Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS). One of the existing tools for classifying recreation environments (existing and desired) along a continuum ranging from primitive, low-use, and inconspicuous administration to urban, high-use, and a highly visible administrative presence. This continuum recognizes variation among various components of any landscape s physical, social and administrative attributes; and resulting descriptions (of existing conditions) and prescriptions (of desired future conditions) define recreation setting character. Descriptions of settings follow in the Supplemental Information section.

Supplemental information:

Dataset locally known as ros_alt_a_deis. This dataset and other datasets in the BLM Phoenix District Office Geographic Information Database represent data for the BLM Phoenix District Office, and may include the Hassayampa Field Office and Lower Sonoran Field Office.

Primitive (P):

Remoteness - An area designated by a line generally 3 miles from all open roads, railroads, and motorized trails

Evidence of Humans - Setting is essentially an unmodified natural environment. Evidence of humans would be unnoticed by an observer wandering through the area. Evidence of trails is acceptable but should not exceed standard to carry expected use. Structures are extremely rare.

Social - Usually less than six parties per day encountered on trails and less than three parties visible at campsites

Managerial - Onsite regimentation is low with controls primarily offsite.

Semi-Primitive Non-motorized (SPNM):

Remoteness - An area designated by a line generally 1/2 mile from any road, railroad, or trail open to public motorized use. (The guideline for applying the 1/2 mile criterion is to use 1/2 mile except where topographic or physical features closer than 1/2 miles adequately screen out the sights and sounds of humans and make access more difficult and slower. For example, if a ridge is 1/4 mile from the road, use the ridge instead of the 1/2 mile.) Any roads, railroads, or trails within the semi-primitive non-motorized areas will have the following characteristics: Closed to public motorized use, and are reclaimed, or in the process of reclaiming (when reclaiming will harmonize with the natural appearing environment). Some examples are old logging roads, old railroad beds, old access routes to abandoned campsites, temporary roads, and gated roads that are used for occasional administrative access.

Evidence of Humans - Natural setting may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of an observer wandering through the area. Little or no evidence of primitive roads and the motorized use of trails and primitive roads. Structures are rare and isolated.

Social - Usually 6-15 parties per day encountered on trails and six or fewer parties visible from campsite.

Managerial - Onsite regimentation and controls present but subtle.

Semi-Primitive Motorized (SPM):

Remoteness: An area designed by a line generally 1/2 mile from open better than primitive roads. (The guideline for applying the 1/2 mile criterion is to consistently use 1/2 mile where topographic or physical features closer than 1/2 mile adequately screen out the sights and sounds of humans, e.g. a ridge 1/4 mile from the road). Contains open primitive roads that are not maintained for the use of standard passenger-type vehicles, normally OHVs and high-clearance vehicles, e.g. an old pickup with high clearance. These open roads are generally tracks, ruts, or rocky-rough surface and upgraded and not drained. The roadbeds and cuts are mostly vegetated with grass or native material unless they are too rocky for vegetation. The roads harmonize with the natural environment. Examples include old logging roads from before specified road years, old revegetated railroad beds, old access roads to abandoned home-sites, temporary logging roads that are revegetated, and low standard administrative roads (normally used for access to wildlife openings).

Evidence of Humans - Natural setting may have moderately dominant alterations but would not draw the attention of motorized observers on trails and primitive roads within the area. Any closed improved roads must be managed to revegetate and harmonize with the natural environment. Strong evidence of primitive roads and the motorized use of trails and primitive roads. Structures are rare and isolated.

Social - Low to moderate contact frequency.

Managerial - Onsite regimentation and controls present but subtle.

Roaded Natural (RN):

Remoteness - No criteria

Evidence of Humans - Natural setting may have modifications, which range from being easily noticed to strongly dominant to observers within the area. But from sensitive travel routes and use areas these alterations would remain unnoticed or visually subordinate. There is strong evidence of designed roads, highways, or both. Structures are generally scattered, remaining visually subordinate or unnoticed to the sensitive travel route observer. Structures may include utility corridors or microwave installations.

Social - Frequency of contact is- Moderate to high on roads; Low to Moderate on trails and away from roads.

Managerial - Onsite regimentation and controls are noticeable but harmonize with the natural environment.

Rural (R):

Remoteness - No criteria

Evidence of Humans - Natural setting is culturally modified to the point that it is dominant to the sensitive travel route observer. This setting may include pastoral, agricultural, intensively managed wildland resource landscapes, or utility corridors. Pedestrian or other slow-moving observers are constantly within view of culturally changed landscape. There is strong evidence of designed roads, highways, or both. Structures are readily apparent and may range from scattered to small dominant clusters, including utility corridors, farm buildings, microwave installations, and recreation sites.

Social - Frequency of contact is: Moderate to High developed sites, on roads and trails, and water surfaces; Moderate away from developed sites.

Managerial - Regimentation and controls obvious and numerous, largely in harmony with the human-made environment.

Urban (U):

Remoteness - No criteria

Evidence of Humans - Setting is strongly structure dominated. Natural or natural appearing elements may play an important role but be visually subordinate. Pedestrian and other slow moving observers are constantly within view of artificial enclosure of spaces. There is strong evidence of designed roads and/or highways and streets. Structures and structure complexes are dominant.

Social - Large numbers of users onsite and in nearby areas.

Managerial - Regimentation and controls obvious and numerous.

This data should not be used at a scale larger than 1:24,000. The data and corresponding attributes are only as accurate as the source maps from which they were obtained, and may vary depending on the data and method of acquisition. This data is suitable for regional planning, management decision support at intermediate scales (i.e. 1:24,000 or smaller), and cartographic purposes. The data is not suitable for analysis at scales larger than 1:24,000. If the Receiving Agency (RA) has modified the data in any way, they are obligated to describe the types of modifications they have performed on hardcopy maps utilizing the data. RA specifically agrees not to misrepresent datasets or to imply that any changes made were approved by BLM. No warranty is made by the BLM for use of the data for purposes not intended by BLM. This information may be updated without notification.

BLM Phoenix District Office provide this data "as is" without liability. No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management. as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data.

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (Alternative A)
	Data format: Shapefile File or table name: ros_alt_a_deis Coordinate system: Universal Transverse Mercator Theme keywords: Bureau of Land Management, BLM, Recreation, ROS
Abstract: Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS). One of the existing tools for classifying recreation environments (existing and desired) along a continuum ranging from primitive, low-use, and inconspicuous administration to urban, high-use, and a highly visible administrative presence. This continuum recognizes variation among various components of any landscape s physical, social and administrative attributes; and resulting descriptions (of existing conditions) and prescriptions (of desired future conditions) define recreation setting character. Descriptions of settings follow in the Supplemental Information section.

FGDC and ESRI Metadata: