Summer 2013 Dalton Highway Recreation Study Implications for Recreation and Visitor Services Planning Peter J Fix School of Natural Resources and Extension University of Alaska Fairbanks OLLI Session 2 October 27, 2015 Presentation content from: Fix, P. J. (2014). Characteristics of Summer 2013 Dalton Highway Recreational Visitors: Implications for the Central Yukon RMP. Fairbanks, AK: Department of Natural Resources Management, School of Natural Resources and Extension.
Source: http://jukebox.uaf.edu/ak_highway/assets/maps/map_alaska_lg.jpg
Source: http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/ak/fdo/maps_and_documents.par.48572.file.dat/fdo_land_status_march2011.pdf
Objective of presentation Discuss key findings with regard to H-8320-1 Recreation and Visitor Services Planning H-1601-1 Land Use Planning
USDI BLM Handbook 8320-1 Planning for Recreation and Visitor Services pg. I-5
H-8320-1 (not all steps, numbering different) 1. Outcomes-Focused Management Experiences Immediate states of mind Benefits Longer lasting Personal/Individual Social/Community Economic Environmental
H-8320-1 (not all steps, numbering different) 2. Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) or ERMA SRMA: Unique value, importance, and/or distinctiveness 3. Recreation Management Zones Specific recreation opportunities 4. Write objectives that include: Activities Experiences Benefits 5. Monitor Must identify indicators and set Standards
H-1601-1 1. Identify recreation market served by SRMA Destination, community, undeveloped 2. Identify niche of an RMZ (recreation character, distinct experiences)
Methods Onsite Survey Activities, destinations, visitor services Important experiences Anticipation of outcomes* Follow-up Mail Survey Activities, destinations, visitor services Evaluation of visitor services Attainment of experiences Contribution of trip to attainment of outcomes* * Outcomes used as not everyone would evaluate the outcomes as benefits. Designed to test question wording with increased specificity.
Survey
Results Sampled from June 7 to September 2, 2013 44 different days 56 sampling blocks Contacted 756; 596 completed survey, 79% RR Follow-up: 204 returned the survey, 34% RR Onsite Follow-up Contact n RR n RR Yukon River Crossing 71 44 57.1% 16 36.4% Arctic Circle 463 389 84.0% 148 38.0% Arctic Interagency Visitor Center 26 20 76.9% 8 40.0% Coldfoot Camp 189 136 71.9% 32 23.5% Galbraith Lake 7 7 100% 0 0%
SRMA / Market -Overall Canada Outside US 4% & Can. * 12% 100 90 Other AK 11% Lower 48 55% 80 70 60 Interior AK 15% 50 40 30 *Not reported = 3% 20 10 0 First visit 1 2 5 6 10 11 20 > 20 Residency: almost identical to 2007 First visit 2007 = 87%
Activities Driving and sightseeing Photography Watching wildlife Camping Day Hike Walking or running Bird watching Berry picking Other Fishing Hunting Caribou Alaskans more Hunting, less driving and sightseeing Other AK: Fishing Interior AK: Climbing 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Less than 10% participation: Rafting/canoeing 5.1% Backpacking (overnight) 4.9% Hunting other big game 4.7% Recreational gold panning 3.9% Rock Climbing 3.2% Very similar to 2007
Primary Activities Activity Frequency Driving and sightseeing 245 Photography 57 Caribou hunting 38 Hunting other 24 Watching wildlife 24 Motorcycling 23 Camping 15 Day hiking 13 Bicycling 8 Visit Arctic Circle 7 Visit Arctic Ocean 7 Backpacking 6 Canoeing, kayaking, rafting 5 Alaskan: more hunting, less D&S Interior: backpacking Very similar to 2007
Onsite Experiences Importance Enjoying the sights & smells of nature (n = Experience new and different things (n = Being away from crowds of people (n = 582) Getting away from the usual demands of Being free to make your own choices (n = Being with friends (n = 545) Experiencing solitude (n = 563) Testing your abilities (n = 568) Bringing your family closer together (n = 546) Getting exercise (n = 567) Doing something creative like painting, Growing and developing spiritually (n = 560) Taking a chance on dangerous situations Teaching your skills to others (n = 549) *Alaskan scored higher than at least two other groups ~ L48 same as Alaskans +L48 higher than at least two other groups * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 * * ~ 1 = not at all; 7 = extremely + Very similar to 2007
Personal Outcomes Anticipation of Outcome A greater connection with nature (n = 444) Increased knowledge -- ecosystems in Improved knowledge -- oudoor Enhanced sense of personal freedom (n Improved knowledge of local Improved outlook on life (n = 437) Improved mental health (n = 443) Enhanced sense of competence (n = 438) Increased self-confidence (n = 437) Gained sense of independence (n = 442) Improved physical fitness (n = 442) Enhanced work performance (n = 434) * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 * 1 = not at all; 7 = substantial *Non-interior Alaskan scored higher than L48 Top outcomes comparable to 2007, question format influenced magnitude, order of bottom
Household Outcomes (social) Anticipation of Outcome Greater appreciation for the cultural heritage of the United States (n=419) Recreation Opportunities for your family (n = 413) Greater awareness of methods to minimize recreation impacts (n=415) Improved family bonding (n = 402) Improved health (n=416) - - + Improved group cooperation (n = 402) More well-rounded development for your children (n = 393) * ^ - Improved parenting skills (n = 390) Reduced health care costs (n=412) ~ +L48 higher than two other groups *Alaskan scored higher than L48 & Canada ^Alaskans higher than L48, Interior AK higher than CA & outside US ~Interior AK higher than all but other AK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 = not at all; 7 = substantial - Question format = lower rating
Economic, Environmental, Community Importance of Outcome Greater involvment in the land use planning process by residents of Fairbanks and Wiseman (n = 440) -- A corridor for wildlife migration (n = 445) Retention of distinctive landscape features (n = 444) Positive economic contribution to Fairbanks and/or Wiseman, AK (n = 444) -- Protection for fish & wildlife habitat (n = 445) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 = not at all; 7 = extremely -- Very similar to 2007
Resource Setting Conditions (RSCs) Expectations less than Arctic wildlife (n = 198) what expected more than Maintained hiking trails (n = 141) Developed campgrounds (n = 157) Other visitors (n = 181) Restroom facilities (n = 194) Tour opportunities (n = 145) BLM staff (n = 161) Interpretive panels (n = 182) Visitor centers (n = 184) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Crowding = 2.34 on a 9-point scale (1 = not at all & 7 = extremely) Very similar to 2007
RSC Preference Restroom facilities (n = 190) less leave as is more Interpretive panels (n = 175) Maintained hiking trails (n = 146) Developed campgrounds (n = 157) Visitor centers (n = 182) BLM staff (n = 159) Other visitors (n = 157) Organized tour opportunities (n = 144) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Other AK near to just below mid-point. Very similar to 2007
RSC Quality poor average high Visitor centers (n = 151) BLM staff (n = 130) Interpretive panels (n = 160) Organized tour opportunities (n = 89) Restroom facilities (n = 182) Developed campgrounds (n = 110) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Both non-u.s. groups low on campground quality. Canadians a bit lower all on. Very similar to 2007
Multiple SRMAs? RMZs?
Location n Range Prominent destinations Yukon River to Prospect Creek 140 Yukon River to Prospect Creek Arctic Circle (n = 131; 94%) Bonanza Creek, Gobbler s Knob, Prospect Creek (n = 8; 6%) Yukon River (n = 1) Coldfoot and Wiseman South slope Brooks Range to Atigun Pass North Slope Brooks Range to Franklin Bluffs 96 Coldfoot to Wiseman 36 Shukakpak Mtn. to Atigun River 42 Pump Station 4 to Franklin Bluffs Coldfoot (n = 70; 73%) Wiseman (n = 16; 17%) Marion Creek (n = 4) Nolan (n = 1) Atigun Pass (n = 20) Past Atigun Pass to Atigun River (n = 5) Sukakpak Mtn. n = 5) Chandalar Shelf (n = 2) Galbraith Lake (n = 15) Slope Mountain to pump station 2 (n = 16) Ivishak River to Franklin Bluffs (n = 5) Toolik Lake (n = 4) Deadhorse 199 Deadhorse and (presumably) tours beyond Deadhorse Deadhorse (n = 121; 61%) Prudhoe Bay (n = 38; 19%) Arctic Ocean (n = 35; 18%)
Market -By destination? Deadhorse (n = 191) Lower 48 dominates b/c largest group Northern Brooks to Franklin Bluffs (n = 42) AK residents majority Southern Brooks to Atigun Pass (n = 36) Coldfoot and Wiseman (n = 95) Yukon River to Prospect Creek (n = 139) 0 20 40 60 80 100 Lower 48 Interior AK Other AK Canada Outside U.S. & Canada
Market -By residence? Lower 48 (n = 278) Interior AK (n = 76) Other AK (n = 63) Canada (n = 20) Outside U.S. & Canada (n = 66) L48 and Canadian visitors appear to go to the AC or all the way Interior AK seek a diversity of locations Other AK head further north Outside North America head to Coldfoot at a high rate, but not a large % of CF visitors 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Yukon River to Prospect Creek Southern Brooks to Atigun Pass Deadhorse Coldfoot and Wiseman Northern Brooks to Franklin Bluffs
Market -By time of year? Deadhorse Northern Brooks to Franklin Bluffs Southern Brooks to Atigun Pass Coldfoot and Wiseman Yukon River to Prospect Creek 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 7 June to 20 June 21 June to 4 July 5 July to 18 July 19 July to 1 August 2 August to 15 August 16 August to 29 August 30 August to 2 September
Market -By group characteristics Yukon River to Prospect Creek (n = 139) Coldfoot and Wiseman (n = 96) South Brooks to A.P. (n = 36) North Brooks to F.B. (n = 42) Deadhorse (n = 192) Group size 3.72 1 3.7 2 2.4 3.1 2.8 Nights spent in area.71 1.1 4.0 3 5.3 3.8 Includes: 1 47 2 30 3 40
Primary activity Driving and sightseeing Yukon River to Prospect Creek (n = 140) Coldfoot Wiseman (n = 96) Southern Brooks to AP (n = 36) Northern Brooks to FB (n = 42) Deadhorse (n = 199) 71 45 10 5 81 Photography 16 7 6 0 17 Caribou hunting 0 0 0 15 17 Hunting other 1 2 1 10 7 Motorcycling 1 1 0 1 20 Watching wildlife 4 3 2 0 11 Bicycling 1 0 0 0 6 Camping 5 4 4 0 1 Visit Arctic Circle 5 1 0 0 0 Visit Arctic Ocean 0 0 0 0 7 Day hiking 2 2 4 1 2 Canoeing, kayaking, rafting 0 4 0 1 0 Fishing 2 2 0 0 0 Walking 0 3 0 0 0
Onsite experiences - By destination Being with friends* Bringing your family closer together Test your abilities* Experiencing solitude* Getting exercise* Growing and developing spiritually* Taking a chance on dangerous situations* Teaching your skills to others* Yukon River to Prospect Creek Coldfoot and Wiseman South Brooks to Atigun Pass North Brooks to Franklin Bluffs Deadhorse 1 2 3 4 5 6
Personal outcomes - By destination Gained sense of independence* Enhanced sense of competence* Increased self-confidence* Improved physical fitness* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Yukon River to Prospect Creek South Brooks to Atigun Pass Deadhorse Coldfoot and Wiseman North Brooks to Franklin Bluffs
Household outcomes Greater appreciation for the cultural heritage of the U.S.* More well-rounded development for your children Yukon River to Prospect Creek Improved group cooperation Coldfoot and Wiseman South Brooks to Atigun pass Improved parenting skills* North Brooks to Franklin Bluffs Deadhorse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Community outcomes Did not vary
Preferences for Visitor Services Visitor Service Yukon River to Prospect Creek (n = 35 to 51) Coldfoot & Wiseman (n = 26 to 34) South Brooks to Atigun Pass (n = 10 to 16) North Brooks to FB (n = 8 to 9) Deadhorse (n = 45 to 55) Developed campgrounds* 4.6 4.0 3.4 5.0 4.7 Visitor centers* 4.7 4.3 3.5 4.3 4.4 Maintained hiking trails Restroom facilities* 4.6 4.3 4.1 5.1 4.7 5.1 4.5 4.3 5.1 5.0 Other visitors 4.1 3.9 3.2 3.6 3.8 BLM staff* 4.4 4.5 3.3 4.5 4.1 Interpretive panels Organized tour opportunities 4.8 4.6 4.1 4.7 4.3 4.0 3.9 2.6 3.1 3.8
Monitoring Enjoying the sights & smells of nature Experience new and different things Being away from crowds of people Getting away from the usual demands Being free to make your own choices Being with friends Experiencing solitude Testing your abilities Bringing your family closer together Getting exercise Doing something creative like painting, Growing and developing spiritually Taking a chance on dangerous situations Teaching your skills to others 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Importance Attainment
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