Managing Outdoor Recreation

Transcription

1 Managing Outdoor Recreation Case Studies in the National Parks Robert E. Manning and Laura E. Anderson Park Studies Laboratory Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont, USA

2 Contents Preface Acknowledgements xi xiii PART I MANAGING OUTDOOR RECREATION 1 Parks and Outdoor Recreation Conceptual Frameworks 3 The dual mission ofparks 4 Common property resources 4 Carrying capacity 5 Limits of acceptable change 5 Indicators and standards of quality 6 Threefold framework 7 Recreation opportunity spectrum 7 An Outdoor Recreation Management Framework 8 Managing Outdoor Recreation Impacts of Outdoor Recreation 10 Impacts to Park Resources 10 Soil 11 Vegetation 12 Water 12 Wildlife Air SoundScape 14 Night sky 14 Historical/cultural resources 14 Impacts to the Visitor Experience 15 Crowding 15 Conflict 15 Depreciative behavior 16 Impacts to Facilities/Services 16 Attraction sites v

3 vi Contents Trails 17 Campgrounds/campsites 17 Roads/parking areas 18 Interpretive facilities/programs 19 Conclusion 19 3 Outdoor Recreation Management Practices 20 Management Strategies 20 Management Tactics or Practices 23 Classification of Problem Behaviors 25 Theories of Moral Development 25 Communication Theory 27 Conclusion 27 4 Evaluating Outdoor Recreation Management Practices 28 Information and Education 28 Recreation use patterns 28 Enhancing visitor knowledge 29 Influencing visitor attitudes 32 Depreciative behavior 32 Related studies 33 Guidelines for using information and education 34 Use Rationing and Allocation 35 Five management practices 35 Fairness 38 Effectiveness 39 Pricing 40 Acceptability 42 Discrimination 42 Differential pricing 43 Principles of pricing 43 Rules and Regulations 43 Law Enforcement 45 Zoning 46 Facility Development, Site Design, and Maintenance 47 Conclusion 48 5 Applying Outdoor Recreation Management Practices 49 Management Matrices 49 Observations on the Management Matrices and Appendices 55 Case Studies 56 PART II CASE STUDIES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS 6 Treading Lightly on Acadia 63 Introduction 63 Acadia National Park 64 Managing Hiking in Acadia National Park 64 Further Reading 66 7 Building a Better Campsite Along the Appalachian Trail 67 Introduction 67 Appalachian National Scenic Trail 67

4 Contents vii Managing Camping along the Appalachian Trail 68 Further Reading 70 8 How Many Visitors is Too Many at Arches? 71 Introduction 71 Arches National Park 72 Measuring and Managing Carrying Capacity 73 Further Reading 75 9 Protecting Biscayne's Underwater Treasures 76 Introduction 76 Biscayne National Park 77 Managing Recreational Boating at Biscayne 78 Further Reading Turning Off the Lights at Chaco 81 Introduction 81 Chaco Culture National Historical Park 82 Managing Night Skies above Chaco Canyon 82 Further Reading Busing Among the Grizzlies at Denali 85 Introduction 85 Denali National Park and Preserve 85 The Denali Park Road 86 The Denali Park Wilderness 87 Wildlife as a Park Indicator 88 Further Reading Winning the Lottery on the Colorado River 90 Introduction 90 Colorado River Management Plan 91 Intensive Use Demands Intensive Management 94 Further Reading The Sounds of Silence in Muir Woods 95 Introduction 95 Muir Woods National Monument 96 Managing the "Soundscape" of Muir Woods 96 Further Reading Stewarding America's Antiquities at Mesa Verde 99 Introduction 99 Mesa Verde National Park 100 Managing Mesa Verde 101 Further Reading What Goes Up Mt Whitney Must Come Down 103 Introduction 103 Sequoia National Park and the Inyo National Forest 104 Managing Recreational Use on Mt Whitney 104 Further Reading 106

5 viii Contents 16 Preventing the Petrified Forest from Disappearing 107 Introduction 107 Petrified Forest National Park 108 Managing (and Minimizing) Theft of Petrified Wood 109 Further Reading Bear Etiquette in Katmai 112 Introduction 112 Katmai National Park and Preserve 112 Managing Visitors and Bears at Brooks River Area 114 Further Reading Don't Pick Up Aquatic Hitchhikers in Voyageurs 117 Introduction 117 Voyageurs National Park 117 Managing Voyageurs' Water Resources 118 Further Reading A Mountain with Handrails at Yosemite 122 Introduction 122 Yosemite National Park and Half Dome 123 Studying and Managing Use of Half Dome 124 This Page is Intentionally Left Blank 126 Further Reading Doing the Zion Shuttle 128 Introduction 128 Zion National Park 128 Managing Cars at Zion National Park 129 Further Reading The Buzz from Above at Grand Canyon 132 Introduction 132 Managing Overflights in Grand Canyon National Park 134 Further Reading Managing Monuments and Memorials at the National Mall 136 Introduction 136 National Mall & Memorial Parks 137 Managing the National Mall 137 Further Reading The Winter Wonderland of Yellowstone 141 Introduction 141 Yellowstone National Park 143 Managing Winter Visitation in Yellowstone 143 Further Reading "Alternative Transportation" at Grand Teton 146 Introduction 146 Grand Teton National Park 147 Promoting Alternative Travel in Grand Teton 148 Further Reading 149

