The 34,000 acre Longleaf Ridge Special Area (LRSA) located in the Angelina National Forest is the westernmost example of a longleaf pine savanna community. The LRSA is bounded on the west by Upland Island Wilderness, on the north by Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the largest water body in Texas, and on the south by the Neches River, a potential Scenic River. It currently contains 3 developed USFS recreation areas and the ruins of the Aldridge Sawmill, a National Historic Landmark. Ecologically, the area is one of the most diverse communities in Texas. Due to its abundant natural and historical resources, numerous outdoor recreation opportunities exist.

Since more and more governmental agencies have invested in building geospatial databases. It is possible for planners to do analysis and design with current data at a minimum cost. In this study, GIS is used for a forest recreation plan on LRSA. Most of the geospatial data comes from public entities. Based on the location of the study area, demand analysis for forest recreation was obtained from demographic and socioeconomic data. Existing use surveys suggests facilities needed in site design. The existing supply of facilities and infrastructure were inventoried and classified. To minimize impacts from recreation development, overlay analysis were executed in GIS based on layers of biophysical features including soil, hydrology, vegetation, elevation, and transportation. Finally, significantly cultural and natural history sites were mapped and integrated into GIS to outline an interpretation program.