<strong>Natural</strong> <strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Inventory</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Guilford</strong>, CT
Section I NATURAL RESOURCE-BASED RECREATION I.1 Introduction See separate Map Atlas for map references This section is intended to <strong>of</strong>fer a fresh perspective on recreational issues as they relate to natural resources. A physical inventory <strong>of</strong> natural resources that are currently used for recreation is then presented, along with brief descriptions <strong>and</strong> comments. <strong>Guilford</strong> now possesses an excellent array <strong>of</strong> outdoor public recreational areas. However, l<strong>and</strong> managers are faced with the problem <strong>of</strong> balancing recreational use with protecting the integrity <strong>of</strong> the resource upon which it is based. L<strong>and</strong> or water areas designated for recreation need varying degrees <strong>of</strong> control <strong>and</strong> must be monitored for possible abuse <strong>and</strong> overuse. This is a critical aspect <strong>of</strong> any stewardship program for natural resources. <strong>Guilford</strong> has aggressively worked toward setting aside open space, but systematically addressing l<strong>and</strong> management issues subsequent to purchase is a project still in its infancy. It is hoped that the following will stimulate more discussion among <strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials in regards to the management <strong>of</strong> <strong>Guilford</strong>’s recreation areas. Questions are raised indicating the need for further study <strong>and</strong> dedicated policy-making in the area <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> stewardship. I.2 Characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>Natural</strong> <strong>Resource</strong>-based Recreation Terms such as “passive” or “informal” traditionally have been used to loosely describe the kinds <strong>of</strong> recreation such as playing fields <strong>and</strong> buildings that do not involve intensive development <strong>of</strong> the l<strong>and</strong>scape. However, <strong>of</strong>ficials are hard-pressed to define exactly what is meant by these terms. To clarify the <strong>Town</strong>’s discussions <strong>of</strong> recreational issues, the NRIA uses the term natural resource based (NRB) recreation, defined as outdoor leisure activities compatible with natural resource protection, <strong>and</strong> typically dependent on an unstructured setting. Keeping in mind that an interpretation <strong>of</strong> any particular activity <strong>of</strong>ten depends on the viewpoint <strong>of</strong> the person who is doing it, here is a list <strong>of</strong> some general criteria for NRB recreational activities: • contact with undeveloped or minimally disturbed l<strong>and</strong>scapes is required • quiet <strong>and</strong> solitude are valued • presence <strong>of</strong> wildlife is desirable or essential • non-competitive; goals are individual • may or may not be construed as a “sport” • minimal structures <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape changes are used (e.g., trails, footbridges, kiosks, clearings for vistas or habitat enhancement) • minimal, <strong>of</strong>ten unimproved, parking facilities blend into surroundings as much as possible • transport is by foot <strong>and</strong> possibly, if compatible, by bicycle, wheelchair, or horseback • impact on the resources is carefully balanced with achieving recreational goals. I.3 Managing Agencies <strong>and</strong> Organizations It is the task <strong>of</strong> the agencies or people acting on behalf <strong>of</strong> the owner to determine which recreation activities are appropriate for a given l<strong>and</strong> or water area, to regulate them, <strong>and</strong> to maintain basic accommodations for access. <strong>Natural</strong> resource considerations should be primary in this determination. Even when applying the criteria listed above, it can be difficult to clearly delineate which specific recreation activities are actually compatible with good resource management. Much depends upon the site in question <strong>and</strong> even the time <strong>of</strong> year, so it is the where <strong>and</strong> when as well as the what that must be considered. (See Sections B. Coast, C. Freshwater <strong>and</strong> D. Upl<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> Section I.6 for further discussion <strong>of</strong> recreational activities’ impact on natural resources.) Public recreation takes place primarily on l<strong>and</strong> owned by the <strong>Town</strong>, the State, South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (SCCRWA), or <strong>Guilford</strong> L<strong>and</strong> Conservation Trust (GLCT). For the town, the primary governing agencies are the Parks <strong>and</strong> Recreation (PRC) <strong>and</strong> Conservation (CC) Commissions. Athletic fields are governed by the Board <strong>of</strong> Education <strong>and</strong> cared for by the Parks <strong>and</strong> <strong>Natural</strong> <strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Inventory</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Guilford</strong>, CT I1 <strong>Natural</strong> <strong>Resource</strong>-Based Recreation
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TOWN OF GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT Natur
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TOWN OF GUILFORD Natural Resource I
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Acknowledgments The Conservation Co
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Introduction What are natural resou
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INTRODUCTION 1 Orthophoto 2 Land Us
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ACRONYMS Acronyms used in this docu
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Section A. GEOLOGY A.1 Introduction
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of us give much thought. The reason
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APPENDIX G-1 Natural Scenic Resourc
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NRIA’s Listing of Scenic Views Fr
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GPA’s Favorite Scenes and Places
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APPENDIX G-2 a Natural Resource Inv
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APPENDIX G-2b Natural Resource Inve
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APPENDIX G-3 Guilford’s Town Owne
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APPENDIX G-4 Guilford’s Notable T
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APPENDIX H-1 A Compilation of Guilf
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APPENDIX H-2a Metacomet Ridge Conse
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APPENDIX H-3 Public Act 490 Prefere
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APPENDIX I-1 Recreational Facilitie
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APPENDIX J-1 Benefits of Buffer by