Mammoth Cave National Park
Spatiotemporal distributions of visitor use and associated thresholds for surface and aquatic trails at Mammoth Cave National Park
Objective:
The overall purpose of this research is to gather baseline information that will help support visitor use management (VUM) planning at MACA. This research is intended to inform and guide NPS managers in providing sustainable and appropriate visitor experiences and visitor uses in the park. Also, this study will provide subject matter expertise within the fields of visitor use management.
This study has six objectives:
This study has six objectives:
- Develop and administer visitor survey(s) to solicit information about trail use, the quality of the visitor experience, demographics, levels of opposition and support for potential management actions, desired points of interest, impressions of resource and experiential conditions, and levels of potential experiential conflict between distinct user groups (e.g., equestrian users and mountain bikers).
- Use GPS technology (e.g., data loggers) to evaluate the frequency, type, density, and temporal and spatial distributions of surface trail and river use patterns within and across seasons with an emphasis on day and overnight users.
- Gauge visitor use levels and associated experiences at three river access points using surveys, time-lapse photography, and/or other count data.
- Evaluate the ecological resource conditions of surface trails using a georeferenced rapid condition class assessment and problem area transects.
- Utilize information gathered for this project and existing park-provided information to inform visitor use and resource components of an upcoming comprehensive Trail Management Plan
- Design a sampling and monitoring protocol for future implementation to evaluate efficacy of management actions and general changes in use and conditions overtime.
Collaborators:
- Kansas State University
- U.S. National Park Service
