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Current Research Projects

An Assessment of the Extent and Condition of Informal Trails in the Atigun George Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Researcher(s): Dusty Vaughn, Dr. Jeffrey L. Marion (Virginia Tech) and Dr. Christopher A. Monz
Summary: This study has three objectives:
  • Objective 1: Investigate alternative methods for monitoring the number, distribution, and condition of informal (visitor-created) trails within the Atigun George.
  • Objective 2: In consultation with park staff, develop, pilot test, and refine cost-effective and scientifically defensible trail monitoring procedures that are fully integrated with the Arctic Refuge’s Geographic Information System.
  • Objective 3: Prepare a technical report that compiles and presents research results and their management implications.
 
 

Baseline Information for Outfitter Needs Assessments in U.S. Forest Service Region 4

Researcher(s): Taral Hull, Steven W. Burr, and Douglas Reiter
Summary: Outfitters and guides provide the opportunity for a chaperoned recreation experience that may be desired or needed by the visitor for a variety of reasons, such as the lack of specialized equipment or knowledge. Outfitters provide these services as an extension of the U.S. Forest Service mission and outfitting has become an important segment of visitor days for the visitor, agency, resources, and the economy.
The purpose of this research is to provide National Forests in Region 4 with baseline information on current and potential uses of National Forest Lands. This research will also provide a spectrum of outfitter need for each activity identified based on safety concerns, skills needed, equipment needed, level of knowledge necessary, and accessibility issues. This information will help individual forests determine the need for new requests for special use permits by outfitters and guides.
 
The objectives for this research are to:
  1. Inventory outfitter permits granted in each forest in the Northern Region through analysis of the Special Use Data Base provided by Region 4.
  2. Determine the current levels of use by outfitted activity and measure permitted use compared with actual use.
  3. Analyze U.S. and region-wide trends in emerging recreation activities (if available) through interviews with recreation managers, outfitters, sporting good store managers, along with a review of the literature. This will provide an idea of what future needs for outfitting.
  4. For each activity identified, determine the relative need for an outfitter based on safety concerns, agency resource concerns, skills needed, equipment needed, level of knowledge necessary, and accessibility issues.
 
 

Bear River Oneida Narrows Recreation Use and Preference Study

Researcher(s): Douglas Reiter, Steven W. Burr, Taral Hull, and David Wilson
Summary: The purpose of the study was to determine existing outdoor recreation activities and patterns and evaluate potential changes due to proposed construction of Bear River Narrows dam and reservoir. The proposed project would involve construction of a new dam and reservoir downstream from the existing Oneida Reservoir located about 15 miles northeast of Franklin, Idaho. Approximately 4.5 miles of the Bear River and surrounding adjacent lands would be covered by waters impounded by the proposed dam.
 
Visitor intercept interviews were conducted at the developed as well as dispersed sites at Oneida Reservoir, Bear River Narrows, and downstream to Highway 34 over a one year season. The survey questions were designed with four goals in mind:
  1. Collect baseline data of visitor characteristics and use patterns for the purposes of determining current use.
  2. Collect visitor expectation and satisfaction data. This will also be useful for long-term monitoring and helping resource managers understand visitor interests and preferences.
  3. Collect data on the relationship between area tourism and hydroelectric dam and reservoir development.
  4. Collect data on displacement of current users that would result from construction of a hydroelectric dam and reservoir.
 
To meet these objectives, a survey of randomly selected visitors was conducted that addresses five primary research questions:
  1. What are the primary visitor and use characteristics associated with recreation in study locations?
  2. How do the presence and condition of biophysical and managerial resources affect the experience and satisfaction of visitors to the dispersed and developed areas?
  3. How will potential changes to those resources as the result of water impoundment affect recreation use in the area?
  4. What preferences do visitors have of resource management?
  5. How much money are visitors and locals spending to recreate in the study area?
 
