Treesearch

Summarizes information on techniques available for monitoring the condition of campsites, particularly those in wilderness. A variety of techniques are described and evaluated; sources of information are also listed. Problems with existing monitoring systems and places where refinement of technique is required are highlighted.

Unreclaimed surface mine impoundments provide poor fish and wildlife habitat. Recommendations given here for reclaiming "prelaw" impoundments and creating new impoundments could provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat if incorporated into existing laws and mine plans.

Expressions of the amount of vegetation lost on campsites should reflect both the proportion of vegetation lost and the area1 extent of vegetation loss. A new index-area of vegetation loss-incorporates these two elements by multiplying campsite area by absolute vegetation loss. Guidelines on how to take the measurements needed to calculate this index are provided Results of previous studies-using this new index-reconfirm the importance of concentrating camping both on a small number of sites and in a small area on each site.

Because wilderness holds a variety of culturally imbued meanings, it is necessary to understand its cultural origins. The Judeo-Christian origins of western society generally are credited with portraying wilderness as a synonym for desolate, wild, and uninhabited lands manifesting God’s displeasure. But wilderness also served an important function in Christianity as a place where one could prepare for contact with God. Such contrasting perspectives created an ambivalence that still prevails. Yet despite the ambivalence, early European and North American societies perceived wilderness as a...

Concern about livestock grazing in riparian habitats and its effect upon riparian-dependent resources has resulted in numerous controversies about the appropriate management approach. This document provides guidance for grazing of riparian areas in a manner that should reduce both nonpoint source pollution and potential grazing impacts on other riparian-dependent resources.

Bird and mammal populations using scoria rock outcrop and adjacentsagebrush/grassland habitats were studied. Bird populations and bird species richness were greater in the outcrop habitats than in the surrounding sagebrush/grassland habitats. These differences were attributedto the structural features provided by the outcrops. Most, but not all, small mammal populations also were larger in outcrop habitats. Reclaiming surface-mined lands with rock outcrops would enhance wildlife habitat, especially for birds.

Western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara Sheviak and Bowles) Populations at one time extended from southwestern Missouri north to northwestern Minnesota, and from eastern Iowa to the Sandhills of north central Nebraska. It is listed as endangered in Iowa and Minnesota and candidate for threatened or endangered status in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The questions are, “Why has it declined in numbers?” How have uses such as mowing for hay or grazing by cattle or no use (control) affected the numbers? In 1987, Permanently located individual...

Wilderness use is often subsumed under outdoor recreation participation in large-scale assessments. Participation monitoring has indicated, however, that wilderness use has been increasing faster than outdoor recreation use in general. In a sample of Forest Service wilderness and nonwildemess users during the summer of 1985, detailed expenditure, activity, and travel profiles were developed. The purpose of this analysis is to explore the possibility of differentiating between the characteristics of wilderness and general outdoor recreation users on the basis of trip characteristics,...

The third Research Colloquium, sponsored by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), convened the week of August 10-15 in the Popo Agie Wilderness, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. The purpose of these colloquia is to facilitate interaction and discussion between wilderness managers, researchers, and NOLS personnel in a wilderness setting. At each colloquium, discussion centers around a selected theme. For the third colloquium, participants were asked to write a short paper on the theme. This report is a compilation of those papers, along with a synopsis of discussions held during...

Distribution and habitat use of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida) in Arizona were studied from 1984-1988. Owls were widely but patchily distributed throughout the state except for the arid southwestern portion. Distribution of the owl corresponded with distribution of forested mountains and canyonlands within the state. Owls occurred either in rocky canyons or in any of several forest types, and were most common where unlogged closed canopy (> 80%) forests occurred in steep canyons. Several forest types provided these habitat characteristics in southern Arizona, and owls...