Studies in Outdoor Recreation: Search and Research for Satisfaction

Appendix A: Tables 6-1 and 6-2

345 Appendix A Tables 6-1 and 6-2 346 STUDIES IN OUTDOOR RECREATION Table 6-1. Indicators of quality for parks and outdoor recreation areas Study Area Respondents Indicator Merigliano 1990 Wilderness Wilderness managers and scientists • Number of campsites above an acceptable impact index • Percent of visitors who report seeing wildlife • Range condition and trend • Air visibility—extinction coefficient or visual range • Litter quantity—number of pieces of litter per campsite or per trail mile; number of pounds of garbage packed out each season • Number of manager-created structures • Number of signs per trail mile • Trail condition—length of multiple trails or number of trail miles with unacceptable problems to visitors (e.g., depth exceeding 8 inches, year-round muddiness) • Length of trail in areas managed as trailless • Fecal coliform/fecal streptococci ratio (drinking water quality) • Number of occupied campsites within sight or sound of each other or visitor report of number of groups camped within sight or sound • Number of violations of no-trace regulations • Percent of groups carrying a stove (not using a campfire) • Number of occurrences of unburied human feces • Number of occurrences of motorized noise per day • Percent of season wilderness rangers are out patrolling the area • Number of regulations that limit visitor use or restrict travel • Number of regulatory signs posted beyond trailhead Shindler and B. Shelby 1992 Wilderness campsites Members of five interest groups • Amount of bare ground • Size and appearance of fire rings • Distance from trail • Screening from other sites • Out of sight/sound of other sites • Evidence of litter • View of scenery • Available firewood • Sheltered from weather • Dry and well drained • Water for aesthetic reasons • Flat place for sleeping • Close to good fishing • Logs and rocks for seating • Close to drinking/cooking water INDICATORS AND STANDARDS OF QUALITY (TABLES) 347 Study Area Respondents Indicator Whittaker 1992 Five Alaska rivers Floaters, motorboaters • Litter • Signs of use • Campsite competition • Fishing competition • Launch congestion • River encounters • Camp encounters • Powerboat use • Airboat use • Rafting/canoeing use • Airplane landings • Helicopter landings • ORV use • Hazard signs • Interpretive signs • Public use cabins • Private cabins • Concessions • Long-term camps Roggenbuck et al. 1993 Four wilderness areas Visitors • Amount of litter I see • Number of trees around campsite that have been damaged by people • Amount of noise associated with human activities within the wilderness • Amount of man-made noise originating from outside the wilderness • Number of wild animals I see • Amount of vegetation loss and bare ground around a campsite • Number of horse groups that camp within sight or sound of my campsite • Number of hiker groups that camp within sight or sound of my campsite • Number of horse groups that travel past my campsite while I am there • Number of campfire rings that people have made • Number of hiker groups that walk past my campsite • Number of large groups that I see along the trails • Number of horse groups I see along the trails in a day • Percent of time other people are in sight when I’m on the trail • Visibility of lights originating from outside the wilderness • Total number of people I see hiking along the trail • Number of groups of hikers I see along the trail • Amount of time I spend traveling on old roads in the wilderness • Number of miles of gravel road I travel to get to the wilderness 348 STUDIES IN OUTDOOR RECREATION Study Area Respondents Indicator Shafer and Hammitt 1994 Cohutta Wilderness, GA Visitors • The total amount of time that your party has in an area without seeing or hearing anyone else • The amount of restriction management places on where you may travel in the area • The number of permanent structures placed by management in the wilderness • Seeing an unusual type of plant • The amount of restriction management places on where you may camp in an area • The level of difficulty required to obtain an overnight permit • The number of vehicles you see at the trailhead • The number of fire rings found in a campsite • The number of days in a row you are able to stay in the wilderness on a given trip • The number of signs designating locations in the wilderness • The number of groups you pass during the day while traveling • Having signs placed by wilderness managers which state regulations about wilderness • The amount of wilderness which does not have trails in it • The distance of campfires from trailheads • The number of rangers you see in the...