Carrying Out an Investigation

1. Carrying Out an Investigation decide on a focus develop research questions report what you’ve found choose a research approach • Research Cycle carry out analysis select methods collect the data Robson & Galvan

2. Example Research Studies • NPS Best Management Practices • Recreational Use in Moab Utah • Human Ecology Mapping

3. Nonpoint Source Pollution Best Management Practices

4. Sources of questions: US Forest Service, Aquatic and Lands Interaction Program (funded the project) What is the unit of analysis ? Individual landowners (non-commercial) Management Actions (learning methods and motivations) decide on a focus develop research questions report what you’ve found choose a research approach

5. Assessment Land management activities methods for learning Research Questions • Evaluation • effectiveness of learning methods

6. choose a research approach select methods Interviews (MS student) Survey (mail)

7. carry out analysis select methods collect the data Sampling frame Western WA Cons Dist program data base of participants Practicality Cost Access to data

8. carry out analysis select methods arrange practicalities collect the data What do the data tell you? Management actions Ways of learning Ranking of effectiveness Motivations for management Analytical Techniques Interviews: content analysis Survey: statistics

9. Results – Methods for Learning Landowner contacts Conservation District Seek information from books, journals, web Attend tour or demonstration Receive brochure or ad in mail Receive information at fairs/other events Conservation District contacts landowner Read about in newspaper Heard about on TV or radio

10. Landowner contacts District - 4.35 District contacts landowner – 4.22 Attend tour or demonstration – 4.08 Receive information from group – 3.90 Community or professional group Seek information from books – 3.87 Landowner contact other group – 3.87 Other group contact landowner – 3.83 Results - Effectiveness

11. Stewardship Accountability Personal Commitment Feasibility External Influences Results - Motivations

12. Who wants to know? US Forest Service Conservation Districts Landowners City/county agencies Public How to communicate? Fact Sheets Report Thesis Presentations Journal Article Water Center website report what you’ve found carry out analysis

13. Slickrock-Sand Flats Area ( Moab, UT) • Use of SRT increased from 300 in 1986 to 90,000 in 1993. • Camping expanded into Sand Flats (~9,000 acres of PJ, sage, grasses) • Local community conflict • SUWA: BLMmust set a use limit to protect the landscape • Two surveys: SLT in 1993 and regional survey in 1994

14. Slickrock/Sand Flats Survey • Use level: 83% “acceptable” or “could increase” • Physical impacts: 38% “acceptable” and 38% “too high” • Preferred management focus: 6% on “services” and 40% on “resource protection” (54% on both) • Other management priorities: Protection of resources (high), information on impacts and facilities (medium), additional services/access (low) • Charge fees?: 86% agreed, mode was $2.00/person/day (64% said $2 to $5 was “reasonable)

15. Slickrock/Sand Flats Management • Rather than limit/disperse, BLM used concentration strategy. • Collaborated – Grand County and Canyon Country Partnership. • Access fee: Annual revenue >$200,000 • Trail rides >120,000 • Response of visitors and local residents “very positive” even among local “skeptics” (Craig Bigler) • BLM portion of funds used to: add toilets to SR trailhead, harden existing campsites and trails, add new sites in ecologically resistant (previously impacted) areas, and direct campers to designated sites throughout area.

16. Concentration Strategy Benefits • Visitation increased but impacts decreased. • Reduce future impact area. • Retain freedom of choice for visitors. • Reduce displacement (region-wide, where low density experiences still exist.) • Increase management efficiency. • Potential for educational “fix” to reduce impacts and meet visitor expectations. • Increased revenue(fee collection) for ecological restoration on-site and regionally.