System Group Meeting #1 March 2014
Meeting #1 Outcomes 1. Understand Your Role 2. List of Revisions to Existing Conditions 3. Information Sources
Study Area
The Purpose of Mountain Accord is to Preserve the Legacy of the Wasatch Enhance Regional Transportation Preserve the Environment Strengthen the Regional Economy Promote High Quality Recreational Experiences
Organization Executive Board Steering Committee Stakeholder Advisory Committee System Groups Environment Recreation Transportation Economy
Systems Approach Integrated System decisions First look at each System Current and Projected Most important problems and opportunities Ideal future, and actions to achieve it
Phase 1 Process
Meeting Outcomes Existing Conditions Trendlines Vision/Goals/Metrics Idealized Systems 1 (March) 2 (early April) 3 (late April) 4 (May) 5 (June) 6 (July) 7 (Aug) = discuss draft information = discuss revised info and poll group on recommendation(s)
Consensus Process 1 st Meeting on Milestone Between Meetings 2 nd Meeting on Milestone Present and Discuss Topic Identify Revisions Revise Information Resolve Issues Draft Recommendation Discuss Recommendation Poll Group Collect Comments for Exec Board
Consensus Process System Group Recommendation Post Report on Website and Collect Comments Co-Chairs Discussion Presentation at Stakeholder Meeting Executive Board Approval
Existing Conditions What do you need to agree with the following statement? This is the best available information on Existing Conditions to inform my vote on a future Idealized System
Existing Conditions How do we recreate in the Wasatch Mountains? What resources do we use? Where are they located? How do we access them? What makes it unique? What are the problems? Are there opportunities for greatness?
Data Sources
Regional Overview
Historic Trends Nationally, growth in outdoor recreation participation mirrors population growth. Population growth County 1950 1975 2000 2012 2020 2040 Salt Lake 279,000 (26%) Summit 6,700 (18%) Wasatch 5,500 (22%) 521,200 (49%) 7,500 (20%) 7,000 (28%) 902,843 (85%) 30,012 (80%) 15,427 (61%) 1,059,112 1,180,859 (111%) 37,704 45,491 (121%) 25,354 32,741 (129%) 1,507,997 (142%) 71,433 (189%) 59,159 (233%) Sources: Outdoor Industry Association, Governor s Office of Management and Budget
Outdoor Recreation Participation United States Utah No No Yes Yes 50% 82% Source: Outdoor Industry Association
Arches National Park Bryce Canyon National Park Canyonlands National Park Capitol Reef National Park Zion National Park 5 Utah National Parks Combined Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Outdoor Recreation in Utah 10,000,000 9,000,000 8,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0 Annual Visitation at Utah Outdoor Recreation Attractions Source: U.S. Forest Service, State of Utah Outdoor Recreation Vision
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF
1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 Utah Skier Days Ski and Snowboard Visitation 4,500,000 4,000,000 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 - Source: Ski Utah/RRC
Outdoor Recreation in Utah All Outdoor Recreation Resort Skiing and Snowboarding No Yes Yes No 82% participation 5.5% participation Source: Ski Utah/RRC, Outdoor Industry Association, Governor s Office of Management and Budget
Outdoor Recreation in Utah Utah Outdoor Recreation Participation by Activity Walking for exercise Picnicking Swimming Camping Hiking or backpacking Fishing Other bicycling Wildlife or bird watching Running OHV riding Motorized water sports Mountain biking Hunting Horseback riding Rock climbing 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent of Utah population participating in activity in past 12 months Source: Utah State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
Historic Use and Facility Development Recreational facilities Resort development Parks and open space preservation Trail development Urban expansion
What activities occur? Variety of uses in all seasons Broad spectrum of natural, built, social, and economic settings Resort skiing and snowboarding Summer resort concessions Backcountry skiing and snowboarding Snowmobiling Mountain biking Hiking Backpacking Running Sightseeing Scenic driving Fishing Hunting Rock and ice climbing Snowshoeing Picnicking Camping Photography Nordic skiing Sledding Wildlife viewing Road cycling Dog walking Off Highway Vehicle use Organized events
Recreational Resources Summer Recreation Trails Motorized / multi-use paths / hiking / hiking and biking / downhill mountain biking Trailheads Recreation sites Rock climbing / campgrounds / picnic areas / bike parks / dog walking areas / resorts Transit service Winter Recreation Backcountry winter recreation areas Ski and snowboard touring areas / lift accessed areas / motorized use areas Ski resorts and Nordic skiing areas Transit service Trailheads
Recreational Resources Recreational Setting Land jurisdiction USFS / USFS wilderness / private / state / parks and protected open space USFS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum Primitive / semi-primitive non-motorized / semi-primitive motorized / roaded natural / rural / urban
Existing Conditions Maps Link to map viewer: http://bit.ly/1cimgnq
Summer Recreation
Winter Recreation
Land Jurisdiction
Recreation Setting The setting for recreation activities has a direct effect on the enjoyment of these activities. U.S. Forest Service Recreation Opportunity Spectrum: Urban Rural Security Comfort Socializing Roaded Natural Semi-primitive Motorized Semi-primitive Non-motorized Primitive Solitude Natural hazards Self reliance
Recreation Setting
Issues identified in previous studies Parking and access to recreation Compatibility between recreational uses and private property Loss of recreation opportunities due to development Recreational overuse and crowding Compatibility between recreational user groups
Issues identified in previous studies Long-term/sustainable funding for management and development of recreation facilities Safety of recreational users Balance between commercial and non-commercial recreational uses Year-round and non-traditional recreational use at resorts
Example Performance Metrics Recreational use and participation USFS National Visitor Use Monitoring, household and individual participation, industry economic trends Diversity of recreational settings USFS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (acres of each setting type available) Resort skiing experience Skier density, lift capacity, visitor days Trail systems Number of national awards, citizen perception of quality, trail user counts, miles of trail Parks and open space protection Acres protected (wilderness, purchased, easement, zoning), area of open space per capita
Meeting #2 April 1, 9-11 am, UTA Promontory Room Outcomes: 1. Agreement on Existing Conditions 2. Revisions to Trends