Research to Support Visitor Management at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Project ID: J8W07090014
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: University of Vermont and State Agriculture College
Fiscal Year: 2009
Initial Funding: $5,000
Total Funding: $130,986
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Social
National Park: Klondike Gold Rush NHP
Principal Investigator: Manning, Robert
Agreement Technical Representative: Dalle-Molle, Lois
Abstract: Overall purpose of project is to gather information that will help guide visitor management and resource stewardship in selected areas (Dyea and Chilkoot Trail) of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (KLGO). Special focus will be placed on commercial tours, NPS interpretive programs, and small groups of independent visitors. Study objectives will focus on these four elements: 1) collecting baseline data on visitor use, 2) identifying indicators of quality for the visitor experience, 3) identifying standards of quality for selected indicator variables, and 4) testing the acceptability of management strategies for visitor use to ensure that the standards of quality are maintained. The study will be conducted in four phases (this Task Agreement funds Phase 1). Phase 1: A scoping visit will be conducted at KLGO to meet with NPS staff and other stakeholders to help inform subsequent phases of the study, including a) familiarization with study sites, b) identification of visitor use management issues, and c) development of initial survey questionnaires and sampling plans. Phase 2: Visitor counts and related observations will be conducted along with visitor surveys to document current visitor use levels and patterns and identify indicators of the quality of the visitor experience. Phase 3: Visitor surveys will be conducted to identify a range of standards of quality for selected indicator variables identified in Phase 2 and to test the acceptability of management actions designed to ensure that standards of quality are maintained. Phase 4: Findings from previous phases of work will be synthesized into a project completion report, a workshop with park staff will be conducted, and papers will be prepared for publication.
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