Siting Concerns . The location of a recreation area can influence the nature and extent of any environmental impacts caused by the facility. The development of construction plans that consider the potential impacts of siting and construction can help minimize environmental degradation. Methods to reduce this potential include avoiding construction in erosion-sensitive areas, leaving vegetation in place or replanting after construction, and using erosion controls to prevent releases to the environment.
Roads disrupt wildlife territories, movement, and migration patterns.
They also alter lighting, temperature, and rainfall patterns and may introduce weed species into the ecosystem. Increased traffic and usage of public facilities often are a result of recreation and tourism projects. For example, POTWs, local landfills, and roads may need to be improved or replaced to prevent overuse. In some cases, larger facilities may need to construct onsite treatment plants to reduce stress on local POTWs. For example, gray water collected can be treated and combined with snowmelt to make new snow for reuse on ski trails or in other operations, such as vehicle washing or irrigation.