Planning for Recreational Waterway Access in Rural Coastal Settings

A pier in the Florida Keys.

Increasing demand for waterfront land throughout the United States is a long-term trend with a profound impact on the public's ability to access coasts and waterways for recreation. Overcrowding at beaches, boat ramps, and popular destinations in Florida's densely populated coastal areas leads more Floridians and tourists to consider recreating in rural coastal communities that still offer the solitude and natural settings desired by many. According to a recent report sponsored by the Outdoor Industry Association, the provision of public water access has increased outdoor recreation tourism, which could bring much-needed economic benefits to rural areas. However, many of these communities lack planning resources to measure local support and user needs and to estimate the benefits that investments in public-access infrastructure might bring. This 6-page fact sheet written by Corina Guevara, Charles Sidman, Robert Swett, and Alan Hodges and published by the Florida Sea Grant College Program describes an approach those communities can use to characterize user needs and to quantify local economic benefits derived from public-access infrastructure with a focus on boat ramp facilities.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg141

TP107/SG083 A Recreational Boater-Based Method for Re-designing the NOS Small-Craft Chart

New to EDIS! TP-107, a 145-page illustrated project report by Gustavo Antonini, Niels West, Charles Sidman, and Robert Swett, reports on a project to determine chart information which would satisfy criteria for safe, modern navigation and promote environmental stewardship. The prototype chart covers the southwest Florida coast from lower Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor. Published by the Florida Sea Grant Program, December 2000. Reviewed March 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SG083

SGEF139/SG084 A Recreational Boater-Based Method for Re-designing the NOS Small-Craft Chart (Executive Summary)

New to EDIS! SGEF-139, a 16-page executive summary by Gustavo Antonini, Niels West, Charles Sidman, and Robert Swett, summarizes a project designed to determine the chart information needs of boaters which satisfy safe navigation and promote stewardship of coastal resources. Published by the Florida Sea Grant College Program, December 2000. Reviewed March 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SG084