 

Colorado State-Wide Wilderness Assessment

Researcher(s): Dusty Vaughn, Dr. David Cole (Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, USDA Forest Service), and Dr. Christopher A. Monz
Summary: To facilitate development of a large-scale strategic vision for Colorado wilderness, an assessment is of all Wilderness Areas within the state is being conducted. This will involve conducting research, assessing conditions and compiling data sufficient to describe the current situation and forecast future trends and needs that affect all wilderness lands in Colorado. Much of this will be in the form of maps. The objective of the research described in this program of work is to develop a substantial portion of the information needed for this assessment. Specifically the following five types of information will be compiled and mapped:
  • Maps of desired and/or current Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classes,
  • Maps of places that are out of compliance with social or environmental standards and places that have serious system trail problems or problems with user-created trails,
  • Maps of campsites and their condition,
  • Maps of recreational visitation, and
  • Maps of the proximity and/or pressure on wilderness posed by ease of access and/or population density.
 
 

The Language of Nature: Children, Nature, and Decision Making

Researcher(s): Nathaniel M. Millard and Steven W. Burr
Summary: This exploratory research looks at the connections between early experiences in nature, language, and ethical/moral development.  Surveying 300 high school juniors and seniors and interviewing 20 life-long residents from South San Luis Obispo County, California, this research attempts to identify patterns of language use, environmental attitudes and behaviors, and early childhood experiences outside.  The data is being used to identify past recreational activities and places where they occur, along with potential substitutes within the region. This will be used to identify patterns of behavior possibly associated with place and/or activity, and to develop curriculum for local school districts and their educational partners.  This research attempts to connect language use, richness, and complexity to the decision making process. This research is taking part in collaboration with the Central Coast Salmon Enhancement Project and the South County Historical Society of San Luis Obispo County, California.
 
 

Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site Appalachian Trail Degradation Study

Researcher(s): Dusty Vaughn, Dr. Jeffrey L. Marion (Virginia Tech) and Dr. Christopher A. Monz
Summary: This study will determine the biophysical condition of the Appalachian Trail, associated side trails and the trail corridor within a specified area of the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site. The characteristics of the trail tread and the condition of soil and vegetation in and adjacent to the trail will be assessed using methodologies common to foot trail condition studies. The study will compare conditions in the affected area with control areas of similar topography and trail location characteristics. Visitor use estimates will also be determined on all Superfund Site trails and control area trails included in the study.
 
  

Recreation Resource Condition and the Visitor Experience at Kenai Fjords National Park

Researcher(s): Kelly Goonan and Christopher A. Monz
Summary: This program of research integrates both the ecological and social/experiential dimensions of outdoor recreation within a management context. Researchers are using GPS-based technology to examine the extent and severity of impacts to recreation resources, particularly impacts to vegetation and soils, caused by boating and camping activities within the backcountry of Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. Methods used in the resource assessment will contribute to a long-term program of campsite condition monitoring at the park. Researchers are also exploring factors that contribute to determining the quality of a visitor’s experience at the park. By conducting surveys of campers and recreational boaters, researchers hope to identify indicators of quality for the recreation experience and associated standards of quality.
 
 

Recreation Resource Impacts in the Bear Lake Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park: Assessment of Resource Conditions and Visitor Perceptions

Researcher(s): Ashley D'Antonio and Christopher A. Monz
Summary: This research project involves both recreation ecology work and aspects of human dimensions of natural resources.  Using GPS-based technology, researchers are examining the extent and intensity of recreation resource impacts - particularly those related to vegetation and soil - caused by off-trail use in the Bear Lake Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Researchers are also exploring visitor perceptions of recreation resource impacts. By conducting exit surveys of visitors to the Bear Lake Corridor, researchers hope to gain knowledge about the specific types of ecological impacts that visitors are sensitive to, discover what visitor characteristics influence visitor perceptions, and gain an understanding of how visitor characteristics influence perceptions. 
 
 

Updated 11/10/09