Central Wasatch Visitor Use Study STEVEN W. BURR, PH.D. AND CHASE C. LAMBORN, M.S. INSTITUTE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Central Wasatch Visitor Use Study STEVEN W. BURR, PH.D. AND CHASE C. LAMBORN, M.S. INSTITUTE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Utah State University s Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism To provide a better understanding of the relationships between: outdoor recreation and tourism; natural resources management; community economic vitality; and quality of life issues for the citizens of Utah.

A Program Framework for IORT Research/Extension Topics USU-IORT Functions Research Extension Teaching Outdoor Recreation/Tourism Issues Community Sustainability (Social & Economic) Environmental Sustainability (Environmental & Economic) Statewide Collaboration and Coordination

Introduction Introduce you to the Central Wasatch Visitor Use Study 1) Why the study was conducted 2) How the study was conducted 3) Some study results and how these can be useful

Why the study was conducted Background USU s IORT approached by the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch- Cache National Forest, Save Our Canyons, and Salt Lake City Corporation to develop a research project to collect visitor use data on the district and surrounding lands. Goal of providing useful data and analysis for the Mountain Accord Initiative and other stakeholder groups focused on recreational use of the Central Wasatch Mountains. Product Dataset representative of the recreational use of the Central Wasatch Mountains with associated analysis presented in four quarterly/seasonal reports based on intercept surveys and a fifth report based on a follow-up e-survey.

How the study was conducted 48 locations in the CWM were surveyed Surveys were conducted in Bell s Canyon, Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, Millcreek, along the Wasatch Front, Parley s Canyon, and on the Wasatch Back. We also surveyed Brighton, Alta, Snowbird, and Solitude ski resorts. We surveyed anyone who was recreating and was over 18 years old.

Four things to keep in mind Random Sampling Surveyed both Dispersed and Developed recreation sites/areas This was a 12 month study. 4,039 intercept surveys were completed, representative of recreational users of the Central Wasatch Mountains.

What did we find? Where are CWM visitors coming from?

9 22 29 38 46 55 65 80 98 156 245 299 354 438 467 528 601 654 680 697 716 737 755 765 780 800 852 882 1052 1187 1231 1255 1313 1386 1409 1433 1475 1550 1620 1650 1699 1747 1790 1848 1890 1944 2028 2054 2088 2126 2148 2160 2168 2176 2187 2201 2237 2262 2300 2329 2365 2388 2452 2488 NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS Miles Traveled by CWM Visitors 300 250 200 150 100 Mean = 396 miles Median = 28 miles Range 11 2631 miles 50 0 MILES TRAVELED

What types of areas are they using? We asked what kinds of areas they used most often.

60% 50% Areas Respondents Use Most Often 48% 40% 30% 20% 26% 26% 10% 0% Developed Undeveloped Both

Visitor Satisfaction How satisfied are CWM visitors with their visit?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 87% CWM Visitors' Satisfaction 20% 10% 0% 11% 1% 0% 0% Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Neither Somewhat Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied

What are people doing in the CWM? Hiking Downhill Skiing (Resort) Relaxing, hanging out Photography Escaping heat, noise, pollution

How long are people staying?

70% 66% Trip Length 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 4% Short trip under three hours 51% 30% 23% 15% 6% 4% About half the day The majority of the day Multiple days Dispersed Resort

What motivates people to visit the CWM? Observe scenic beauty Enjoy the sights and smells of nature For the adventure Experience peace and tranquility Improve physical health Be with friends enjoying activities

Out-Group Encounters Average number out-group encounters while recreating in the CWM: Dispersed Mean = 12.68 people Resort Mean = 60 people

Out-Group Encounters How are these out-group encounters affecting people s experience?

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 68% Impact of Out-Group Encounters 25% 20% 10% 0% 7% Positively No Impact Negatively

Importance and Satisfaction Adequacy of signage Conditions of roads Scenery Condition of the natural environment Availability of parking Parking lot conditions Cleanliness of restrooms Conditions of developed facilities Conditions of forest trails Adequacy of signage of forest trails Feeling of safety Helpfulness of Forest Service personnel

Satisfaction Most satisfied: Scenery Helpfulness of FS personnel Feeling of safety Trail Conditions

Satisfaction Least satisfied: Availability of parking Parking lot conditions Cleanliness of restrooms Trail signage

Importance The three most important aspects of the CWM are: Scenery Environmental Conditions Trails

SATISFACTION AND IMPORTANCE MEAN SCORES Satisfaction and Importance 5 4 What do they value 3.84 4.09 3.77 3.84 4.9 4.76 4.75 4.27 3.51 3.91 3.78 3.73 3.52 3.62 4 3.43 4.294.35 3.81 3.91 4.49 4.56 4.1 3.73 3.91 3.22 4.25 3.99 3.82 3.77 3 2 1 Satisfaction Importance

Three areas of concern Parking Environment Trails Transportation Natural Environment Recreation We have data!

Transportation Access fees Public transportation Bike access

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS Amount willing to pay for canyon access 70 60 50 40 30 20 11% Tri-Canyon users' willingness to pay for annual parking fee/vehicle pass 6% 8% 12% 21% 15% 10% Mean = $48.84 Median = $42.50 5% 6% 10 0 3% 3% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% ANNUAL PARKING FEE/VEHICLE PASS AMOUNT

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS 80 70 There should be more opportunities to use public transportation to access recreation areas in the Central Wasatch Public Transportation 24% 60 50 40 13% 11% 16% 14% 12% 30 20 10 0 2% 2% Strongly Disagree 1% 5% 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 9 Strongly Agree

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS 60 50 40 The Park-and-Ride transportation system should be expanded to have more pick-ups outside of the canyons 18% 17% Public Transportation 13% 14% 13% 18% 30 20 10 0 0% Strongly Disagree 1% 2% 3% 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 9 Strongly Agree

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS Bicycle traffic 120 Road shoulders should be widened to increase bicycle safety 38% 100 80 60 40 20 0 1% 1% 2% 1% Strongly Disagree 8% 10% 12% 15% 12% 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 9 Strongly Agree

Comments Large source of data Over 4,300 comments Neutral prompts: Forest Service and land managers General comments

What did we do with these comments? We read them Then we read them again Then we read them again Dominant themes Nvivo extract and organize the main themes that were present in the data.

Public Transportation Lots of support especially in the Cottonwoods! Both dispersed and developed users

Recreation More trails Trail maintenance (drainage, brushing, etc.) Better signage getting to trails at trailheads on trails Trail safety (mountain bikes/hikers/dogs)

Natural Environment Preservation Wilderness Protect Keep it wild Development Retrieved from: http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/lone-peakwilderness-area-utah-based-photographer-ryan-houston.jpg

Support: Trails Parking lots Public transportation Opposition: Housing/Hotels Ski area expansion Additional lifts Connections Development Continuum Development Threshold

Large-scale development Inter-resort connectivity (ONE Wasatch, Skilink, etc.) Housing development Commercial developments Resort expansion Separated into two categories Support Opposition

All CWM Respondents 81% 19% CWM Visitors for Development CWM Visitors Against Development

Summary Importance is higher than satisfaction Transportation Recreation Natural Environment Transportation Support for parking lot development and public transportation Recreation Support for additional trails, trail improvements, and trail signage Natural environment Support for protection and opposition to large-scale development

Central Wasatch Visitor Use Study Seasonal and Final Reports Available on the IORT website at: extension.usu.edu/iort

Questions? Retrieved from: https://www.weber.edu/environment

Central Wasatch Visitor Use Study Steven Burr, Ph.D. Recreation Resources Management Extension Specialist Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Chase C. Lamborn, M.S. Research Associate Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Department of Environment and Society Phone: 801-856-7476 College of Natural Resources E-mail: chase.lamborn@usu.edu Utah State University 125 W 200 S Moab, UT 84532 Office: (435) 797-5120 E-mail: steve.burr@usu.edu Visit the IORT Website at extension.usu.edu/iort