Central Wasatch Visitor Use Study

Since 1967, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has surveyed anglers approximately every 5 years to assess angler activity in Utah. The Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism has worked closely with the DWR to develop an online survey instr

Managing millions of visitors can be tough, but managing those folks' campers, trucks, SUVs and electric-hybrid minis adds an extra challenge. The need to accommodate an armada of vehicles in a 'natural' space can strain park infrastructure to the breakin

Davis county residents’ attitudes and awareness about the Great Salt Lake and its recreation/tourism potential.

In recently published research, IORT scientists examine the effect of this management intervention on visitor behavior at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Some visitors were voluntarily tracked with GPS throughout their visit to the Park. If they w

IORT researchers observed crowds outside the visitor center at Arches National Park to record how many encounters within six feet individuals had with others outside their group. They found that while just over 60 percent of visitors wore masks, most grou

As land managers move to using electronic data as a cost-effective way to figure out who is visiting parks and protected areas, some questions remain: How accurately does geotagged data reflect visitors compared to traditional on-the-ground counts?

Agritourism development may not be an economic panacea for all ag-operators, it can be a vital strategy for diversifying and boosting profits, especially for smaller farms and ranches. Such efforts not only contribute to enabling ag-operators to diversify

A multi-state project designed to provide information and resources to assist ag-operators in agritourism development. We developed seven fact sheets and checklists based on a review and assessment of existing web-based resources and input from farmers an

Utah has one of the highest concentrations of protected land in the world, with millions of people hiking, driving and visiting the state's parks, forests, and recreation areas every year. A high amount of use requires a high level of management to keep t

Backcountry avalanche accidents occur far from organized avalanche rescue resources. While avalanche prevention through safe travel protocol is the ultimate goal, avalanche accidents do occur. The chances of survival decrease very rapidly with time, reach

Guidelines for how to strengthen community relationships through festivals and special events.

A study of the visitors to heritage sites within the Bear River Heritage Area. The research reports on visitor demographics and an importance-performance analysis.

An evaluation of heritage tourists within the Bear River Heritage Area, focusing on gathering baseline data on visitor demographics and characteristics as well as satisfaction with their experiences at sites throughout the BRHA.

New research takes a retrospective look at the influence of the monument designation on outdoor recreation and its related industries in San Juan County, Utah. Using geotagged photos from social media sites, and county-level economic indicators, analysis

An assessment of visitors to the 2001 Great Salt Lake Bird Festival.

Time spent in nature can help us feel happier and healthier, but it's not just from the fresh air and exercise. All of our senses are involved in the experience—sight, touch, smells and sound. In a world of changing natural environments, scientists are wo

A paper intended to improve education about the bear-safe practices for handling of food and garbage, actions that directly influence the occurrence and nature of bear conflicts with people.

The Bureau of Land Management has a tough job: to manage 248 million acres of lands for multiple, often conflicting uses. Climate change is making this task more difficult, often exacerbating conflicts or creating new ones.

A report comparing the results of a 2006 telephone survey of registered boaters in Utah with the results of surveys from 1989, 1994, and 1999.

An analysis of the type and number of recreational boaters using waterbodies in Utah State Parks.

"An survey to see how residents living near the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The survey also identified problems associated with the proximity and location of the trail in relation to residents’ property."

With the NRCA program, Brunson and his team help managers pinpoint important natural resources and canary-in-the-mine indicators and provide a science-based look at conditions on each unit – what resources seems to be in good shape, and which are potentia

An analysis of rural leaders’ perceptions of the tourism industry in San Juan County, Utah.

The collection of baseline data concerning front country recreation use and visitor characteristics, images, and perceptions of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

An analysis of data collected from the Outdoor Recreation Center backcountry yurt rental program at Utah State University during the 2008 spring semester. This study was prompted by a number of discussions between researchers, avid backcountry non-motoriz

A science-based strategic communication program to increase the use of non-lead ammunition among hunters in the condor range of Utah. The work involves collecting data from Utah hunters to determine what drives or hinders the use of non-lead ammunition.

Visitor use and enjoyment of the city of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks is related to the visible landscape features at different locations. In this study, we investigate how this relationship varies across the landscape, helping managers' ongoin

COVID-19 impacted the lives of Utahns, changing the way they worked, socialized, and recreated. New data suggests that for many of the state’s residents, the new guidelines have not stopped them from getting outside and enjoying local parks, greenways, an

A visitor use survey designed to obtain baseline data regarding recreational use of the Factory Butte area tol enable managers to evaluate means of disseminating information about closed and open areas of the SRMA.

Results of a Collaborative Learning Workshop regarding recreational travel management planning on the Soda Springs and Montpelier Districts of the Caribou National Forest. The workshop was facilitated by IORT, and hosted by Monsanto Corporation.

A short video from Emily Wilkins describes research exploring how weather affects National Park Visitor Movement.

How can drones be used to monitor recreation impacts in protected areas? IORT Fellow Chris Monz tested the technology in an area where new tourist facilities were being established in a national park in Norway.

A long-term monitoring protocol to provide land managers and field technicians with a tool kit to measure the seasonal emission of dust from unpaved road surfaces.

A statewide phone survey of 2,590 adults in Utah's seven planning districts about their opinions on the values and benefits of recreational trails, their awareness and use of trails, and their perception of needs and preferences related to trails in the s

"Agritourism is not without its risks. One potential challenge in starting an agritourism business, and successfully managing it, is the issue of liability. An agritourism owner or operator is liable and legally responsible for the safety and well-being o

An assessment of the public’s knowledge of, and values for, wetlands. The study was used to guide the development of interpretive messages for both current wetlands visitors and the general public.

A visitor use study of the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.

The exclusionary manner in which designation of natural protected areas occurs often results in detrimental impacts for the residents and produces contentious relations between managers and local residents. This report begins to fill a research void by ex

A survey of visitors to Antelope Island State Park intended to measure visitors' satisfactions, preferences, and concerns regarding their experiences at Antelope Island and management actions taken at the park.

Strategies used by rural communities to successfully cope with concerns related to rapid growth or stagnation and decline. We looked at what communities have done to make recreation and tourism compatible with other economic activities, and what tactics t

The Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG) requested support for their response to the socioeconomic impact analysis in the BLM Richfield Field Office proposed Resource Management Plan. This study reviews and recommneds specific impact areas that t

A statewide telephone survey regarding State Park visitation and satisfaction, park protection, funding for park improvements, and the acquisition and sale of State Park lands.

Federal regulations require that commercial outfitters on National Forest lands be authorized through a Special Use Permit (SUP), and a needs assessment is required for this authorization in order to determine the public need for a service to aid visitors

Impacts of recreation may seem trivial at the individual level, but when these impacts are multiplied by the volume of visitation to recreation settings and repeated over time, they can interact with each other in complicated ways. This study set out to e

A mail survey designed to obtain information about off-highway vehicle users' demographics, experiences (both broadly and locally), motivations, management preferences, economic preferences, and trip characteristics.

A survey of boaters using visiting Deer Creek, Jordanelle, Willard Bay, and East Canyon reservoirs.

An investigation into recreational water use issues and regional planning on Utah's lakes and reservoirs. Analysis included interviews of managers of recreational water bodies, regional meetings with state and federal employees knowledgeable about recreat