Twenty Years of Change on Campsites in the Backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park |
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Authors: | David N Cole Pam Foti Mathieu Brown |
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Institution: | (1) Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Missoula, MT 59801, USA;(2) Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA;(3) Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, USA |
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Abstract: | This article draws on three separate research and monitoring studies to describe 20-year trends in the number and condition
of campsites in the backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park. Results are used to assess the effectiveness of a complex and
innovative management program, adopted in 1983, that sought to concentrate use on designated campsites in popular places and
disperse camping in more remote places. In 1984, conditions on 12 high-use campsites and 12 low-use campsites were carefully
assessed. Conditions on 22 of these campsites were reassessed in 2005. In addition, campsite-monitoring surveys were conducted
between 1985 and 1992 and again in 2003 and 2004. In these surveys, all campsites were located and their condition rapidly
assessed. The detailed assessment of a sample of sites suggests relatively little change in condition during the 20-year period.
The high-use sites were more highly disturbed than the low-use sites, but they did not change more during the study period.
In contrast, changes at larger scales were dramatic. The total number of campsites more than doubled during the study period.
Surprisingly, the proliferation of new campsites was greater in places where camping was only allowed on designated campsites
than in places where camping was allowed anywhere. Concern that concentration of use on designated sites would cause unacceptable
impact was unfounded. Management implications for other internationally significant protected areas that allow backcountry
camping are explored. |
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Keywords: | Campsite impact Designated campsites Recreation management Trends |
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