Estimating Recreation Visitation Response to Forest Management Alternatives in the Columbia River Basin

Abstract

To evaluate how forest management alternatives affect recreation visitation, managers need to know both the changes in demand for the sites being altered and the general changes in regional recreation trip production. This paper shows one way to obtain that information. Trip-generation models developed for the United States Forest Service's national assessments of recreation are combined with site-demand models to create a two-equation system. The system predicts visitation changes stemming from changes in resource management. Empirical application is made to levels of road closure on Federal lands in the Columbia River Basin (U.S.A.). Acres of roaded National Forests affect both visitation to that forest and regional supply of recreation opportunities, which affects recreation trip generation.

Citation

English, Donald B.K.; Horne, Amy. 1996. Estimating Recreation Visitation Response to Forest Management Alternatives in the Columbia River Basin. Journal of Applied Recreation Research, 21(4): 313-334, 1996