Managing outdoor recreation : case studies in the national parks

258 Pages·2012·5.097 MB·English

by  Robert E and Manning, Laura E Anderson

Managing Outdoor Recreation
Case Studies in the National Parks
To the National Park Service—thanks for all your
good work for parks and outdoor recreation.
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
CABI is a trading name of CAB International
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© R.E. Manning and L.E. Anderson 2012. All rights reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronically, mechanically, by photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the copyright owners.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library,
London, UK.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Manning, Robert E., 1946-
Managing outdoor recreation : case studies in the national parks /
Robert E. Manning, Laura E. Anderson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-84593-931-1 (hardback: alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-78064-187-4
(pbk. : alk. paper)
1. National parks and reserves--United States--Management--Case studies.
2. Outdoor recreation--United States--Management--Case studies. I. Anderson,
Laura E. II. Title.
SB482.A4M264 2012
333.70973--dc23
2012009992
ISBN-13: 978 1 84593 931 1 (hbk)
978 1 78064 187 4 (pbk)
Commissioning editor: Claire Parfitt
Editorial assistant: Alexandra Lainsbury
Production editor: Shankari Wilford
Typeset by SPi, Pondicherry, India
Printed and bound by Gutenberg Press Limited, Tarxien, Malta
Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
PART I MANAGING OUTDOOR RECREATION
1 Parks and Outdoor Recreation 3
Conceptual Frameworks 3
The dual mission of parks 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 9
2 Impacts of Outdoor Recreation 10
Impacts to Park Resources 10
Soil 11
Vegetation 12
Water 12
Wildlife 13
Air 13
Soundscape 14
Night sky 14
Historical/cultural resources 14
Impacts to the Visitor Experience 15
Crowding 15
Confl ict 15
Depreciative behavior 16
Impacts to Facilities/Services 16
Attraction sites 16
v
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
Classifi cation 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
Infl uencing 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
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 79
10 Turning Off the Lights at Chaco 81
Introduction 81
Chaco Culture National Historical Park 82
Managing Night Skies above Chaco Canyon 82
Further Reading 84
11 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 89
12 Winning the Lottery on the Colorado River 90
Introduction 90
Colorado River Management Plan 91
Intensive Use Demands Intensive Management 94
Further Reading 94
13 The Sounds of Silence in Muir Woods 95
Introduction 95
Muir Woods National Monument 96
Managing the “Soundscape” of Muir Woods 96
Further Reading 98
14 Stewarding America’s Antiquities at Mesa Verde 99
Introduction 99
Mesa Verde National Park 100
Managing Mesa Verde 101
Further Reading 102
15 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
viii Contents
16 Preventing the Petrifi ed Forest from Disappearing 107
Introduction 107
Petrifi ed Forest National Park 108
Managing (and Minimizing) Theft of Petrifi ed Wood 109
Further Reading 110
17 Bear Etiquette in Katmai 112
Introduction 112
Katmai National Park and Preserve 112
Managing Visitors and Bears at Brooks River Area 114
Further Reading 115
18 Don’t Pick Up Aquatic Hitchhikers in Voyageurs 117
Introduction 117
Voyageurs National Park 117
Managing Voyageurs’ Water Resources 118
Further Reading 120
19 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 127
20 Doing the Zion Shuttle 128
Introduction 128
Zion National Park 128
Managing Cars at Zion National Park 129
Further Reading 131
21 The Buzz from Above at Grand Canyon 132
Introduction 132
Managing Overfl ights in Grand Canyon National Park 134
Further Reading 135
22 Managing Monuments and Memorials at the National Mall 136
Introduction 136
National Mall & Memorial Parks 137
Managing the National Mall 137
Further Reading 140
23 The Winter Wonderland of Yellowstone 141
Introduction 141
Yellowstone National Park 143
Managing Winter Visitation in Yellowstone 143
Further Reading 144
24 “Alternative Transportation” at Grand Teton 146
Introduction 146
Grand Teton National Park 147
Promoting Alternative Travel in Grand Teton 148
Further Reading 149
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 management strategies can 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 identifi ed 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