Draft Interpretive Plan Join the adventure! - Captain John Smith ...

Conservation and Education
At all times, the water trail organization must be vigilant about protecting—and, better
yet, enhancing—the natural qualities of the waterway itself. By initiating a series of
conservation projects and education programs, the organization not only protects the
waterway but gains a cadre of water trail supporters.
Tracking Visitor Use
Trail managers should track visitor use to evaluate environmental or social impacts. Keep
track of visitor use through:
• Logbooks at access points, day-use areas, and campsites
• Permit systems
• Car counts at access points
• Interviews with managers of boat liveries, outfitters, campgrounds, and bait-and-tackle
shops
• Surveys of trail users
Look for changes in vegetative cover and soil compaction at campsites and other landbased
sites. Use photo stations and measurements to evaluate impacts.
Measure social impacts by asking users about encounters with other visitors on the water
and at campsites and about their perceptions of the trail experience. Use the USDA Forest
Service’s Limits of Acceptable Change guidelines to evaluate and manage the land’s
carrying capacity.
Conservation and Restoration Projects
Help local and state conservation agencies monitor water quality and restore habitats.
Conduct fisheries surveys, check for invasive plants and animals, protect endangered
species, and look for beneficial plants like submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Conduct
semiannual drives to remove litter and trash along the waterway. Help pinpoint water
pollution problems by surveying aquatic insect populations and conducting bacteria,
nitrogen, oxygen, salinity, and turbidity tests.
Leave No Trace
The Leave No Trace Code of Outdoors Ethics program is a good way to teach lowimpact
use of the trail to children and adults. Promote these seven LNT principles in
brochures, trail guides, signs and exhibits (see http:www.lnt.org) for more information):
• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
• Leave what you find
• Minimize campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife
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