Perhaps no other nation on earth devotes as large a portion of its public lands to recreational use as the United States. And while millions of Americans flock to our national parks, forests, and other public lands each year, these areas are also major attractions for international visitors and an important source of foreign exchange. The allocation, location, planning, and management of public lands for recreational use is now a major activity within each of the nation's four major land-managing agencies, and in several smaller departments as well.

This book presents an overview of the vast and diverse federal recreation system, its historical evolution, methods of management and development, and the different roles played by the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. It explores concepts in land-use planning, examines relevant federal legislation, and presents federal concepts for preserving amenity resources. Rather than make an exhaustive presentation of current facilities and recreational opportunities, author Charles Zinser uses a case study approach to illustrate and analyze programs and development principles found in each of the major agencies. More than 300 tables, maps, and illustrations supplement the text.

An entire chapter is devoted to the recreational resources of smaller federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, all of which permit various forms of water-related recreation on reservoirs under their control. Many people are surprised to learn that, in terms of recreational use, the Army Corps of Engineers is the number-two federal agency.

Packed with helpful, practical, and authoritative information, Outdoor Recreation is a one-stop source on the availability, development, and management of recreational resources within the federal system. It is a first-rate reference for anyone involved in forestry, geography, wildland or watershed management, land-use planning and development, or creating recreational facilities. It is also an ideal textbook for courses in geography and recreational use of public lands.

The most complete guide available to the federal recreation system

The system of federal lands devoted to outdoor recreation is as diverse bureaucratically as it is geographically. At least eight federal agencies administer recreational resources from mountain to seashore, from desert to glacier, in virtually every state and territory of the nation. This one-stop sourcebook offers complete information on the acquisition, development, management, and protection of these resources, including:

* Extensive coverage of recreational resources administered by federal land-managing agencies that control one fourth of our national territory

* A review of the basic concepts of land-use planning

* An examination of the federal legislation that created current programs and facilities

* Numerous maps, statistical tables, and illustrations not available from any other source

* Case studies that illustrate the practical impact of federal policies and concepts

* Examples of federal plans for protecting these resources, including: the National Wilderness Preservation System, National Trails System, and the National Wild and Scenic River System