Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills

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Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills
EthicsFrontcountry Program
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Presentation Objectives

• Provide an overview of the Leave No Trace
  Frontcountry program.
• Illustrate differences with the
  backcountry/wilderness program via language and
  messages useful for frontcountry settings

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Impacts and issues in Frontcountry areas
Compacted Soil
Pet Waste
Illegally constructed mountain bike
trails/structures
Wildlife impacts in day-use areas
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Boulder, CO park Dog waste sites
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Impacts and issues in Frontcountry areas
Dealing with multi-use
Severely eroded areas/trails
Trashed firerings in developed areas
Trash (motor oil) left at day-use areas
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What is Backcountry?

• Backcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are
  generally not accessible by vehicle and mostly
  visited by overnight users.

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What is Frontcountry?

• Frontcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are
  easily accessible by vehicle and mostly visited
  by day users.

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Why do we need a Frontcountry Program?

• The vast majority (over 85) of recreation occurs
  near urban centers day hiking, biking, bird
  watching, dog walking, jogging, bouldering,
  picnicking, overnight camping in developed
  camping areas, water sports, fishing, etc.
• We need an effective educational program to reach
  this large population with the Leave No Trace
  message

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Why do we need a Frontcountry Program?

• There are specific recreation impacts unique to
  frontcountry areas that need to be effectively
  targeted user crowding and conflict, pet
  management issues, graffiti and vandalism, pet
  waste, private property trespass, off-trail
  hiking, etc.
• Although the seven principles are universal,
  there are instances where the use of modified
  language may be necessary to effectively reach
  frontcountry recreationists

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Approved Frontcountry Leave No Trace language

• Know Before You Go
• Stick to Trails
• Trash Your Trash, Pick Up Poop (dog waste)
• Leave It As You Find It
• Be Careful With Fire
• Keep Wildlife Wild
• Share Our Trails, Yield to Others

• Plan Ahead Prepare
• Travel Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

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Examples of modified language and graphics
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Stick to Trails

• Traveling on trail leaves room for wildlife and
  their homes. Short cutting trails causes erosion.
  Be ready to get muddy and step right through
  puddles. Boots dry overnight plants take years
  to recover.

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Protect Our Waters

• Riparian areas are vital to the health and
  diversity of animal and plant life in the Basin.
  These areas are often the sole habitat for many
  plants and animals species that need wet
  conditions.

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Manage Your Dog

• Keeping your dog in control keeps people, dogs,
  livestock and wildlife safe. Others may not
  appreciate your dogs company, therefore ask
  before allowing your dog to approach them. Keep
  your dog nearby and under control. Carry and use
  a leash as required.

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When dogs run off-leash
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Respect Private Property

• Respect no trespassing signs. If property
  boundaries are unclear, do not disturb the area.
  Treat anothers property as you would treat you
  own.

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Pick Up Poop

• Phew! Dog poop stinks, is not natural to Open
  Space and others can step in it. Pack a pick-up
  bag and always pick-up your dogs poop--wherever
  its left.

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Keep Wildlife Wild

• Natural areas are home to wildlife. As a visitor,
  you should respect wildlife by observing them
  from a distance and not feeding them.

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Trash Your Trash

• Please take out all trash, yours and others.
  Even biodegradable materials such as orange
  peels, apple cores and food scraps can take years
  to break down, and attract scavengers that harm
  other wildlife.

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Leave It as You Find It

• Picking flowers, collecting rocks or taking
  arrowheads may not seem to be a big deal, but it
  means others wont have a chance to enjoy them.
  With millions of people visiting Open Space, the
  less impact we each make, the longer we will
  enjoy what we have.

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Share Our Trails

• We all enjoy Open Space in different ways. Pay
  attention, expect to encounter others and be
  courteous. Yield to all.

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• This slide set was developed for the national
  Leave No Trace program. Copies may be obtained
  from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor
  Ethics.
• Shorter versions can be developed by omitting
  slides or local images may be substituted to
  adapt the program to specific areas.

Developed by Ben Lawhon and Jeff Marion
(ben_at_lnt.org, jmarion_at_vt.edu)