IMPROVING VISITOR ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES

Project ID: F23AC02004

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2023

Initial Funding: $101,473

Total Funding: $101,473

Principal Investigator: Wood, Spencer

Agreement Technical Representative: Rhodes, Carol

Abstract: IMPROVING VISITOR ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGESPLAN LANGUAGE SUMMARY:DATA ON RECREATIONAL USE ARE CRITICAL FOR EVALUATING PROPOSED POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS.HOWEVER, THE DEMAND FOR THESE DATA FAR OUTSTRIPS THE SUPPLY FEW LAND AGENCIES TRACK VISITOR USECOMPREHENSIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY. THIS IS DUE TO MANY FACTORS INCLUDING THE REMOTE AND POROUSNATURE OF PUBLIC LANDS AND THE CAPACITY OF STAFF TO COUNT AND SURVEY VISITORS. THE PURPOSE OF THISPROJECT IS TO SELECT AND TEST STRATEGIES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY USED BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICEFOR ESTIMATING VISITOR USE OF REFUGES. THE TEAM WILL DEVELOP AND TEST APPROACHES THAT USE MOBILE PHONEAND OTHER VOLUNTEERED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION IN ORDER TO RECOMMEND UPDATES AND TRAINAGENCY STAFF ON THE APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNIQUES.PROJECT SUMMARY:THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPAND TESTING, REFINEMENT, AND COMMUNICATION OF INNOVATIVEAPPROACHES FOR ESTIMATING VISITATION LEVELS AND TRENDS AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES NATIONALLY.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED-TEST AND COMPARE NEW VISITOR ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES ACROSS AT A MINIMUM OF FIVE NEW SITES INTHE US, WHERE ANALYSES WILL MEASURE CORRESPONDENCE 10 SITES IN THE US, FOLLOWING BESTPRACTICES FOR SOUND SCIENCE WHILE ADHERING TO APPLICABLE POLICY. ANALYSES WILL MEASURECORRESPONDENCE AMONG VISITATION D