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Strategies for Saving: Identifying Strategies for the Future of the National Parks

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Strategies for Saving: Identifying Strategies for the Future of the National Parks Strategies for Saving: Identifying Strategies for the Future of the National Parks by Chandler Nyp A Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning College of Architecture, Planning, and Design KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2018 Approved by: Major Professor Tim Keane Copyright © Chandler Nyp 2018. Abstract When visiting a national park, what do you expect to see? Beautiful views of scenery, or long lines for crowded overlooks and massive parking lots overflowing with people? With the current state of most national parks, you will most likely be in for all three. Within the last hundred years the national parks have offered visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of life by offering a place outside of crowded cities and sprawling suburbs. But the increasing popularity of the National Parks comes with a cost: a decline in the nature experience as parks become more crowded and parking lots become more sprawling. What are the impacts of visitors on the national parks, and how can the NPS reduce these impacts? This report begins with background research to determine what impacts visitors have on the National Parks, as well as the strategies and practices park management uses to help combat the negative impacts of visitors. Next, park profiles of 8 of the top visited parks in the nation were developed to understand more about the history of each park, and what impact mitigation practices they have used in the past. Using Manning and Anderson’s matrix for identifying and organizing information about the issues in the national parks and the management strategies and solutions an online survey and a phone interview were developed to gather information on current conditions in the most visited parks (Manning and Anderson 2012). With the information gathered from the interviews, surveys, and park profiles, a set of recommendations for the future of the national parks was identified. The objective of this research was to determine what options are available for national parks to preserve these relaxing vacation destinations for future generations. Strategies for Saving IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL PARKS Chandler J. Nyp Blank Strategies for Saving IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL PARKS Chandler J. Nyp Major Professor: Dr. Tim Keane Committee: Prof. Laurence Clement Dr. Jeffrey Skibins Copyright © Chandler Nyp 2018 i. Abstract When visiting a national park, what do you expect to see? Beautiful views of scenery, or long lines for crowded overlooks and massive parking lots overfl owing with people? With the current state of most national parks, you will most likely be in for all three. Within the last hundred years the national parks have offered visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of life by offering a place outside of crowded cities and sprawling suburbs. But the increasing popularity of the National Parks comes with a cost: a decline in the nature experience as parks become more crowded and parking lots become more sprawling. What are the impacts of visitors on the national parks, and how can the NPS reduce these impacts? This report begins with background research to determine what impacts visitors have on the National Parks, as well as the strategies and practices park management uses to help combat the negative impacts of visitors. Next, park profi les of 8 of the top visited parks in the nation were developed to understand more about the history of each park, and what impact mitigation practices they have used in the past. Using Manning and Anderson’s matrix for identifying and organizing information about the issues in the national parks and the management strategies and solutions an online survey and a phone interview were developed to gather information on current conditions in the most visited parks (Manning and Anderson 2012). With the information gathered from the interviews, surveys, and park profi les, a set of recomendations for the future of the national parks was identifi ed. The objective of this research was to determine what options are available for national parks to preserve these relaxing vacation destinations for future generations. ii. CONTENTS Abstract i Table of Contents ii List of Figures and Tables vii Acknowledgments xiii Chapter 1: Introduction 2 Background 2 Research Questions 3 Overview of Project 3 Chapter 2: Background 6 Impacts to Resources 6 Soil 6 Vegetation 7 Water 7 Wildlife 7 Air 7 Soundscape 8 Night Sky 8 Historical/ Cultural Resources 8 Impacts to Experience 8 Crowding 8 Confl ict 9 Depreciative Behavior 9 iii. Impacts to Facilities/ Services 9 Attraction Sites 9 Trails 10 Campgrounds/ Campsites 10 Roads/ Parking Areas 11 Interpretive Facilities/ Programs 11 Management Strategies and Practices 11 Management Strategies 11 Increase Supply 11 Reduce Impacts of Use 12 Increase Durability of the Resource/ Experience 13 Limit Use 13 Management Practices 14 Information and Education 14 Rationing and Allocation 16 Rules and Regulations 20 Law Enforcement 21 Zoning 21 Facility Development/ Site Design/ Maintenance 21 Chapter 3: Methodology 24 Study Area 24 Research Question 26 Data Collection 26 Semi Structured Interviews 27 Qualtrics Survey 27 Data Analysis 28 Chapter 4: Park Profi les 34 Introduction 34 iv. Grand Canyon National Park 34 Introduction 34 Park History 34 Site Circulation 37 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 40 Visitor Trends 43 Zion National Park 45 Introduction 45 Park History 45 Site Circulation 46 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 49 Visitor Trends 51 Rocky Mountain National Park 53 Introduction 53 Park History 53 Site Circulation 56 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 59 Visitor Trends 61 Yosemite National Park 63 Introduction 63 Park History 63 Site Circulation 67 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 70 Visitor Trends 73 Acadia National Park 76 Introduction 76 History and Context 76 Site Circulation 80 v. Scenic and Ecological Qualities 83 Visitor Trends 84 Olympic National Park 87 Introduction 87 History and Context 87 Site Circulation 89 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 92 Visitor Trends 94 Glacier National Park 97 Introduction 97 History and Context 97 Site Circulation 100 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 103 Visitor Trends 105 Joshua Tree National Park 108 Introduction 108 History and Context 108 Site Circulation 115 Scenic and Ecological Qualities 118 Visitor Trends 119 Park Profi le Conclusion 121 Chapter 5: Results of Thematic Exploration 124 Introduction 124 Themes for Interviews 124 Transportation 125 Communication and Education 125 Comparing Survey and Interview Responses 126 Resource, Experience, and Facility Impacts 127 vi. Management Strategies 128 Management Practices 128 Short Response 128 Five Key Themes 129 Transportation 130 Staffi ng 130 Communication 130 Facilities and Maintenance 131 Educational/ Interpretive Programs 132 Summary of Themes 132 Chapter 6: Recommendations and Conclusions 138 Recommendations 138 Smart Phone Applications 138 Improved Transportation System 139 Reducing the Staff-to-Visitor Ratios 140 Conclusion 141 Study Objectives 141 Research Questions and Methods 142 Implications for Practice 143 Refl ections on the Project 144 Resources 148 Image Citations 156 Tables 156 Figures 157 Appendix A: Interview Questions 162 Appendix B: Qualtrics Survey 163 Appendix C: Interview Results 168 Appendix D: Survey Results Tables and Summaries 175 vii. List of Tables and Figures Figures 5 Figure 2.1- The threefold framework of outdoor recreation (Manning and Anderson 2012) 23 Figure 3.1- Map of national parks to be studied (by author). 38 Figure 4.1.1- Grand Canyon National Park map (NPS 2018). 39 Figure 4.1.2- Grand Canyon National Park shuttle map (NPS 2016). 41 Figure 4.1.3- Grand Canyon National Park: Desert View Watchtower (Quinn 2008). 44 Figure 4.1.4- Grand Canyon National Park visitation graph (by author). 44 Figure 4.1.5- Grand Canyon National Park 2017 monthly visitor statistics (by author). 47 Figure 4.2.1- Zion National Park map (NPS 2018). 48 Figure 4.2.2- Zion National Park Shuttle Bus and Hiking Trail Map (NPS ZION 2018). 50 Figure 4.2.3- Angels Landing from the Deertrap Mountain Trail (Neidig 2008) 52 Figure 4.2.4- Zion National Park yearly visitation graph (by author). 52 Figure 4.2.5- Zion National Park 2017 monthly visitation statistics (by author). 57 Figure 4.3.1- Rocky Mountain National Park map (NPS 2017). 58 Figure 4.3.2-Rocky Mountain National Park shuttle map (NPS 2017). 60 Figure 4.3.3- Hallett Peak refl ected in Dream Lake (NPS) 62 Figure 4.3.4- Rocky Mountain National Park yearly visitation graph (by author). 62 Figure 4.3.5- Rocky Mountain National Park 2017 visitation statistics (by author). 68 Figure 4.4.1- Yosemite National Park map (NPS 2017). 69 Figure 4.4.2- Yosemite National Park shuttle map (NPS YOSE 2018). 71 Figure 4.4.3- Ackerson Meadow in Yosemite National Park (Hirsch 2016). 74 Figure 4.4.4- Yosemite National Park yearly visitation graph (by author). 74 Figure 4.4.5- Yosemite National Park 2017 monthly visitation statistics (by author). viii. 78 Figure 4.5.1- Rocky Ocean Drive Coast of Acadia National Park (Rugg) 81 Figure 4.5.2- Acadia National Park map (NPS 2018) 82 Figure 4.5.3- Acadia National Park shuttle map (Island Explorer 2017) 85 Figure 4.5.4- Acadia National Park yearly visitation statistics (by author). 85 Figure 4.5.5- Acadia National Park 2017 monthly visitation statistics (by author). 90 Figure 4.6.1- Olympic Peninsula Transportation map (OLYM Roads 2018). 91 Figure 4.6.2- Olympic National Park map (NPS 2018) 93 Figure 4.6.3- Krause Bottom in the Elwha River in Olympic National Park (NPS) 95 Figure 4.6.4- Olympic National Park yearly visitation stats (data from NPS, fi gure by author).
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