A Visitor Survey to Support Wilderness Stewardship Planning at Olympic National Park
Project ID: J8W07110007
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: University of Vermont and State Agriculture College
Fiscal Year: 2011
Initial Funding: $55,224
Total Funding: $55,224
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Social
National Park: Olympic National Park
Principal Investigator: Manning, Robert
Agreement Technical Representative: Tucker, Teri
Abstract: Olympic National Park (OLYM) is preparing a Wilderness Stewardship Plan to provide long-term direction and guidance for protecting wilderness character and resources within the park. Approximately 95% of the park is designated wilderness pursuant to the 1964 Wilderness Act. Knowledge of visitor use within the Olympic Wilderness is needed to inform development of the Wilderness Stewardship Plan. This is a collaborative project to conduct a visitor survey to provide baseline information on wilderness use and users. Information collected will include identification of recreation activities, location and timing of use, motivations, and socio-economic characteristics of visitors. This information will help to establish indicators and standards of quality for wilderness experience at OLYM. The survey will provide a mechanism for visitors to report their attitudes toward a variety of wilderness management issues. The public purpose of the project is to provide greater understanding of visitor use and experience to help inform long-term management of designated wilderness within OLYM. This information is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Wilderness Act of 1964 which states that wilderness areas “shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and so as to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness.” In addition, this project supports the research and educational mission of UVM and the academic department mission to provide leadership in social science studies.
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