WorkProg

Maine State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 2003-2008

The State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is prepared to meet a requirement of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (PL 88-578). The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established to provide federal monies to public jurisdictions for planning, acquisition, and development of outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

The LWCF is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) of the US Department of the Interior. Congress appropriates LWCF monies to the NPS each year, and in most years this has included a "stateside" allocation. Since 1965, over $34 million of LWCF money has been used for projects in Maine.

In order to spend the allocated LWCF money, each state must have a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) approved by NPS. The findings presented in the SCORP guide the state's use of these funds for outdoor recreation planning, acquisition, and development. By Executive Order dated February 4, 1970, the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BP&L) in the Department of Conservation is charged with preparing Maine's SCORP. The Director of BP&L is designated by the Governor to administer the LWCF in Maine.

Historically, LWCF money was allocated to the states annually, and the SCORP was routinely updated every 5 years. However, from 1996 to 1999, no federal LWCF money was allocated to the states, and Maine's 1993 plan was not updated. In 2000, LWCF money was restored to the states, and an updated SCORP was again required. As an interim measure, Maine's 1993 SCORP, with a number of more current reports appended, was approved through 2002. This enabled Maine to continue to receive LWCF money for outdoor recreation projects and provided time to update the 1993 document.

The purpose of this effort is to create a current Maine SCORP for the period 2003 to 2008.

PLANNING REQUIREMENTS

The LWCF Act requires the SCORP to include the following (Chapter 630.1 of the National Park Service LWCF guidelines):

1.

name of the state agency having authority to represent and act for the state in dealing with the Secretary of the Interior for purposes of the LWCF Act;

2.

evaluation of the demand for and supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities in the state;

3.

a program for implementation of the plan;

4.

certification by the Governor that ample opportunity for public participation has taken place in plan development; and

5.

other necessary information as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior

The minimum requirements of the plan are:

1.

inclusion of a description of the process and methodology chosen by the state;

2.

inclusion of ample opportunity for public participation in the planning process, involving all segments of the state's population;

3.

comprehensive coverage - it will be considered comprehensive if it

A. identifies outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance based upon, but not limited to, input from the public participation program. The plan must also identify those issues that the state will address through the LWCF, and those issues which may be addressed by other means;

B. evaluates demand or public outdoor recreation preferences, but not necessarily through quantitative statewide surveys or analyses; and

C. evaluates the supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities, but not necessarily through quantitative statewide inventories.

4.

inclusion of an implementation program that identifies the state's strategies, priorities and actions for the obligation of its LWCF apportionment. The implementation program must be of sufficient detail to demonstrate that projects submitted to the NPS for LWCF funding implement the plan; and

5.

inclusion of a wetlands priority component consistent with Section 303 of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. At a minimum the wetlands priority component must:

A. be consistent with the National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan, prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

B. provide evidence of consultation with the state agency responsible for fish and wildlife resources; and

C. contain a listing of those wetland types which should receive priority for acquisition.

SCORP may consist of a single document or be comprised of multiple documents, as long as the LWCF planning guidelines in chapter 630.1 are met.

In addition to meeting federal requirements for receipt of LWCF money, SCORP serves other functions as well: to foster public support for park, recreation, and open space issues; to develop long-range planning strategies for meeting recreation needs and protecting the resources upon which recreation depends; to support the need for additional funding, or policy and legislative initiatives; and to serve as a basic reference on outdoor recreation supply and demand for government agencies and the private sector. State law has long required the bureau to periodically report to the Governor on the status of outdoor recreation in Maine. In 2001, the law was amended to require similar reporting to the state legislature at 5-year intervals. SCORP will fulfill these requirements.

The federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP), administered by BP&L under agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation, requires that trail projects be identified in, or further a specific goal of, a recreational trails plan, or a SCORP. This SCORP work program addresses trail facilities and issues and incorporates a special trail component to address some of the specific planning needs of that program.

The SCORP will also recognize major land acquisition priority categories addressed by the Governor's Land Acquisition Priorities Advisory Committee (LAPAC) and acquisition criteria adopted by the Land for Maine's Future Program (LMFP) in 2001.

WORK PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Maine's 2003-2008 SCORP work program outlines a process for the collection of outdoor recreation land and facility information; analysis of outdoor recreation demand based on surveys and public use and trend data; identification of the relative supply of recreation facilities and opportunities across the state; discussion of outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance; public involvement in the planning process; identification of acquisition, development, and renovation needs for lands and facilities administered by BP&L; update of maps depicting federal, state, and other recreation/conservation lands; and printing of the plan.

