<P>62The Military Engineer L January-February L 2010 A Far-Reaching Process As the MRP was developed, numer- ous agencies, counties and municipali- ties were contacted to share their ex- pertise about recreation and resource planning, operation and maintenance, management responsibilities, public enforcement and regulatory activities. Input was also solicited from exten- sive outreach to the public, county plan- ners and local experts with ?rsthand ?eld knowledge. The MRP development team conducted 36 regional workshops for the public and stakeholders between 2006 and 2008, and gained invaluable information about existing recreation issues, new trends and future needs. This public outreach effort also re- sulted in a thorough exploration of the Gladesmen, or Swamp Folk—the larg- est ethnographic study of a non-native culture ever undertaken by USACE. The Gladesmen culture stems from the early 1800s, when Anglo settlers survived by living off the land. Their identity remains inextricably tied to the Ever- glades ecosystem through their culture of hunting, airboating, swamp buggies and all-terrain vehicles—pastimes that sometimes clash with Everglades resto- ration plans. Once public data was gathered, the MRP team compiled, analyzed and synthesized input into a geographic in- formation systems (GIS) database, and later into Regional Conceptual Recre- ation plans. GIS Mapping and Plans The team used GIS analysis to iden- tify the suitability of land within the CERP project boundaries for speci?c types of recreation. Data from CERP and from Floridas 2000 State Com- prehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) served as the basis for the MRP database. Other federal, state and local data—plus information from the public workshops—were included. The team used these data to cre- ate a rich, multilayered GIS. The team matched landscape characteristics such as urban, agricultural, forest, etc., and infrastructure, with the SCORP data and recreational criteria to develop geospa- tial recreational suitability maps. Based on public feedback, the team revised the suitability maps to in- clude 18 types of recreation: airboat- ing; beach and swimming; bicycling; boat access; camping; canoeing and kayaking; education; ?shing; heritage; horseback riding; hunting; linkages to other recreational resources; motor boating; nature study; off-road vehicle and all-terrain vehicle use; sightseeing; and trails. Nontraditional activities like geocashing, or treasure hunting using GIS technology, also were taken into consideration. Criteria for recreational types were weighted and scored based on suitability for the particular terrain, ecosystem and level of public demand. Using the suitability maps, the team developed Regional Conceptual Recre- ation plans for nine regions within the CERP boundary. The team then went back to the public again to further re- ?ne the plans in 2008. Activity Trends Recreational demands varied throughout the CERP area. Overall trends show an increasing interest in water-based recreation, bird watch- ing, environmental study and hunting. Land-based recreation activities on the rise include trail-based recreation— hiking, walking, biking and equestrian use—and motorized uses like tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. New pastimes include eco-tourism and geocashing. To safeguard Everglades restoration and endangered ecosystems, USACE and SFWMD will use the CERP MRP to monitor appropriate recreational use as stipulated in the plan. For instance, public access along a restored levee or canal right-of-way may be used only for passive recreation like hiking and nature study. Other CERP lands may be more compatible for recreational uses like bik- ing, kayaking, ?shing, or tent camping. CERP MRP team members also are considering how to resolve con?icting demands for passive recreation and motorized recreation. For example, boating, off-road vehicles and all-ter- rain vehicles result in noise and pollu- tion that can impair passive recreation and cause environmental degradation. Motor boat use in larger stormwater retention ponds may be an option. The CERP MRP team will consider future recreational opportunities on a case- by-case basis. Costs and Monitoring The MRP evaluates the potential for recreational development and public use for a 15-year initial development period, from 2010 to 2025, as well as over the economic life of the project. The shared cost for approved recreation development will be a 50-50 split be- tween the federal and local sponsor, up to 10 percent of the federal share of the project cost. The local sponsor will pay 100 percent of operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement. Throughout CERP implementation, USACE and its partner will monitor and evaluate system-wide recreation im- pacts—both positive and negative—to public access and recreational facilities. The information is essential to help en- sure recreation is compatible with Ever- glades restoration projects. The Key to Future Recreation The MRP will be used to support grant opportunities and land trusts as government agencies, city councils, county commissioners and local groups pursue the development of recreational projects. USACE and SFWMD also will pursue partnerships. For instance, USACE is currently considering recreation fea- tures for the Picayune Strand Restora- tion Project, a 55,000-acre CERP site southeast of Naples, Fla. Several other projects are in the design phase. Thanks to collaborative planning, ex- tensive public input, a robust analytical process and an independent technical review, the CERP MRP will facilitate the publics greater enjoyment of South Floridas natural resources while resto- ration of the Everglades continues to thrive. Shauna Ray Allen is Project Manager, Ev- erglades Division, Central Florida Restora- tion Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District; 904-232-1071, or shauna.r.allen@saj02.usace.army.mil. John H. Miller is Senior Regional Project Manager, PBS&J; 904-232-1809, or jmiller@ pbsj.com.</p> <UL><LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/1/Front-Cover/" >Front-Cover</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/2/Inside-Cover/" >Inside-Cover</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/3/Page-1/" >Page-1</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/4/Page-2/" >Page-2</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/5/Page-3/" >Page-3</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/6/Page-4/" >Page-4</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/7/Page-5/" >Page-5</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/8/Page-6/" >Page-6</a> <LI><a href="http://www.stallionpublishers.com/publication/286/rhbgvjbgb/9/Page-7/" >Page-7</a> <LI><a 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