Carrying Capacity (CC) and LAC

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) Increased use Increased development Primitive Semi- Primitive Non-motor Semi- Primitive Motorized Roaded Natural Rural Urban

Why is monitoring important? Identify existing and desired position on ROS Promote accountability by park and resource managers Foster user support for agencies Identify increased demand Provide feedback for better planning and management Identify all impacts, not just economic

What is carrying capacity? Definition: The maximum level of use that an area or resource can sustain before deterioration occurs.

Types of Carrying Capacity Ecological or biological Social and psychological Physical (facility) Managerial

What do we measure? Minimum numbers (at which a park is viable) Maximum numbers

What do we manage for? Optimum range

What do we manage for? Minimum (managerial CC) Maximum (mng. CC)

What do we manage for? Maximum (social CC)

What do we manage for? Maximum (env. CC)

What do we manage for? Optimum range Minimum (managerial CC) Maximum (env. & social CC)

Problem with CC... Often the impacts have already occurred by the time the CC is determined No ecosystem is static, but CC is! Difficult to implement in multiple use areas 10 hikers 8 hikers and 2 mountain bikers 5 hikers and 5 mountain bikers 3 hikers and 7 mountain bikers

LAC or Limits of Acceptable Change

It does not prevent changes but instead minimizes them! What is LAC? A process which requires managers to: define desired resource conditions and take actions to maintain or achieve those conditions It does not prevent changes but instead minimizes them!

Some details about LAC... Monitoring-based resource assessment method Considers preservation or conservation versus use Based on ROS classes Sets standards of use and management Public involvement process

LAC is NOT Carrying Capacity Issue is not numbers for LAC, but IMPACTS For example: 10 hikers 8 hikers and 2 mountain bikers 5 hikers and 5 mountain bikers 3 hikers and 7 mountain bikers

Four Major Components of LAC Specify acceptable and achievable resource and social conditions. Analyze the relationship between existing conditions and acceptable conditions.

Four Major Components of LAC Identify management actions necessary to achieve the desired conditions. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of management actions.

Step 1 - Identify area issues and concerns Identify public issues and managerial concerns that relate to: Distinctive features and characteristics of the area. Use of the area by people. The relationship of the area to other similar units and to other local areas

Step 2--Define & describe opportunity classes Identify ROS Opportunity Classes that generally describe the area Each park area can have multiple classes Primitive Semi- Primitive Non-motor Semi- Primitive Motorized Roaded Natural Rural Urban

Step 2--Define & describe opportunity classes Describe the kinds of resource, social, and management conditions acceptable for the class Example: Primitive ROS class: Resource: Minimal impacts on resource Social: Solitude Management: Minimal facility development Management: No motorized vehicle use

Step 3—Select indicators of resource & social conditions Indicators: Specific variables that indicate the condition of the opportunity class Example: solitude - number of people encountered

Step 3—Select indicators of resource & social conditions Indicators must be: accurate capable of being measured in a cost effective way related to the use occurring responsive to management control.

Why are indicators important? Allow managers to: Unambiguously define desired conditions Assess the effectiveness of various management practices

Indicators for primitive ROS class Minimal impacts on resource: Loss of vegetation along trails Solitude: Few encounters with other people

Step 4 — Inventory existing conditions Use indicators from Step 3 to inventory existing conditions. This is a critical step in determining what and where management is needed.

Inventory Park entrance Rural Roaded natural Primitive

Step 5—Specify standards for indicators Assign standards (i.e., quantitative measures) to indicators (from Step 3) Standards provide a BASELINE against which conditions can be judged Judgmental process, but logical, traceable, and subject to public review

Standards for primitive ROS class Minimal impacts on resource: Indicator: Loss of vegetation along trails Standard: Trail width no more than 2 feet Solitude: Indicator: Few encounters with others Standard: 0 - 1 encounters/day

Step 6—Identify alternative opportunity class allocations Decide what our ROS alternatives are A diversity of opportunity classes may be represented in one park. Balance desired conditions with reality Need input from both managers & users

What we have... Park entrance Rural Roaded natural Primitive

Alternative 1: What we want... Park entrance Rural Roaded natural Primitive

Alternative 2: What we want... Park entrance Rural Primitive

Alternative 3: What we want... Park entrance Rural Roaded natural Primitive

Step 7—Identify management actions for each alternative For each alternative, identify differences between current conditions (step 4) and the standards (step 5) When conditions exceed standards, there is no need for management When conditions are close to or worse than standards, management is necessary Design management strategies for each alternative.

Compare standards... Minimal impacts on resource: Solitude: Indicator: Loss of vegetation along trails Standard: Trail width no more than 2 feet What we have: Trail width of 1 foot Management strategy? Solitude: Indicator: Few encounters with others Standard: 0 - 1 encounters/day What we have: 5 encounters/day

Step 8—Evaluate and select a preferred alternative Selections is made by managers and local residents…no formula Considerations: What user groups are affected and how? What values are promoted or diminished? Does the alternative contribute to park/wilderness system diversity? What is feasible (personnel, budget…)?

Step 9—Implement actions & monitor conditions Systematic feedback on how well management actions are working Identify trends in conditions that require new actions Show what type of management actions solve what type of problems

Identify an indicator and standard for... Roaded Natural campground which is having difficulty with conflicts between campers.

Identify an indicator and standard for... Primitive area which is managed for an endangered animal species.