A method of managing spectrum use in a managed area, comprising: sensing spectrum use with one or more spectrum sensors deployed in the managed area to sense spectrum use in the managed area, each sensor generating corresponding sensor data; determining that an incumbent spectrum user is actively using spectrum in the managed area by analyzing the sensor data from the one or more spectrum sensors to determine that at least one of plural incumbent user detection triggers is tripped, each detection trigger being defined by one or more spectrum use variables that indicate presence of a corresponding incumbent user, and each detection trigger being associated with a spectrum use policy, and wherein spectrum use in the managed area by the incumbent user is carried out on an intermittent basis; identifying a particular spectrum use policy that corresponds to the tripped detection trigger from a plurality of spectrum use policies, each of the spectrum use policies relating to predetermined incumbent spectrum user protections, the identified particular spectrum use policy comprising a spectrum use prohibition by secondary spectrum users in a predetermined geographic area of the managed area for spectrum occupied by the incumbent user, the predetermined geographic area being smaller than the managed area and the use prohibition being arranged to protect the incumbent user from interference by the secondary spectrum users; and creating a new or modifying an existing set of spectrum use permissions that allow use of spectrum defined in the set of spectrum use permissions by the secondary users without violation of the spectrum use prohibition of the spectrum use policy, and notifying one or more secondary spectrum users of the new or modified set of spectrum use permissions. sensing spectrum use with one or more spectrum sensors deployed in the managed area to sense spectrum use in the managed area, each sensor generating corresponding sensor data; determining that an incumbent spectrum user is actively using spectrum in the managed area by analyzing the sensor data from the one or more spectrum sensors to determine that at least one of plural incumbent user detection triggers is tripped, each detection trigger being defined by one or more spectrum use variables that indicate presence of a corresponding incumbent user, and each detection trigger being associated with a spectrum use policy, and wherein spectrum use in the managed area by the incumbent user is carried out on an intermittent basis; identifying a particular spectrum use policy that corresponds to the tripped detection trigger from a plurality of spectrum use policies, each of the spectrum use policies relating to predetermined incumbent spectrum user protections, the identified particular spectrum use policy comprising a spectrum use prohibition by secondary spectrum users in a predetermined geographic area of the managed area for spectrum occupied by the incumbent user, the predetermined geographic area being smaller than the managed area and the use prohibition being arranged to protect the incumbent user from interference by the secondary spectrum users; and creating a new or modifying an existing set of spectrum use permissions that allow use of spectrum defined in the set of spectrum use permissions by the secondary users without violation of the spectrum use prohibition of the spectrum use policy, and notifying one or more secondary spectrum users of the new or modified set of spectrum use permissions.