TM5-803-12
CHAPTER 3
EXISTING CONDITIONS
3-1. General.
temperatures and snowfall should help deter-
mine the investment in winter sports such as
When planning outdoor recreation, it is impor-
skiing or skating. Areas with high heat and hu-
tant to prepare a complete and accurate assess-
midity will have greater need for water-based
ment of existing conditions, both on and off the
activities. Siting outdoor recreation facilities to
installation. The identification and evaluation
take advantage of prevailing breezes and ori-
of physical conditions result in the determina-
entation to the sun contributes considerably to
tion of the installation's opportunities and con-
their comfort in warm areas. Knowledge of pre-
straints. This determination is commonly called
vailing wind and tide or drawdown conditions is
a site analysis. The identification and evaluation
critical to marine facilities. Obtain information
of social and economic conditions result in the
about the local climate from the U.S. Weather
determination of the installation's needs and re-
Service station nearest the installation.
quirements-commonly called a market analysis
c. Geology. Knowledge of subsurface condi-
(described in chap 4). The steps of identification
tions within a region can provide clues to con-
and evaluation are applied to the installation as
d i t i o n s , particularly those which may be
a whole to formulate the overall Outdoor Rec-
detrimental, on the installation. Potential haz-
reation Plan. The same steps are later applied
ards include faults, fissures, instability, limited
in greater detail to specific outdoor recreation
bearing capacity, and subsidence. Obtain infor-
areas to prepare the design for selected outdoor
mation from the U.S. Geological Survey.
recreation facilities.
d. Hydrology. A general knowledge of the hy-
drology of the area is useful. Identify the loca-
3-2. Off-post data identification
tion of watersheds and water bodies as well as
and evaluation.
potential problems such as areas prone to flood-
ing, areas generating or receiving significant
Off-post conditions which should be identified
amounts of storm water runoff, or areas with
and evaluated are:
water quality problems.
a. Geographic location. The regional area of
e. Wildlife habitats. Wildlife habitats may ex-
the installation is normally the area within the
tend beyond installation or man-made bounda-
jurisdiction of the regional planning agency. The
ries. The introduction of recreation activity into
vicinity of the installation is normally the area
wildlife habitats can cause serious changes.
immediately surrounding the post which could
f. Transportation. The principal element of the
affect or be affected by the installation's oper-
transportation system which affects outdoor
ation. Identify both the region and vicinity of
recreation is the road system. Location of the
the installation in order to determine the
installation near the interstate system will
boundaries of influence of the off-post condi-
probably encourage more use of available rec-
tions described below as well as the area of rec-
reation facilities by traveling and retired mili-
reation supply and demand, or market, described
tary personnel. Good access from surrounding
in chapter 4. When an installation has been placed
communities will encourage use by civilian and
in the context of its region and vicinity, the ex-
military personnel living off-post. Another
isting and/or proposed recreational activities
transportation element which may affect out-
(including federal, state, municipal and private
door recreation is air traffic and any attendant
facilities ) should be investigated. This infor-
noise and/or air pollution.
mation will be particularity useful when deter-
g. Land use. Land use adjacent to outdoor
mining market demand as described in chapter
recreation is important not only in terms of how
4. Activities which are available to installation
it may affect outdoor recreation areas but also
personnel within the surrounding area may not
in terms of how it may be affected by recreation
warrant duplication.
activities. Some land uses are sensitive to the
b. Climate. Among the climatic factors which
noise and traffic congestion which may accom-
affect outdoor recreation are temperature, pre-
pany recreation. Among these sensitive uses are
cipitation, wind, sun azimuth (aspect ), and al-
residences, schools, hospitals, and conservation
titude. The seasonal temperature and
areas. Other land uses, associated with air, water,
precipitation of an area influence the selection
noise or visual pollution, may have a detrimen-
of recreational activities. Anticipated freezing
3-1
Previous Page
