ABSTRACT
A most important requirement of a rational policy with respect to provision of outdoor recreation opportunities is some forecast of the future demand for recreation. Such predictions are necessary for a number of reasons. A projection of demand may indicate the need for additional recreation areas in the future. If land area and water supplies are to be available for outdoor recreation in the future, they might better be reserved while they are yet available if greatly increased costs and political turmoil are to be avoided. They need to be reserved in advance of urgent needs, before the area is deeply committed to other uses from which it would be expensive or impossible to retrieve it. Otherwise, the areas may be pre-empted for other uses.
