ORV Management Practices Manual: Strategy 11

Strategy 11.	Modify Timing of ORV Use
Tactic 11.1	Discourage Use During Times of Resource Susceptibility
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by discouraging use when resources are particularly susceptible to disturbance.
Description	This strategy is based on the recognition that the sensitivity of soil, vegetation, and wildlife to ORV impacts vary by season e.g. water level, vegetation, wildlife activity. Impacts are reduced by discouraging use during times of high resource sensitivity. The area affected could be of any size.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Low-Moderate. ORV riders would voluntarily alter the preferred timing of their visits.
Costs to Management	Moderate. A review of research and ORV use experience should be conducted and implications for trip timing communicated to all ORV riders.
Effectiveness	Low-Moderate. Visitors may not modify their trip times. Impacts would still occur during other times of the year.
Comments	Resource susceptibility to ORV use varies with season. Shifting the timing of visitation (or even hunting seasons) could result in less impact. In particular, airboat use in areas or during times when water levels are low has been shown to cause greater substrate disturbance and erosion.

Strategy 11.	Modify Timing of ORV Use
Tactic 11.2	Prohibit Use During Times of Resource Susceptibility
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by prohibiting use when resources are particularly susceptible to disturbance.
Description	This strategy is based on the recognition that the sensitivity of soil, vegetation, and wildlife to ORV impacts vary by season e.g. water level, vegetation, wildlife activity. Impacts are reduced by prohibiting use during times of high resource sensitivity. The area affected could be of any size.
Costs to ORV Visitors	High. ORV riders would have to alter the preferred timing of their visits.
Costs to Management	Moderate. A review of research and ORV use experience should be conducted and implications for trip timing communicated to all ORV riders. Additional patrols might be necessary to provide enforcement.
Effectiveness	Moderate. Impacts would still occur during other times of the year.
Comments	See Comment under 11.1.

Strategy 11.	Modify Timing of ORV Use
Tactic 11.3	Regulate Timing of Use to Reduce Crowding and Conflict
Purpose	Prevent or reduce social problems by reducing or shifting use away from peak use periods or from times that cause greater conflict between user groups.
Description	Visitors are encouraged or required to shift the timing of their visits to avoid periods when visitor crowding and/or the potential for conflicts with other visitors is high.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Moderate to High. ORV riders would have to alter the preferred timing of their visits. Similar problems might develop during the times that receive additional visitation.
Costs to Management	Moderate. A review of research and ORV use experience should be conducted and implications for trip timing communicated to all ORV riders.
Effectiveness	Moderate. If voluntary, visitors may not modify their trip times. This action could also retard vegetation recovery that currently occurs in off-seasons.
Comments	Social science research can help to document these issues and how shifting the timing of ORV use might address any problems.