Program Summary

The Recreation Management Support Program (RMSP) provides funding to develop and maintain tools to address problems, issues and initiatives associated with the CE Recreation Program that have broad applicability to Corps Civil Works projects nationwide. This is accomplished by a team within the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory and Institute for Water Resources through management studies, management assistance, and information exchange. It is facilitated by the Recreation Leadership Advisory Team (RLAT), which was formed to provide oversight and serve as an ad hoc committee to the Chief of the Natural Resources Management Branch in HQUSACE. The RLAT provides guidance and reviews priorities and products associated with the RMSP.

Recent RMSP activities have focused on support for the “Recreation Road Map.” This effort was initiated by CE Headquarters to implement a new recreation program strategy and development of a long-term recreation strategic plan.

In addition, the RMSP provides funding for ERDC to maintain the following operational tools to support the CE recreation program:

• The Corps Lakes Gateway provides the public with information about recreation opportunities on Corps Lakes nationwide.
• The Customer Comment Card Program provides the capability for managers to obtain feedback from visitors on the quality of facilities and services provided on Corps projects.
• NRM Gateway provides over 75,000 pages of content to support the Natural Resource Management Community of Practice.
• Recreation Budget Evaluation System (Rec-BEST) is a system that assists field managers in developing recreation program budgets using performance-based budgeting principles.
• Recreation Economic Assessment System (REAS) is a system to measure the regional economic effects of the CE recreation program.
• Recreation Facility Standards provide guidance on recreation facility design and management.
• REC-STATUS Recreation Annual Business Line Report provides a snapshot of the operational aspects of the CE recreation program at individual projects.
• REC-STATUS – Recreation Self Assessment Tool provides managers with the capability to evaluate and benchmark the operational efficiency of project, district, and division recreation programs nationwide.
• Value to the Nation initiative. This is a collaborative effort with the Institute for Water Resources to communicate the value of Corps Water Resource Management to stakeholders and the public.
• Visitation Estimation and Reporting System (VERS) provides the capability for managers to monitor recreation visitation at their projects.