Wildland Recreation

THE AUTHORITATIVE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN WILDLANDS

This third edition provides an updated and thorough examination of the ecological impacts of recreational use on wildlands and the best management practices to employ in places where recreation and preservation of natural conditions are important – and often conflicting – objectives.

Covering the latest research, this edition provides detailed information about the environmental changes that result from recreational use. It describes spatial patterns of impact and trends over time, and then explores the factors that determine the magnitude of impact, including the amount of use, the type and behavior of use, and the environmental durability. Numerous examples, drawn from parks and recreation areas around the world, give readers an insight into why certain areas are more heavily damaged than others, and demonstrate the techniques available to mitigate damage.

The book incorporates both the first-hand experience of the authors and an exhaustive review of the world’s literature on the subject. Boxes provide quick access to important material, and further resources are referenced in an extensive bibliography. Essential reading for all park and protected area management professionals, this book is also a useful textbook for upper division undergraduate and graduate students on recreation ecology and recreation management courses.

William Hammitt is Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, and Forest Resources, at Clemson University, South Carolina. His research specialties include the environmental psychology of privacy-solitude, place bonding, visual preferences within wildland settings, and user impacts in wildland recreation areas.

David Cole is Emeritus Scientist at Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Missoula, Montana. He has conducted research in recreation ecology for 40 years, particularly in wilderness areas in the United States.

Christopher Monz is Associate Professor of Recreation Resource Management in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University, Utah. He teaches courses in outdoor recreation management, ecological impacts of recreation, nature-based tourism, interpretation and outdoor education. His research specialty is recreation ecology where he has worked extensively on recreation disturbance to soil and plant communities.

