Coastal Services Center

More and more people choose to live, work, and play along our nation’s coasts which creates increased stress on coastal areas. Management professionals are challenged with balancing these public demands with resource protection, and their work is aided by the use of systematic planning and decision-making tools.

Potential Visitor Use Management Options

	Site Management Provide facilities such as trails, campsites, swimming areas, and boat launches; use barriers (vegetation, rope, fences, walls, etc.) to keep people in designated areas and protect habitat; strengthen high-traffic areas using cement, steps, bridges, boardwalks, etc.
	Rationing and Allocation Require reservations or limit the number of visitors; establish hours of use; charge fees
	Regulation Restrict access to sensitive areas; prohibit certain activities where they negatively affect resources or other visitors
	Enforcement Post signs listing rules and penalties; provide law enforcement personnel
	Education Educate visitors about appropriate behaviors; establish volunteer programs

Training

The Center offers a two-day training course to equip coastal managers with a process for identifying visitor use issues, unacceptable impacts to natural and cultural resources, and the most effective management actions to address them.

Participants in the course learn how to

• Identify problems and root causes
• Establish measurable indicators and standards for resources and visitor experiences
• Select appropriate management tactics
• Implement monitoring and management actions

*These strategies are further detailed in “Maintaining the Quality of Park Resources and Visitor Experiences” and in the Center’s visitor use management training. See “Resources” below for publication information.