Title:

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 1991 visitor survey data

Author(s):

Watson, Alan E.; Cole, David N.; Cronn, Richard; Sullivan, Z. Kent

Publication Year:

2018

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Watson, Alan E.; Cole, David N.; Cronn, Richard; Sullivan, Z. Kent. 2018. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 1991 visitor survey data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0006

Abstract:

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is in the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. The BWCAW receives the most use of any wilderness in the country, and has been the location of several studies. The data included in this publication are from a 1991 study aimed at two purposes: (1) to replicate, as nearly as possible, a similar 1969 study in the BWCAW and; (2) to examine the effects of a Forest Service proposal to reduce the number of entrance permits in hopes of increasing opportunities for solitude and reducing resource damage. Between May and September 1991, a sample of visitors was obtained from face-to-face contacts at boat-launch points or trailheads. Mailback surveys were then sent out to these visitors. Data were collected from the same 14 entry points as the 1969 study on approximately the same days of the use season; additionally, the sample was expanded to represent lower use level access points better than they had in 1969 to accomplish purpose number two above. This data publication includes the results from 295 mailback surveys.

Keywords:

wilderness users; user trends; visitor; overnight visitor; visitor experience; visitor characteristics; encounters; management; management planning; permits; user fees; canoes; paddle canoes; motorboats; impact; boundaries; economy; environment; inlandWaters; location; society; transportation; Environment and People; Recreation; Forest & Plant Health; Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis; Natural Resource Management & Use; Wilderness; Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; United States; Canada; Quetico; Minnesota; Superior National Forest

Related publications:

• Cole, David N.; Watson, Alan E.; Roggenbuck, Joseph W. 199510. Trends in wilderness visitors and visits: Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Shining Rock, and Desolation Wildernesses. Research Paper. INT-RP-483. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 38 p. (included in the full data publication download \Supplements\Cole_et_al_1995_INT-RP-483.pdf). http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/273.pdf
• Watson, Alan E.; Cronn, Richard. 1994. How previous experience relates to visitors' perceptions of wilderness conditions. Trends. 31(3): 43-46. Washington, DC: Backcountry Recreation Management. (included in the full data publication download \Supplements\Watson_Cronn_1994_Trends.pdf). http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/256.pdf
• Watson, Alan E. 1995. Opportunities for solitude in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 12(1): 12-18. (included in the full data publication download \Supplements\Watson_1995_NJAF.pdf). http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/262.pdf
• Dvorak, Robert G.; Watson, Alan E.; Christensen, Neal A.; Borrie, William T.; Schwaller, Ann. 2018. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 2007 visitor survey data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0008

Metrics:

Visit count : 204 0
Download count: 24
More details

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