Preface viii

About the companion website x

PART I Introduction 1

1 Wildland Recreation and Resource Impacts 3

1.1 What is Wildland Recreation? 3

1.2 What is Recreation Resource Impact? 6

1.3 Ecological Impacts of Wildland Recreation 6

1.4 Recreation Ecology 9

1.5 The Importance of Ecological Impacts 10

1.6 The Manager’s Role 12

1.7 Recreational Capacities 12

1.8 Themes of this Book 14

References 16

PART II IMPACTS TO RESOURCE COMPONENTS 19

2 Soil 21

2.1 Basic Soil Ecology 21

2.1.1 What is soil? 21

2.1.2 Soil texture and structure 21

2.1.3 Pore space 22

2.1.4 Bulk density 23

2.1.5 The soil profile 23

2.2 Effects of Recreation on Soils 24

2.2.1 Organic matter 25

2.2.2 Profile truncation 27

2.2.3 Soil compaction 28

2.2.4 Macroporosity and infiltration rate 29

2.2.5 Soil moisture 31

2.3 Soil Erosion 32

2.3.1 Erosion as a natural process 32

2.3.2 Recreation and erosion 33

2.3.3 Other soil impacts 35

2.3.4 Impacts associated with campfires 36

2.4 Summary 37

References 38

3 Vegetation 41

3.1 Vegetation Impact Parameters 41

3.1.1 Amount of vegetation 41

3.1.2 Species composition and other properties 43

3.1.3 Tree condition 43

3.2 Understanding Vegetation Impacts 43

3.2.1 Ground cover 44

3.2.2 Shrubs and saplings 51

3.2.3 Mature trees 51

3.3 Summary 53

References 53

4 Wildlife 56

4.1 Recreation Influences on Wildlife Responses 56

4.2 Wildlife Responses to Recreation 57

4.3 Human–Wildlife Interactions 58

4.4 Recreation–Wildlife Impacts 59

4.4.1 Animal disturbance and harassment 60

4.4.2 Harvest 62

4.4.3 Habitat modification 63

4.4.4 Alteration of behavior 64

4.4.5 Species displacement and reproduction level 66

4.4.6 Species composition and structure 67

4.5 Impacts on Wildlife Species 67

4.5.1 Large mammals 67

4.5.2 Medium-sized animals 73

4.5.3 Small animals 74

4.5.4 Fish 75

4.6 Summary 75

References 76

5 Water 80

5.1 Dispersed Recreation and Water Impacts 80

5.2 Basic Water Ecology 81

5.2.1 Water temperature and flow 82

5.2.2 Dissolved oxygen 83

5.2.3 Nutrient influx 83

5.2.4 Coliform bacteria and other pathogens 85

5.3 Backcountry Camping and Drinking Sources 88

5.4 Solid Waste and Foreign Materials 89

5.5 Suspended Matter and Turbidity 90

5.6 Summary 93

References 93

PART III Impact patterns and trends 97

6 Impact Patterns 99

6.1 Spatial Patterns of Impact 99

6.1.1 Impact zone 100

6.1.2 Intersite zone 101

6.1.3 Buffer zone 101

6.2 Impact Patterns at Multiple Spatial Scales 103

6.3 Temporal Patterns of Impacts 104

6.4 Recovery Rates of Resources 108

6.5 Summary 110

References 111

7 Trends in Wildland Recreation 113

7.1 Use and Impacts 113

7.2 Early Recent and Projected Outdoor Recreation Use 113

7.3 Trends in Wildland and Wilderness Use 117

7.4 Trends in Wildland and Wilderness Users 120

7.4.1 Conclusions drawn from trend synthesis 122

7.5 Trends in Wildland Impacts 124

7.5.1 Trail impact trends 124

7.5.2 Campsite impact trends 125

7.6 Summary 129

References 129

PART IV FACTORS AFFECTING IMPACTS 133

8 Environmental Durability 135

8.1 Vegetation 136

8.2 Soil Characteristics 141

8.3 Topographic Characteristics 143

8.4 Ecosystem Characteristics 144

8.4.1 Wildlife 145

8.5 Aquatic Environments 146

8.6 Season of Use 146

8.7 Map-Based Analysis Approaches 147

8.8 Summary 147

References 149

9 Visitor Use and Behavior 152

9.1 Amount of Use 153

9.2 Use Distribution 156

9.2.1 Type of use 157

9.3 Party size 157

9.4 User behavior 160

9.4.1 Minimum impact knowledge 160

9.4.2 Experience level 163

9.4.3 User motivation 164

9.4.4 Social group and structure 164

9.5 Place Bonding 165

9.6 Mode of Travel 167

9.6.1 Snowmobiles skis and snowboards 167

9.6.2 Motorboats personal watercraft and nonmotorized boats 168

9.6.3 Off-road vehicles mountain bikes stock and foot travel 169

9.7 Summary 173

References 174

PART V MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES 179

10 Strategies and Concepts of Management 181

10.1 General Principles 181

10.2 Planning for Management 183

10.2.1 Recreation opportunity spectrum 183

10.2.2 A visitor use management framework 184

10.3 Management of Problems 189

10.3.1 Strategic purpose 189

10.3.2 Types of undesirable visitor actions 191

10.3.3 Types of management approaches 191

References 194

11 Monitoring Recreational Impacts 196

11.1 Camp and Picnic Sites 196

11.1.1 Photographs 198

11.1.2 Condition class estimates 199

11.1.3 Multiple parameter systems 200

11.2 Trails and Roads 208

11.2.1 Samples at fixed locations 208

11.2.2 Rapid survey samples 210

11.2.3 Census techniques 211

11.2.4 Informal trails 212

11.2.5 Roads and off-road vehicle trails 214

11.3 Water Bodies 215

11.4 Wildlife 216

11.5 Developing a Monitoring System 216

References 217

12 Visitor Management 219

12.1 Use Limits 220

12.2 Length of Stay Limits 224

12.3 Dispersal of Use 225

12.4 Concentration of Use 231

12.5 Restrictions on Type of Use 232

12.6 Group Size Limits 234

12.7 Low Impact Education 236

12.7.1 Message content 236

12.7.2 Effective communication 238

12.8 Seasonal Limitations on Use 241

12.9 Campfire Management Alternatives 242

12.10 Visitor Information Needed to Manage Recreation Impacts 244

References 245

13 Site Management 248

13.1 Locating Use on Resistant Sites 249

13.2 Permanent Closures 253

13.3 Temporary Site Closures 254

13.4 Influencing Spatial Distribution of Use 256

13.5 Site Hardening and Shielding 260

13.6 Rehabilitation of Closed Sites 270

References 275

14 Air Sound and Technology: New Issues for Recreation Ecology 277

14.1 Air Quality 277

14.1.1 Within-park emissions 278

14.1.2 Importance of air pollution 280

14.1.3 Night sky light visibility 283

14.1.4 Summary and solutions 284

14.2 Natural Soundscapes 284

14.2.1 Understanding soundscapes and key ecological concerns 286

14.2.2 Impacts of noise on visitor experiences in wildlands 288

14.2.3 Assessment and monitoring of soundscapes 290

14.2.4 Summary and solutions 291

14.3 Technology 291

14.3.1 Improved technology 291

14.3.2 New recreational activities 292

14.3.3 Electronic technology 293

14.3.4 Summary and solutions 295

References 295

PART VI Conclusion 297

15 A Lasting Impact 299

15.1 Wildland Recreation and Resource Impacts: Necessities 299

15.2 Understanding the Resource 300

15.3 Environment and Visitor Influences 300

15.4 Some Management Tools 301

15.5 New Issues and Knowledge 302

15.6 Lasting into the Future 303

References 305

Index 306

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