Oversight of the planning process is provided by a seven-member Steering Committee chaired by Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands, with representatives from the State Planning Office, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of Marine Resources, Office of Tourism (Department of Economic and Community Development), Department of Transportation, and the Maine Recreation and Park Association. Members of the Steering Committee meet to review draft findings, participate in facilitated groups and public meetings, and endorse the plan prior to forwarding it to the Governor for submittal to the National Park Service.

The Supply of Outdoor Recreation Areas and Facilities

Outdoor recreation land and facility data are inventoried and entered into the bureau's PARKALL database on a periodic basis. Data can be sorted and displayed in report form by minor civil division, county, planning and development region, and tourism region. PARKALL data are provided to municipalities on request to aid in the preparation of comprehensive plans to meet the state's growth management planning requirements. PARKALL currently includes about 5,000 records of public and private outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The database (Microsoft Access) is being upgraded to be more efficient and more responsive to user needs, and major government, nonprofit and other provider data will be updated. The description of Maine's supply of recreation areas and facilities will characterize the resource base, public recreation lands, and private lands available to the public; summarize areas and facilities by type and provider; describe the distribution of areas and facilities among municipalities and regions; and include a comparative per capita analysis of areas and facilities by town and region to indicate relative supply.

Outdoor Recreation Demand

Demographic information, recent household and customer surveys, public use and trend data will be used to indicate general recreation demand and where possible, regional variations. These references include but are not limited to the 1990 US census; 1991/92 household survey; 1994 and 1995 household walking and bicycling surveys; on-going customer surveys of users of State Parks, State Historic Sites, and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway; a 1996 sport fishing survey; and public use trends for State Parks and Historic Sites, the Allagash and West Branch Penobscot rivers, North Maine Woods, Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, and the White Mountain National Forest. Findings of the state Land Acquisition Priority Committee will be referenced. Major growth and non-growth recreation activities will be identified.

Outdoor Recreation Issues of Statewide Importance

Recreation issues/subjects to be addressed during the planning process include the following list, subject to modification as a result of facilitated group and Steering Committee deliberations and public input. Issue discussions will consider important state policy and program changes since 1993 that affect recreation, including efforts to control sprawl and preserve compact neighborhoods and communities, and initiatives to improve visitor and alternative transportation.

	Availability of Outdoor Recreation Opportunities (Addressing Recreation Needs/Demands; Recreation Opportunities on State Lands; The Availability of Private Lands for Public Recreation)
	Community Outdoor Recreation Needs and Smart Growth (Types of Areas/Facilities Needed by Municipalities; Integrating Areas/Facilities with Neighborhoods and Downtowns)
	Recreation/Public Access in the Northern Forest (Implications of Changing Land Ownership; Maintaining Remote Recreation Opportunities)
	Trail Recreation (Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Use; Managing Use on Popular Land and Water Trails; Managing Multiple/Shared Use Trails)
	Tourism and Public Recreation Facilities (Implications of State Travel, Tourism, and Planning Initiatives; Visitor Opportunities/Capacities at Public Areas/Facilities; Public and Private Sector Roles)

A background paper for each issue will be prepared and reviewed with facilitated groups composed of individuals who are knowledgeable in each subject area. Based upon findings from the group meetings, a final paper will be prepared for each issue and reviewed with the Steering Committee prior to incorporation into the final draft of SCORP.

One subject addressed in the 1993 SCORP that will not be a focus of the groups meetings is "Access to Public Waters." This topic was the subject of a ten-year "Strategic Boating Plan," prepared jointly by BP&L and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 1995 and updated with a "Supplement" in 2000. Also in 2000, the State Planning Office Coastal Program and the Department of Marine Resources completed "Coastal Water Access Priority Areas for Boating and Fishing." The findings of these planning efforts will be summarized in SCORP.

Wetland Component

The wetland component required by LWCF planning guidelines will incorporate the most recent recommendations of the ongoing wetland conservation planning efforts of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, State Planning Office, Department of Environmental Protection, and Land Use Regulation Commission.

Trail Component

The trail component will consolidate accomplishment, supply, demand, deficiency and issue findings for trail recreation. The State Trails Advisory Committee, which includes a variety of trail users and assists the bureau in awarding Recreational Trail Program funds, will review this material, participate in the trail recreation focus group, and recommend priorities for the use of RTP funds and any necessary revisions to the project section process for that program.

