TM 5-803-12
tal impact upon recreation areas. Such land uses
lend themselves to very limited and controlled
include sewage treatment plants, landfills, in-
recreational uses such as environmental or out-
dustry, highways, railroads, airports, and trans-
door education.
mission lines. It is also important to be aware
(5) Water surfaces and frontages. While
of proposed land uses and any land use or en-
there are outdoor recreation activities which de-
vironmental regulations enacted by local juris-
pend directly upon water, almost every recrea-
dictions. The surrounding vicinity can bean asset
tion activity is enhanced by its presence. All
to an outdoor recreation area if it contains com-
water bodies (oceans, bays, lakes, ponds, rivers,
patible land uses and, particularly, if it provides
streams ) can contribute to the recreational ex-
support facilities and services such as food and
perience, even if only in terms of views. Water
supply stores, equipment rental, laundries, util-
used for water-contact activities, such as swim-
ities, protection by police and fire departments,
ming, must meet health and safety standards.
and emergency medical aid.
The temperature during the seasons, the level
of solids in suspension, and the biological pro-
3-3. On-post data.
ductivity should be checked before designating
areas for water-contact activities. Because of
Both natural and man-made conditions influ-
the refreshing nature of water, every opportu-
ence outdoor recreation. Among the factors
nity for physical and visual access to it should
which should be examined are:
be explored.
a. Natural conditions.
(1) Geology. Geologic conditions within
(6) Vegetation. Existing vegetation is al-
most always an asset for recreation areas and
proposed recreation areas should be explored,
should be given special consideration in the de-
particularly if the off-post evaluation of geo-
sign of facilities. In addition to its aesthetic value,
logic conditions indicates potential problems in
vegetation can provide both screening and shade
the general area. The primary problem to an-
to make recreation areas more comfortable.
ticipate is unsuitability for construction due to
Vegetation serves as a useful buffer between
inadequate bearing strength, difficulty in ex-
recreation areas and other land uses, particu-
cavation, or hazards such as subsidence.
larly if the other land uses are noisy or unat-
(2) Soils. The following soil characteristics
tractive. Preservation of existing vegetation is
should be examined when planning an outdoor
preferable and more practicable than installa-
recreation area: bearing capacity, instability,
tion of new plant material which may take years
erodability, stoniness, depth to various soil strata,
to reach the maturity necessary for maximum
fertility, internal drainage, groundwater table
effectiveness. In addition, threatened and en-
and permeability. Soils which drain easily (i.e.,
dangered species of vegetation, as well as unique
are readily permeable) and which withstand in-
vegetative features (such as state champion
tense use with minimum compaction are partic-
trees ) should be located and protected.
ularly suitable for recreation areas. Soil maps
(7) Wildlife. There are both passive (e.g.,
or identification of soil samples and engineering
bird-watching) and active (e.g., hunting ) rec-
interpretations can usually be obtained from the
reation activities which revolve around wildlife.
Soil Conservation Service.
The presence of wildlife also enhances recrea-
(3) Topography. While some sports, such as
tion activities, such as camping and hiking, which
skiing or climbing, require steep or rugged to-
are not directly related. Information concerning
pography, steep slopes, as a rule, are not suit-
the species of fish and wildlife likely to occur
able for outdoor recreation areas. However, flat
within an area can usually be obtained from rep-
areas may not provide enough physical or visual
resentatives of the state fish and wildlife or con-
interest. Steep areas may have erosion problems
servation departments or from field guidebooks
while flat areas may have drainage problems. A
of the local area. Many installations have wild-
moderately sloping topography not only makes
life management plans which are a valuable
outdoor recreation areas more attractive but also
source of information. Where wildlife species do
avoids soil and water problems which may in-
not interfere with military operations, meas-
crease with recreation use.
ures to protect, maintain, and improve their nat-
ural habitat are generally required. Recreation
quirement for most outdoor recreation activity.
facilities should not encroach upon the natural
However, flood plains and low-lying areas can
habitat of endangered or threatened species at
accommodate some types of outdoor recreation
the risk of disturbing the species.
in appropriate seasons of the year, especially if
(8) Visual conditions. While the aesthetic
facilities incorporate flood designs. Wetlands only
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