Studies on Recreation Use, Trends, and Outfitting Regionally And
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United States Department of Agriculture Assessment of Need for Forest Service Outfitted Services and Northern Region Resource Capacity June 2015 Analysis In Non-Wilderness and Wilderness Areas Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, with the Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana ITRR Research and data reporting by: Christine Oschell, Ph.D. Neala Fugere, Research Assistant College of Forestry & Conservation Phone (406) 243-5686 32 Campus Dr. #1234 Fax (406) 243-4845 The University of Montana www.itrr.umt.edu Missoula, MT 59812 The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research was created in 1987 to conduct research on travel, recreation and tourism. Located in The University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, ITRR serves as the research arm for Montana's tourism and recreation industry. Its overall mission is to provide information that will help the industry make informed decisions about planning, promotion and management. Thus, the research conducted is designed to assist both private firms and public agencies who provide facilities and services to visitors. USDA Non-Discrimination Policy The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) 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Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690–7442 or email at [email protected]. Persons with Disabilities Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339 or (800) 845–6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD) Executive Summary The purpose of this document is to analyze need and capacity for outfitter-guide services, and thus help inform decisions to approve or deny those proposed activities on the Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest. The public need for outfitted services was evaluated based on supply, demand, and projected demand for outfitted services. Resource capacity was also examined. Data for this report were generated from existing research, as well as a web-based survey and in-person interviews with outfitters, area sporting goods store employees, Forest Service personnel, and area hospitality managers. The Special Use Database (SUDS) was used to generate data regarding outfitter activities on the Forest. Of the 56 outfitter/guides invited to take the survey, 35 of them agreed to participate and 27 completed the survey (response rate 63%, 77% completion rate.) Of the 29 sporting goods stores and hospitality managers contacted, 18 of them agreed to participate and 17 completed the survey (response rate 59%, 94% completion rate.) A total of 18 Forest Service personnel representing all districts were also interviewed. From the SUDs data, a total of 57 outfitter/guides providing 23 different activities were found to be currently operating on the Forest. Outfitters and guides are utilizing an average of 48% of their permitted days. Every activity offered by outfitters and guides shows some unused permitted days according to SUDS. Horseback riding, motorized activities, hiking, fly fishing and foot access fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling were popular individual activities mentioned by respondents. Horseback riding, fly fishing, foot access fishing, hunting, backcountry skiing, motorized activities, game retrieval, and institutional activities were popular guided activities mentioned by respondents. Visitors are becoming interested in shorter, more intense activities when recreating on the Forest. Respondents indicated that archery, ATV/motorized activities, mountain biking, bird watching, fishing, hiking, hunting (with specific reference to shorter, road-oriented trips), rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and snowmobiling are activities gaining in popularity on the Forest. The majority of respondents anticipate no growth in emerging activities on the Forest. Fifty percent of sporting goods employees reported that some activities could utilize an outfitter because of the need for equipment, specialized skills and knowledge. Most Forest Service personnel reported that nearly every outdoor activity could benefit in some way from outfitter assistance for safety reasons, especially motorized activities, horseback riding, skiing, rock climbing, bow hunting, and winter activities (especially in avalanche country). Eighty percent of outfitters and sporting goods store employees do not feel there is an issue of crowding on the Forest. Sixty-four percent of sporting goods employees and 48% of outfitters notice resource degradation on the Forest. Sixty percent of sporting goods employees, but only 30% percent of outfitters feel there is an issue of conflict on the Forest. The majority of Forest Service personnel feel that time, budget, infrastructure, number of employees are not adequate to take on more permits, but that new activities or at least modification to existing permits could be considered. iii Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ iv Table of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... vii Part 1: Introduction .....................................................................................................................................2 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................3 Assessment of Need: ........................................................................................................................4 Capacity Analysis: .............................................................................................................................6 Part 2: Using This Document ................................................................................................................... 10 Data Sources and Methods .................................................................................................................... 10 Characteristics of Respondents to Surveys and Interviews ................................................................... 12 Outfitters ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Sporting Goods Store Employees .................................................................................................. 13 Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Service Personnel ......................................................................... 14 Limitations .............................................................................................................................................. 14 Part 3: Context – The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ............................................................. 15 National Visitor Use Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 15 Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Niche ....................................................................................... 16 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) and the BDNF Forest Plan ..................................................... 18 Wilderness Areas on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ........................................................ 22 The Anaconda Pintler Wilderness ................................................................................................