Outdoor recreation is complex: this Assessment is able to report on at least 170 different types of outdoor recreation in 15 major categories. This complexity reflects the diversity of the state's population and the spectrum of public interests and attitudes.

More than half of the state's population participates in some form of outdoor recreation. Roughly half of this activity is local, with the other half shared among state, federal, and private providers.

The state's population has grown about 20% since RCFB's last statewide recreation survey. Importantly, this growth results both in total numbers of people actively recreating and in an increase in the proportion of inactive people. Growing demand is resulting in more reported crowding, increased specialization, increased user conflicts, and increased management actions to limit adverse impacts of access and activities. The increase in the inactive population is contributing to a possible decline in public health.

On the supply or inventory of recreation lands:

There are about 10 million acres of public land managed in whole or part for outdoor recreation, habitat, and environmental protection. The vast majority of "recreation lands" are federal lands, located at higher elevations distant from populated areas, and able only to host relatively low-participation, challenging activities that demand high skill sets.

Precise facility inventory data is lacking, but many recreationists report shortages of facilities from trails to ball fields.

In an effort to preserve the inventory of both land and facilities, managers have adapted a variety of techniques to control or ration access, including reservation systems, catch limits, party-size restrictions, permits, licenses, fees, and facility scheduling.

On key issues identified by the public:

People feel more "crowded" than ever in virtually all recreation pursuits.

Reports of incompatibilities between activities, including competition for limited resources, are becoming more common.

Adults are concerned that younger generations are out of touch with nature and natural resources such as fish and wildlife.

Some people are skeptical about management conclusions that recreational activities are incompatible with wildlife and habitat values.

Habitat and open space are seen as integral to the recreation estate, directly contributing to traditional natural resource-based recreation (hunting, fishing) and emerging recreation (photography, observation).

The public continues to identify lack of physical access to land as a more critical issue than lack of supply, a trend with documentation going back to the early 1960s.

The public cites a lack of adequate maintenance and operation (M&O) of public land and facilities as a critical issue, and desires an on-the-ground management presence especially on state and federal lands.

People are concerned about fees associated with recreation and access.

The complexity of outdoor recreation in Washington State defies simple solutions. However, the results of public involvement and professional review indicate that some major issues need to be addressed in the next several years:

There is high need to provide better managed land and facilities supporting virtually all outdoor recreation categories;

Linear activities are the most popular activities. A significant portion of all linear activity, especially walking and bicycling, takes place close to home on sidewalks, streets, and roads. It is not well understood whether walkers and cyclists actually prefer the facilities and settings they use most frequently;

Sports, individual and team types combined, is second in popularity, with many, sometimes incompatible, sports competing for use of available facilities;

Nature and natural settings play an important role in many activities by category and type. There is high participation in observing and photographing the outdoors, especially wildlife, as well as continued participation in the established nature-dependent activities of hunting and fishing, all of which indicates the importance of preserving habitat for fish and wildlife;

There is a need to find acceptable means to pay for maintenance and operation, including improved on-the-ground management presence, of public lands and facilities; and

There is a need for improved data on public recreation behavior and preferences, as well as the inventory of available facilities, in order to ensure that public resources are more effectively utilized in meeting public needs.

To address the findings and conclusions of this Assessment, it is necessary to provide a set of state policies to guide the selection of appropriate actions.

It is a policy of the State of Washington: