< This document is contained within the Visitor Use Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL: =vum. All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center. =vum

Campsite & Recreation Site Management Jeff Marion, Unit Leader/Scientist Virginia Tech Field Unit, USGS, Patuxent WRC

Presentation Objectives 1. Describe campsite/recreation site design and construction strategies, including:  Select resistant sites  Construct resistant sites  Provide facilities that reduce impacts 2. Describe campsite/recreation management strategies, including:  Maintain sites to contain impacts  Manage visitors to reduce impacts 3. Review alternative camping management strategies.

Select Resistant Sites Organic litter Rock Sand/gravel Grasses

Select Resistant Sites Select campsites that resist expansion due to: Topography Dense Vegetation Rockiness

Construct Resistant Sites Use site engineering to contain site expansion: Cut and fill work on slopes Create raised tent pads Place fill in rocky terrain

Campsite Construction – Flat Terrain Campsite SignpostIce-berg Rocks

Campsite Construction – Sloping Terrain

Side-hill Campsites 10 x 12 Campsite w/3 tent pads Excavation Fill Stone Cribbing Campsite Construction – Sloping Terrain

Side-hillCampsites

Appalachian Trail Shelter Access Trail Shelter  Side-hill campsites in sloping terrain with individual tentpads  Separated from the shelter and each other with individual access trails to promote solitude  Trail layout avoids creation of additional water access trails  Variable number of tent sites for different group sizes Toilet Creek Sign orienting visitors to the camping area Bear Bag Cable Backcountry Campgrounds Tent sites

Provide Facilities That Reduce Impacts Campfire Rings Toilets Shelters

Provide Facilities That Reduce Impact Stock Hitching Facilities Picnic Tables Tent Platform

Maintain Sites To Contain Impacts Improve Tent Pad Sites Reinforce Eroding Spots Restore Unnecessary Areas

Maintain Sites To Contain Impacts Create Site Borders: Rocks Embedded Logs

Manage Visitors to Reduce Impacts  Promote Leave No Trace Practices  Establish Regulations

Leave No Trace (LNT) Leave No Trace (LNT) Outdoor Skills and Ethics A National Education Program Designed to Teach Stewardship, Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills A National Education Program Designed to Teach Stewardship, Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills For more information: or

Promote Leave No Trace Practices Use Established Sites in High-Use Areas Concentrate activities within disturbed areas Concentrate activities within disturbed areas Use Pristine Sites in Remote Areas Disperse activities Avoid permanent disturbance

Establish Regulations Prohibit Axes, Saws, or Campfires Designate Campsites Require Permits or Reservations

Establish Regulations Regulating Groups: Limit Group Sizes Restrict Groups to Group Sites Require Reservations for Groups

Nights/Year (#) Total Change (%) Campsite Impact Management Strategies Campsite Impact Management Strategies Dispersal vs. Containment Dispersal Containment (Concentration)

Rationale for Dispersal & Containment Strategies Rationale for Dispersal & Containment Strategies Use/Impact Relationship 45 sites, each w/1 night/yr. Dispersal Containment b 45 1 campsite 45 nights/yr Close 2 campsites Impact is minimized by closing two campsites and tripling use on the third. Impact increases on third site from “a” to “b” but aggregate impact is reduced from (3 x a) to (1 x b) a 3 campsites each w/15 nights/yr.. Unregulated Camping Nights/Year (#) Total Change (%)

Camping Management Strategies  Area Closure to Camping  At-Large (Unregulated) Camping  Dispersed Camping  Established/Designated Site Camping (Containment) Four Standard Strategies:

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Area Closure to Camping Visitors are restricted from camping in sensitive resource areas or in areas that are too close to developed areas, trails, water resources, or attraction features. Site Closure Area Closure Backcountry Closure

Closures Cultural sites Sensitive wildlife habitats R,T&E species

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies At-Large (Unregulated) Camping Camping is unregulated: visitors may camp in any location they choose. Advantages: Maximizes visitor freedom in site selection. Disadvantages: Jeopardizes visitor solitude and resource protection at higher use levels. Closed to camping Open to camping

At-Large (Unregulated) Camping Problems: Poor site selection Social - too close to other sites Resource - fragile rather than resistant Campsite expansion Campsite proliferation

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Dispersed Camping Visitors are instructed to camp on the most resistant surfaces available that show no obvious signs of previous camping use. Dispersal from popular areas may also be promoted to reduce problems with crowding or conflicts. Point DispersalLineal Dispersal Total Dispersal

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Dispersed Camping Advantages: Provides greater visitor freedom in site selection and promotes solitude. When successful, avoids impact by dispersing use to a level that prevents formation of permanent campsites. Disadvantages: Visitors tend to resist dispersing very far. Considerable off-trail searching may be necessary to locate an appropriate site. Selecting, using, and renaturalizing a pristine site requires greater knowledge and effort.

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Dispersed Camping Why Resource Dispersal Is Often Ineffective: Park Environment - Limited flat land or resistant surfaces. Park Management - Restrictions on camping close to trails or water resources may prevent use of the most available flat land. Visitors not instructed to use only pristine sites or Leave No Trace camping practices. Insufficient visitor education. Park Visitors - Visitors may not want to disperse far from trails, water, or other groups. Visitors may lack or fail to apply LNT knowledge.

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Camping Containment Visitors are encouraged or required to camp on existing sites or within designated areas. Sites or areas may be selected for their environmental resistance and/or to promote visitor solitude. Existing Sites Designated Areas

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Camping Containment Options: Established Sites - Visitors are required to use existing “established” campsites. Managers close and rehabilitate sites that fail to meet minimum criteria for environmental resistance and/or distance to trails, water, other sites, etc. Advantages: Retains some visitor freedom in site selection and ensures solitude. Minimizes area of disturbance and aggregate impact more than an “at-large” camping strategy. Disadvantages: Permits more sites and greater impact than under designated site camping. Visitors may create new sites or camp on closed sites.

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Camping Containment Options: Designated Sites - Visitors are required to use only designated campsites. The minimum number of sites needed for a specified level of overnight visitation are selected, based on their environmental resistance and solitude potential. Sites that fail to meet criteria or are unnecessary are closed to use. Advantages: Minimizes resource impacts while maximizing visitor solitude. Disadvantages: Restricts freedom in campsite selection, sites will become highly altered.

Camping Management Strategies Camping Management Strategies Multi-Strategy Examples Shenandoah National Park (New) Dispersal and closure within designated areas Designated campsites Existing campsites