Recreation Management in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex: an Application of the Limits of Acceptable Change Concept and Transactive Planning Theory
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1985 Recreation management in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex: An application of the limits of acceptable change concept and transactive planning theory Joseph L. Ashor The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Ashor, Joseph L., "Recreation management in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex: An application of the limits of acceptable change concept and transactive planning theory" (1985). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 8414. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/8414 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RECREATION MANAGEMENT IN THE BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS COMPLEX: AN APPLICATION OF THE LIMITS OF ACCEPTABLE CHANGE CONCEPT AND TRANSACTIVE PLANNING THEORY By Joseph L. Ashor B.S., Whitworth College, 1978 Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Recreation Management UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1985 Approved by; iitman. Board of examiners Dea'h, Graduate School Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number; EP39215 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI OisMrtatiwi PuWi*hiog UMI EP39215 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code uest* ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Ashor, Joseph L., M.S., June 1985 Recreation Management Recreation Management in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex: An Application of the Limits of Acceptable Change Concept and Transactive Planning Theory (224 pp.) Director: Stephen F. McCool The relatively low frequency in substantive implementation of first generation wilderness management plans has forced managers to reexamine their past planning efforts and begin to devise ways in which the implementation, effectiveness, user involvement and acceptance of plans can be improved. In the Bob Marshall Wilder ness Complex (BMWC), a combination limits of acceptable change (LAC) and Transactive Planning framework was tried in order to achieve improvements in these areas. The study's primary objective was to test for the occurrence of key elements associated with Transactive Planning theory and to determine their overall effectiveness in producing a new manage ment plan for the BMWC. This was accomplished by employing three different methodologies for collecting data - participant obser vation, theory evaluation surveys, and theory evaluation inter views. For analysis purposes, the three and a half year process was divided into five intervals. An indicator analysis approach was used in each interval to test for the level of occurrence of key elements of Transactive Planning (dialogue, mutual learning, and societal guidance or action). The surveying en tailed sampling task force members on various dimensions of the Transactive Planning process. Their responses were compared to a sample of public involvement participants in a wilderness planning effort which had just been completed in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness. This process utilized a more traditional rational-comprehensive planning approach. The results showed the primary elements of Transactive Planning did occur in the BMWC planning effort and that Transactive Planning is a more effective approach than traditional comprehen sive planning in such settings. Criteria and guidelines for applying the LAC management system and Transactive Planning approach are also provided in order to aid managers wishing to use the dual process in other wilderness planning efforts. 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend my personal gratitude and thanks to all those individuals who made possible the completion of this study. To my committee members Dr. Steve McCool, Dr. Sid Frissell, and Dr. George Stankey for their greatly appreciated insights and guidance that could only have come from experienced wildland recreation researchers. To all members of the Bob Marshall LAC task force; citizen, managers, and researchers alike, who had the patience, perseverance, and commitment to make a transactive style of planning work. I learned a great deal from you all. To Arne Bolle, Jim Curtis, Smoke Elser, Jim McCreedy, Mike Dailey, Dick Kuhl, and Mike Chandler for graciously allowing me to probe their inner thoughts about what occurred in the Bob Marshall Wilderness planning effort. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. To all those who participated in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness planning survey. To Dr. Jerry Stokes, a true pioneer of the transactive style of planning, whose guidance, input and support were invaluable to this study. Without Jerry's willingness to take risks and initiate an innovative planning effort, this study would not have been possible. To Steve McCool, advisor, fellow planner and good friend for the financial support I received throughout my graduate work, for challenging me to try methodologies that strengthened this study immensely, and for the concern shown and indepth involvement given to my work. And lastly, to my parents whose love, support and prayers sustained me throughout my graduate work. To them I am forever grateful. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................... i ü LIST OF APPENDIXES ................................... v i ü LIST OF TABLES ....................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ..................................... xii Chapter I, INTRODUCTION ................................... 1 Study purpose ............................... 5 Problem Statement............................. 6 Study Objectives ............................. 7 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................. 9 Review of Contemporary Planning Theories . 9 Transactive Planning Theory ............... 13 Citizen Participation in Planning ......... 17 Improving Planning and Participation .... 21 III. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK .......................... 27 The Transactive Process .................... 27 D i a l o g u e ................................... 27 Mutual Learning .......................... 30 Societal Guidance ........................ 31 Hypothesis Formulation ...................... 35 Research hypotheses ........................ 36 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter Page VI. METHODOLOGY 37 Overview . 37 Testing Transactive Planning Theory: The BMWC Case Study ............. 38 Participant observer methodology 38 Theory evaluation surveys . 41 Theory evaluation interviews . 42 Indicator Analysis Approach 44 Sets of Indicators . 45 V. THE BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS COMPLEX CASE STUDY 48 Biophysical and Social Setting ........... 48 Impetus for Planning ...................... 52 The Limits of Acceptable Change Concept 54 The LAC Framework ........................ 55 The Nine Step LAC Process ............... 57 VI. CASE STUDY RESULTS 61 Overview .... 61 Critical Interval One (Feb. 16, 1982 - May 9, 1983) 62 Analysis of Dialogue Indicators . 68 Analysis of Mutual Learning Indicators . 72 Critical Interval two (May 10, 1983 - April 5, 1984) . 76 Analysis of Dialogue Indicators ......... 82 Analysis of Mutual Learning Indicators . 86 VI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter Page Critical Interval Three (April 6r 1984 - June 1, 1 9 8 4 ) ........ 92 Analysis of Dialogue Indicators ........ 96 Analysis of Mutual Learning Indicators . 101 Critical Interval Four (June 8r 1984 - Jan. 25, 1 9 8 5 ) ............ 113 Analysis of Dialogue Indicators ........ 116 Analysis of Mutual Learning Indicators . 120 Critical Interval Five (Jan. 26, 1985 - April 1, 1985)........ 127 Analysis of Dialogue Indicators ........ 130 Analysis of Mutual Learning Indicators . 134 VII. TESTING OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESES ............... 143 O v e r v i e w ..................................... 143 Hypothesis 1 ............................... 143 Hypothesis 2 ............................... 145 Hypothesis 3 ............................... 152 Hypothesis 4 ............................... 155 Hypothesis 5 ............................... 163