Recreation Solutions Enterprise Unit

Project Highlights - Scenic Byways, Sustainable Recreation, and Ecosystems and Social Applications in Fire

We continue to search for ways to expand capacity, encourage partnerships and support sustainable recreation.

Scenic Byway Corridor Management Planning

The scenic byway branch of Recreation Solutions, with support from the R5 Scenic Byway coordinator, submitted and was awarded several grants from the Federal Highway Administration to complete Corridor Management Plans for National Forest and California scenic byways in the Pacific Southwest Region. In October 2010 we completed the Yuba River Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan with many partners, including the Tahoe National Forest, the local community of Downieville, California, California State University Chico Research Foundation, and Caltrans. In November 2011 we held the fifth of five workshops for the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan project. 

Successful corridor management planning depends on strong community involvement. Local community members participate in collaborative workshops where they develop vision and goals and discuss intrinsic values, implementation needs, byway safety, partnership opportunities and marketing objectives. As a result, partnerships between the Forest Service and local communities have developed and implementation of ideas started. Corridor management planning encourages sustainable tourism and recreation through protection strategies and emphasis (or de-emphasis) of intrinsic values.

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway (left) and a view of the Yuba River from the Yuba River Scenic Byway (right)

An important component of the corridor management plans completed by Recreation Solutions is the scenic byway icon development in partnership with California State University Chico Research Foundation (See example image: Chilao Visitor Center, Angeles Crest Scenic Byway).  A series of 27 icons have been developed for California Byways. The icons and products (postcards and brochures) are developed with the community. Once completed, the icon images become part of the public domain (free for anyone to use). The Ebbetts Pass Byway Association have successfully used their icons to market the Ebbetts Pass NSB.

Geotourism

We are providing grant writing and project oversight support for sustainable tourism and Geotourism efforts in the Sierra Nevada Region.  Recreation Solutions participates on the Sierra Nevada Geocouncil and continues to facilitate the Forest Service’s participation in the Geotourism MapGuide.

Grant Writing

We work with forests and partners to prepare and submit grants to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. We have successfully submitted grant applications on behalf of the Forest Service and partners in several areas, including grants for Scenic Byway Corridor Management Planning, Implementation, Geotourism, Tribal Scenic Byway Planning, Hispanic Engagement, Public Lands Highway Program and the Paul S. Sarbane Transit in Parks Program. The grant program facilitates cooperative partnerships with universities and community organizations.

Program Support

We provide support to Region 5 and Region 3 as the Fee Program Manager and to the Washington Office as the Federal Lands Scenic Byway Coordinator.

Kamagogus National Scenic Byway, White Mountain National Forest

Ecosystems and Social Applications in Fire

Our fire prevention and social science experts are experienced in conducting fire prevention assessments, fire effects monitoring, fire prevention education curriculum development, and conducting social and economic assessments to build
community capacity in support of fire resilient landscapes.

US Forest Service - Recreation Solutions Enterprise Unit
Last Modified: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 at 19:32:25 EST