreation sites in closer alignment with the Forest's unique characteristics, projected demand, visitor expectations, costs for maintenance and revenue.

STEP 1: Prepare Site Inventory and Financial Data

In this step, the inventory of recreation sites was updated, along with estimates of the costs for operation and maintenance and deferred maintenance for each recreation site. The MBS staff completed this step in June, 2007. 

STEP 2: Identify Unit Recreation Program Niche

Recreation-visitor use, market data and public input are examined to determine the focus of the forests recreation program. Public input was sought through a series of 3 public meetings and more than 50 responses were received as e-mails. The resulting niche statement follows:

"The snowcapped peaks of the Cascade Mountains tower above the green clad old-growth forests creating a world class recreation setting for the millions living in the nearby Puget Sound Metro area. Many seek refuge from the city in the unique forests, rivers, and high alpine environments of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Here, contemporary urban life, environmental awareness and lifestyle merge as nowhere else to connect people to the land, and easy-to-access day use recreation encourages an active, healthy lifestyle. The forest and its communities strive to be national leaders in informing, and connecting a rapidly growing diverse population that recreates throughout the northwest to the land."

Forest-wide Settings, Special Places, and Values:
With its proximity to the Puget Sound Metro area, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is well positioned to connect urban dwellers with nature. Seven major glacier-to-tidewater river systems, each containing primary highway access, transect the Forest and provide convenient access from Puget Sound cities to the forest. This allows visitors to easily get into the great outdoors and back to their homes in a day. Easy access fosters unique collaboration opportunities between urban communities and the Forest. Perhaps the finest example is the Mountains to Sound Greenway, where multiple partners work to maintain open space in the face of urban expansion. With more than 40 percent of the MBS designated as Wilderness, the forest also contains remote terrain for a more challenging escape. The forest and adjacent national parks provide habitat for a healthy and intact North Cascades ecosystem. Hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, including the 125-mile long Skagit Wild and Scenic River system, flow through forested slopes into wide, open valleys fringed by the North Cascades. The Pacific Crest Trail winds its way to the Canadian border along the crest of the Cascades. Four ski areas provide premier winter recreation opportunities and 1,500 miles of trails give visitors a chance to get away without going too far from home.

Escape Routes – This setting includes major scenic corridors (I-90, US-2, SR-410, SR-20, SR 542, and the Mountain Loop Highway) that provide easy access from the city to the forest. Visitors have opportunities to escape from the city and get into nature via scenic drives and non-motorized trails.

Destination Day Use – This setting includes more intensely used Wilderness and day-use areas that are easy to get to. Visitors have opportunities to easily access alpine terrain on day-use trails. Specialized recreation provides opportunities for challenge and skill development.

Destination Overnight – This setting includes camping destinations. Visitors have opportunities for longer stays on the forest in developed campgrounds near scenic attractions (Baker Lake, Verlot). Nearby non-motorized trails provide opportunities for day use getaways.

General Forest – This setting includes general use areas and portals to the Wilderness. Local communities use the forest as their backyard. Visitors have opportunities to explore the forest and get away on non-motorized trails.

Wilderness – This setting includes designated Wilderness and adjacent non-motorized areas. Visitors have opportunities to find solitude and independence in an alpine setting.

STEP 3: Identify Operational Efficiencies

Recreation sites were examined to determine if efficiencies could be undertaken to further reduce site expenditures and eliminate deferred maintenance while maintaining recreation opportunities.

STEP 4: Rank Recreation Sites

Recreation sites are rated through the use of a series of questions involving the sites' conformance with the forest recreation program niche; their finance and operational efficiency; their effects on environmental sustainability; and their effects on community stability.

STEP 5: Proposed 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 [pdf, 3 pages]

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.

• 5-year Program of Work and Programmatic Results of Implementation [pdf, 40 pages, 1.27 MB]

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.

• Projects will be listed on the MBS's Scheduled of Proposed Actions