A Master Plan is a strategic planned land-use management document that guides the management and development of all project recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of a project.

• It is developed, updated or revised to cover changing conditions at the project.

• Covers broad management objectives and land classification on project lands whether managed by USACE or others.

• Ensures compliance with federal law, policy and regulation applicable to environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation management.

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires public involvement.

Plans provide consistency in a world of frequently changing leadership, and:

• Help direct project use and development to support environmental sustainability and compatible outdoor recreation.

• Position the project to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities.

• Support projects under intense pressure of competing interests, and 

• Prevent uninformed reactions to proposals for short-term economic gain that are incompatible with project missions.

The primary goals are to prescribe an overall land-use management plan, resource objectives, and associated design and management concepts. Goals include:

• Providing best management practices that can respond to regional needs, resource capabilities and suitabilities, and expressed public interests consistent with authorized project purposes.

• Providing public outdoor recreation opportunities that support project purposes and public demands created by the project itself while sustaining project natural resources.

• Protecting and managing project natural and cultural resources through sustainable environmental stewardship programs.

• Recognizing the particular qualities, characteristics and potentials of the project, and 

• Providing consistency and compatibility with national objectives, and other state and regional goals and programs.