Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA) is an analysis process, used nationally, to assist Forests in creating a sustainable program that aligns recreation sites with visitors' desires, expectations, and use. RFA helps ensure that recreation sites and facilities provide the appropriate mix of opportunities within the special characteristics of each Forest. RFA gives recreation resource managers good information. Using this information they are able to develop a Forest level program of work to operate and maintain a financially sustainable and niche-focused recreation sites program that meets National Quality Standards. The initial product of the process is a 5 year proposed Program of Work that will help the forest meet the RFA goals which are:

• Improve customer satisfaction

• Provide recreation opportunities consistent with the Forest recreation “niche”.

  • Niche is what the forest has to offer in terms of special places, opportunities and potential experiences, overlapped with what people desire and expect in terms of outdoor recreation from public lands.

• Operate and maintain a financially sustainable recreation sites program to accepted quality standards

• Eliminate deferred maintenance at recreation sites.

Public input continues to be important to the Forest Service and is a critical part of the RFA process. Forests will ensure appropriate public dialogue occurs throughout the process. All forests are scheduled to complete the RFA process by the end of 2008.

The Forest Service is committed to responsibly serving the public by efficiently operating and, when necessary, modifying the services to ensure recreation sites provide the right opportunities in the right places.As demographics change and new challenges are presented, it is our responsibility to respond and ensure the appropriate recreation services and facilities are available to the public.RFA is a process that, with the help of the public, communities, and the private sector, will allow us to be fiscally responsible and continue to provide outstanding recreation opportunities to the public.

In general, Forests, with the help of interested people, identify the Forest niche. Forests analyze each recreation site based on criteria such as how well the site supports the recreation needs, desires, and expectations of the public; the role that site plays in the local community; and the site's relationship to the environment. Based on this analysis, the forest develops a 5 year proposed Program of Work to meet the goals of the RFA process. The public is invited to help implement and improve key tasks in the proposed Program of Work while meeting those goals.Visitor satisfaction is the bottom line. Implementing the results of the RFA will result in a higher quality and more efficiently managed recreation sites program where facilities support the recreation niche; meet the needs, desires, and expectations of constituents and visitors; and are operated and maintained within the funding and resources of each Forest.