6 Contents ix 25 "No Bad Trip in Glacier" 150 Introduction 150 Glacier National Park 151 Managing Backcountry Camping in Glacier 151 Further Reading 154 PART III CONCLUSIONS 26 Lessons Learned 157 Principles of Managing Outdoor Recreation 158 Principle 1: Parks and related outdoor recreation areas must be managed in ways that provide outdoor recreation opportunities but also protect park resources and the quality of the visitor experience 158 Principle 2: Outdoor recreation management should be guided by a management-by-objectives framework 159 Principle 3: Outdoor recreation management is an iterative, adaptive process 160 Principle 4: Outdoor recreation should be managed within a threefold framework of concerns: resources, experiences, and management 160 Principle 5: The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum should be used to help ensure diversity in outdoor recreation opportunities 160 Principle 6: Outdoor recreation can impact parks and related areas in many ways, including park resources, visitor experiences, and park facilities and services 161 Principle 7: Outdoor recreation can be managed using four basic strategies 162 Principle 8: Outdoor recreation can be managed using six basic categories of management tactics or practices 162 Principle 9: Outdoor recreation management problems can be addressed by more than one management strategy or practice 163 Principle 10: Outdoor recreation management strategies and practices can address multiple problems 164 Principle 11: Outdoor recreation management practices can be used to advance more than one management strategy 164 Principle 12: Outdoor recreation can management strategies be advanced by more than one management practice 165 Principle 13: Where possible, a reinforcing program of outdoor recreation management practices should be used 165 Principle 14: Managers should think systematically, comprehensively, and creatively about the range of practices that might be used to manage outdoor recreation 166 Principle 15: Outdoor recreation management practices should not be used simply because they are familiar or administratively expedient 166 Principle 16: Potential unintended and undesirable consequences of outdoor recreation management practices should be identified and avoided 166 Principle 17: Good information is needed to manage outdoor recreation effectively 167 Principle 18: Management of outdoor recreation should be as informed as possible by understanding the cause of the impact or problem 167 Principle 19: Outdoor recreation management decisions should be considered within the context of larger geographic scales 168 Principle 20: Outdoor recreation management should focus on the impacts of recreation use, not use itself 168

7 X Contents Principle 21: Limiting use is generally a last management option in outdoor recreation 169 Principle 22: Limiting or rationing outdoor recreation use requires consideration of how limited opportunities for use will be allocated 169 Principle 23: Indirect outdoor recreation management practices are generally preferred over direct management practices 170 Principle 24: Intensive outdoor recreation use usually demands intensive management 170 Principle 25: When and where warranted, outdoor recreation management should be designed to reach visitors before they arrive at parks and outdoor recreation areas 171 Principle 26: The list of outdoor recreation activities that need management consideration continues to evolve and expand 171 Principle 27: The list of park and outdoor recreation "resources" that need protection continues to evolve and expand 171 Principle 28: Variations in outdoor recreation management practices continue to evolve and expand 172 Principle 29: Outdoor recreation management can impact the quality of the visitor experience both positively and negatively 172 Principle 30: Caution should be used when dispersing visitor use as an outdoor recreation management practice 173 Principle 31: Partnerships between park and related outdoor recreation management agencies and other groups and entities can be helpful in managing outdoor recreation 173 Principle 32: Responsibility for managing outdoor recreation should be shared j ointly by managers and researchers 174 Principle 33: Quality in outdoor recreation is most appropriately defined as the degree to which recreation opportunities meet the objectives for which they are managed 174 Principle 34: Management of outdoor recreation should be conducted proactively, not reactively 175 Principle 35: Managers must exercise their professional judgment in outdoor recreation management 175 Principle 36: A strong program of management is vital to mamtaining the quality of parks and outdoor recreation 176 Conclusion 176 APPENDIX A MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Appendix Al Management Practices for Limiting Use 181 Appendix A2 Management Practices for Increasing Supply 193 Appendix A3 Management Practices for Reducing the Impact of Use 200 Appendix A4 Management Practices for Hardening Resources and the Visitor Experience 211 APPENDIX B TEACHING AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS Bibliography 221 Index 235