Implementing principles of sustainable recreation: A case study of the Entiat Ranger District

Abstract

Staff on the Entiat Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington state partnered with researchers to develop a strategy to improve the sustainability of the district’s recreation program. The need to pursue a sustainable recreation strategy came about in response to a series of severe wildfires that damaged recreation infrastructure and altered natural resource conditions. Concurrent to those wildfires was continued limited funding for infrastructure maintenance and recreation management. Researchers worked with Entiat Ranger District staff to develop and implement social and biophysical assessments of recreation interests and recreation resource conditions. The assessments informed a sustainable recreation strategy document that included site-specific and districtwide recommendations. This work was guided by national and regional U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service frameworks for sustainable recreation planning, and we incorporated the concept of resilience. This report describes the development of a sustainable recreation strategy for the Entiat Ranger District, which can serve as an example for other units in developing a sustainable recreation plan at a local level.

Citation

Laninga, Tamara; Galambos, Kate; White, Eric M. 2022. Implementing principles of sustainable recreation: A case study of the Entiat Ranger District. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-1007. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 27 p. (Online only). https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-GTR-1007.