Managing Outdoor Recreation, 2nd Edition

Information/Education

• Promote alternative sites (e.g. within park, other parks)
• Promote alternative times to use site/park (e.g. seasons when soil is not wet)
• Inform visitors of current impacts/conditions (e.g. light pollution/reduced visibility of stars)

Rationing/Allocation

• Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by reservation system
• Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by queuing system
• Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by fee system
• Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by lottery system
• Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by merit system
• Implement differential fee system (e.g. temporally, spatially)

Rules/Regulations

• Set capacity and require a use permit
• Require a reservation for entry/use
• Require a fee for entry/use
• Require special knowledge/skills for entry/use
• Implement a maximum length of stay
• Limit group size
• Close site/park (e.g. temporarily, seasonally, permanently)

Law Enforcement

• Establish presence of a uniformed ranger
• Require visitors to show a use permit
• Sanction (e.g. fine) visitors for unauthorized use

Zoning

• Zone site/park for lower use
• Zone site/park for no use

Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance

• Set capacity for site/park and design visitor facilities (e.g. parking lots) and services accordingly
• Make access to site/park more difficult (e.g. lower standard roads, trails, transit)
• Improve access (e.g. higher standard roads, trails, transit) to alternative sites/parks

Information/Education

• Inform visitors of the range of recreation areas and opportunities available
• Promote use of low-use areas
• Educate visitors about the importance of night skies
• Promote visitor behavior that will increase wildlife (e.g. no lights after 10:00 PM)

Rationing/Allocation

• Not applicable

Rules/Regulations

• Extend time that area is open to visitor use (hours, days, seasons)
• Require visitors to adopt behavior that will increase wildlife (e.g. no lights after 10:00 PM)

Law Enforcement

• Establish presence of a uniformed ranger
• Sanction (e.g. fine) visitors for behavior that degrades night sky viewing (e.g. using lights after 10:00 PM)

Zoning

• Zone alternative areas for higher use

Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance

• Improve attractions, facilities, services in alternative areas
• Develop attractions, facilities, services in new areas
• Improve access to new/alternative areas
• Design facilities and services that reduce light pollution (e.g. use lighting that minimizes glare)

Information/Education

• Promote alternative sites (e.g. within park, other parks) to disperse use
• Promote alternative times to use site (e.g. days, seasons)
• Promote selected sites to concentrate use
• Inform visitors of acceptable and unacceptable recreation activities (e.g. no motorized use requiring lights)
• Inform visitors of acceptable and unacceptable behavior (e.g. minimize use of lights)
• Educate visitors about why selected behaviors are unacceptable (e.g. some visitors enjoy looking at the night sky)

Rationing/Allocation

• Not applicable

Rules/Regulations

• Prohibit high-impact uses (e.g. no motorized use requiring lights after dark)
• Prohibit high-impact behavior (e.g. unnecessary use of lights)
• Require “lights out” time
• Limit group size

Law Enforcement

• Establish presence of a uniformed ranger
• Sanction (e.g. warn, fine) visitors for inappropriate use/behavior (e.g. using lights after “lights out” time)

Zoning

• Zone area for dark sky
• Zone area for low-impact uses only (e.g. no campfires)

Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance

• Provide facilities/services for low impact uses only (e.g. no campfire interpretive programs)
• Locate/concentrate facilities and services away from sensitive areas (e.g. popular/designated night sky viewing areas)
• Design facilities and services to minimize impact (e.g. use of low-glow lights)
• Maintain facilities to minimize impact (e.g. maintain downward orientation of park lighting)

Information/Education

• Inform visitors of current conditions (i.e. prevalence of light pollution)

Rationing/Allocation

• Not applicable

Rules/Regulations

• Not applicable

Law Enforcement

• Not applicable

Zoning

• Not applicable

Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance

• Locate visitor attractions/facilities (e.g., trails, campsites) away from sensitive night sky areas
• Develop/retrofit facilities (e.g., downward oriented lighting) to minimize light pollution
• Design facilities to concentrate use in areas that are not night sky sensitive