ORV Management Practices Manual: Strategy 6

Strategy 6.	Reduce or Prohibit Traffic in Sensitive Areas
Tactic 6.1	Discourage Traffic in Sensitive Areas
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by discouraging traffic of sensitive areas e.g. areas smaller than entire management units.
Description	Information describing the area(s) that are particularly sensitive or fragile to ORV use and recommended alternative areas are communicated to visitors to reduce or eliminate traffic in sensitive areas.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Low. Visitors retain the freedom to voluntarily comply. Costs to ORV and non-ORV visitors could be higher if crowding or conflicts develop in the areas to which visitor use is shifted.
Costs to Management	Low. Such a policy need only be communicated with supporting documentation of its rationale.
Effectiveness	Low-Moderate. Visitor may ignore recommendation. Effectiveness can be increased by describing similar alternative areas and providing information during the planning stage of their trip.
Comments	Sensitive areas might include sites of significant cultural or historic value, areas of critical wildlife habitat, areas with rare or endangered species of flora or fauna, or areas with vegetation or soils that are particularly susceptible to impact from ORV use.

Strategy 6.	Reduce or Prohibit Traffic in Sensitive Areas
Tactic 6.2	Establish Quotas for Traffic in Sensitive Areas
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by limiting traffic within sensitive areas through quotas e.g. areas smaller than entire management units.
Description	ORV traffic permitted within sensitive areas is restricted by the establishment of quotas. Amount of use is regulated to determine the level at which acceptable resource conditions can be maintained. For effective implementation, sensitive areas may have to be defined on the basis of entire management units.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Moderate. Visitor access is retained, though some visitors are prohibited from entering with vehicles. Costs to ORV and non-ORV visitors could be higher if crowding or conflicts develop in the areas to which visitor use is shifted.
Costs to Management	High. The policy must be communicated with supporting documentation of its rationale. A system for determining quotas, managing access, and enforcement must be developed and managed.
Effectiveness	High. Visitation is reduced to levels that resolve unacceptable impacts to sensitive resources. Agency presence and enforcement may also be critical to success.
Comments	Sensitive areas might include sites of significant cultural or historic value, areas of critical wildlife habitat, areas with rare or endangered species of flora or fauna, or areas with vegetation or soils that are particularly susceptible to impact from ORV use.

Strategy 6.	Reduce or Prohibit Traffic in Sensitive Areas
Tactic 6.3	Prohibit Traffic in Sensitive Areas
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by prohibiting ORV traffic in sensitive areas.
Description	Visitation is seasonally or permanently prohibited in sensitive areas.
Costs to ORV Visitors	High. Visitors lose the freedom to enter the sensitive area(s) with ORVs. Costs to ORV and non-ORV visitors could be higher if similar problems develop in the areas to which visitor use is shifted.
Costs to Management	Moderate. Policy must be communicated with supporting documentation of its rationale. Agency presence and enforcement must be provided.
Effectiveness	High. Most visitors will likely comply. Effectiveness can be increased by describing similar alternative areas and providing information during the planning stage of their trip.
Comments	Sensitive areas might include sites of significant cultural or historic value, areas of critical wildlife habitat, areas with rare or endangered species of flora or fauna, or areas with vegetation or soils that are particularly susceptible to impact from ORV use.