Off Highway Vehicles and On Highway Vehicles

These baseline recreational use data will inform planning efforts being undertaken by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to help inform public access, land acquisition, future planning and decision-making. Collecting data on the variety of ways the Chesapeake waters and surrounding lands are used will help us plan for reducing use conflicts in our coastal waters, maximizing efficiency, and enhancing environmental and economic productivity. Chesapeake Bay waters are used in many ways: commercial fishing, aquaculture, transport, habitat for wildlife, and recreation, among others. With new and expanding coastal and marine uses, as well as Maryland’s growing coastal population, the pressure is mounting to ensure that there is space for both traditional and new uses and that conflicts are minimized. Some mapped human use data exist, but Maryland has limited recreational water use data for the Chesapeake waters. Basic data on how we use our coastal waters was collected by inviting residents and experts to share their knowledge about recreational uses at workshops using geographical information systems technology.

本基线休闲使用数据将为马里兰州自然资源部（Maryland Department of Natural Resources）正在推进的各项规划工作提供决策依据，助力其完善公共通道设置、土地收购流程、远期发展规划及相关决策制定。通过收集切萨皮克湾水域及周边土地的各类使用场景相关数据，我们能够规划缓解近海水域使用冲突、提升资源利用效率、优化环境与经济综合产出的方案。切萨皮克湾水域的使用场景多元丰富，涵盖商业捕捞、水产养殖、交通运输、野生动物栖息地保护以及休闲娱乐等诸多领域。随着近岸与海洋使用需求持续新增与扩张，加之马里兰州沿海人口不断增长，保障传统与新兴使用需求均拥有可用空间、并最大限度降低使用冲突的压力与日俱增。目前虽已有部分已完成制图的人类活动使用数据，但马里兰州针对切萨皮克湾水域的休闲使用相关数据仍较为匮乏。本次研究依托地理信息系统（Geographical Information Systems）技术举办专题研讨会，邀请居民与专家分享其对该水域休闲使用场景的相关认知，以此收集近海水域使用的基础数据。