Updated Map of Federal, State, and Private Non-Profit Recreation and Conservation Lands

The Bureau has prepared a statewide map of important recreation and conservation lands as part of the SCORP planning process since 1988. The ten-sheet map series has served a variety of government agencies, organizations, and individuals as the only statewide map record of these significant lands, many purchased with LWCF monies. In this SCORP effort, the bureau will make the shift to geographic information systems technology (GIS) by updating the maps digitally and making the GIS files available over the state's Office of Geographic Information System's (OGIS) website. The bureau will also publish paper maps in a 20-sheet booklet format that is easier to use than the previous version.

Implementation Program

The implementation program will identify a variety of actions to address recreation needs and issues, including priorities for Land and Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trail Program expenditures; revisions to grant award criteria; and other actions. The program is essentially a summary of actions proposed elsewhere in the planning process and report.

Public Participation

Public participation in the development of the plan will take place through:

facilitated group meetings on key issues (late summer, 2002);
public meetings seeking comment on the first full draft of the plan (fall, 2002);
comments in response to draft documents from individuals and organizations on a mailing list; and
comments in response to draft documents posted on the bureau's web page. Mailing lists will be maintained for those who wish to review various chapter drafts and the final draft. Comments received from the public will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and summarized in the final plan.

SCORP Printing and Distribution

The approved 2003-2008 SCORP will be printed in early 2003 and distributed to the 50 states and US territories, Maine regional planning and development agencies, Maine municipalities with a recreation director or planning department, and appropriate state and federal agencies, environmental and recreation organizations, legislative leaders, and individuals who participated in the planning process and request a copy of the final plan. Additional copies will be available for the general public, and the document will be posted on the BP&L web page.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN SCORP

1.

Submit general comments or concerns about outdoor recreation in Maine by email or regular mail.

2.

Respond to draft components of SCORP that are posted on the Bureau's web page, or to hard copies of draft components that you receive by regular mail.

3.

Attend and provide feedback on facilitated discussion groups in the following subject areas identified as issues of statewide importance (refer to page 5):

Availability of Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Community Outdoor Recreation Needs and Smart Growth
Recreation/Public Access in the Northern Forest
Trail Recreation
Tourism and Public Recreation Facilities

4.

Attend public meetings to be held in the fall of 2002 to review the first full draft of SCORP. Meetings will be posted on the Bureau's web page, publicized in newspapers, and notices sent to mail lists.

To submit comments at any time, or to have your name placed on a SCORP email or regular mail list,
please send the appropriate address to Elaine M. Szady at:

elaine.m.szady@state.me.us

Maine Department of Conservation
Bureau of Parks and Lands
#22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0022
Tel. 287-3821

1.	name of the state agency having authority to represent and act for the state in dealing with the Secretary of the Interior for purposes of the LWCF Act;
2.	evaluation of the demand for and supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities in the state;
3.	a program for implementation of the plan;
4.	certification by the Governor that ample opportunity for public participation has taken place in plan development; and
5.	other necessary information as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior
	The minimum requirements of the plan are:
1.	inclusion of a description of the process and methodology chosen by the state;
2.	inclusion of ample opportunity for public participation in the planning process, involving all segments of the state's population;
3.	comprehensive coverage - it will be considered comprehensive if it
		A. identifies outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance based upon, but not limited to, input from the public participation program. The plan must also identify those issues that the state will address through the LWCF, and those issues which may be addressed by other means;
		B. evaluates demand or public outdoor recreation preferences, but not necessarily through quantitative statewide surveys or analyses; and
		C. evaluates the supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities, but not necessarily through quantitative statewide inventories.
4.	inclusion of an implementation program that identifies the state's strategies, priorities and actions for the obligation of its LWCF apportionment. The implementation program must be of sufficient detail to demonstrate that projects submitted to the NPS for LWCF funding implement the plan; and
5.	inclusion of a wetlands priority component consistent with Section 303 of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. At a minimum the wetlands priority component must:
		A. be consistent with the National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan, prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
		B. provide evidence of consultation with the state agency responsible for fish and wildlife resources; and
		C. contain a listing of those wetland types which should receive priority for acquisition.

1.	Submit general comments or concerns about outdoor recreation in Maine by email or regular mail.
2.	Respond to draft components of SCORP that are posted on the Bureau's web page, or to hard copies of draft components that you receive by regular mail.
3.	Attend and provide feedback on facilitated discussion groups in the following subject areas identified as issues of statewide importance (refer to page 5):
		Availability of Outdoor Recreation Opportunities Community Outdoor Recreation Needs and Smart Growth Recreation/Public Access in the Northern Forest Trail Recreation Tourism and Public Recreation Facilities
4.	Attend public meetings to be held in the fall of 2002 to review the first full draft of SCORP. Meetings will be posted on the Bureau's web page, publicized in newspapers, and notices sent to mail lists.