Representative Rivers: An Experimental Research Program in River Recreation Management

Earlier attempts at synthesizing research needs and priorities were not fruitful. It became an exercise in which I subconsciously tried to produce a document that was acceptable through peer review. I styled my writing and format after other analyses that I had read. It seemed the natural thing to do - to look just like the others so mine would be accepted. At the same time, I tried to be different. It became a matter of shifting chairs around the table, but somehow the dinner still looked the same. I did not really realize what I was doing until Drs. Workman and Becker, in separate reviews, pointed out the problem. They simply said I was not covering new ground or even looking critically at river-recreation management. The second attempt was more progressive in terms of reviewing previous research and management theory, and proposing a new approach to river recreation management research; but it was too disjointed to be effective in communicating the problems of present research and means of overcoming those problems. At least one thing became clear - most of the research done in recreation, particularly river recreation, was based on survey research designs which required a lot of data-crunching and liberal interpretation. As reproved by W. G. Workman, "Torture the data until nature confesses." In fact, much of the belief in the process of survey research appears to be related to the apparent ability to overcome inadequacies of research design by simply increasing sample size and then manipulating that data until some significant relationship is noted .First I wish to say "thanks" to Dr. Ted Dyrness who had faith in me and pushed for the original cooperative agreement with the U. S. Forest Service, and who also offered two extensions of the agreement so the final report might move in a different direction than earlier versions. Dr. Roger Clark, who acted as the technical advisor and reviewer for the agreement, helped immensely in the molding of the direction of the project. Drs. Robert H. Becker and William G. Workman diagnosed my problem in trying to prepare an acceptable program. And Drs. Steve McCool, University of Montana, and Mike Manfredo, Oregon State University, pointed to the need for reorganization and a more comprehensive research program. Within my own bailiwick, Steve Cook's help in the development of the original manuscript is recognized and appreciated. And thanks to my wife, J o, who at least pretended to understand when I brought home the manuscript, spread it out on the supper table, and mumbled something about reviewers. This project was funded jointly by the Pacific Northwest Forest Experiment Station through the Institute of Northern Forestry and W -13 3 Regional Hatch Project here at the Agriculture Experiment Station, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Participation, Preferences, and Characteristics of Outlying-Cabin Users in Alaska National Forests

The development and management of public-use cabins have been planned, or at least considered, by several federal and state agencies in Alaska. This bulletin reports the results of a pilot study of the cabin program of the U.S. Forest Service. There are problems of aggregated data which did not allow for detailed analysis; however, the report does provide an overview of the Forest Service outlying cabin program-who uses it, how they use it, and how they feel about it. The manager should be careful in applying the results without consideration of the total recreational spectrum, i.e., where the cabin program fits within this spectrum, and its cost in terms of other recreation opportunities that may be specified. It is the opinion of the authors that it would be unwise to simply mass reproduce the outlying cabin program in all areas having periods of inclement weather. The study sampled only cabin users-not all users or potential users of the particular landscape setting. To over-emphasize an expanded cabin program would reduce the continuum of opportunities. While subsequent studies of the cabin user population would likely find this group to prefer the new program, the users who did not prefer it or who were unwilling to adopt to new conditions would have been displaced. Thus, while the results have some direct applicability, it is also important to consider the maintenance of the continuum of recreational opportunities, only one portion of which is covered by outlying cabins

Toward the Integration of Economics and Outdoor Recreation Management

The general theme of this bulletin is that improved management of public-sector recreational resources is a multidisciplinary task. To this end, we attempt to integrate elements of outdoor recreation management theory and economics. The bulletin is written for both resource managers and researchers. For the former, our intent is to emphasize the importance of being aware of economic implications-at least conceptually-of management actions that influence the character and availability of recreational opportunities. To researchers involved in developing recreation management theory, we draw attention to the parallel between recreation management theory and the traditional managerial economic model of the firm. To economists, particularly those involved in developing and applying nonmarket valuation techniques, we draw attention to the types of decisions faced by resource managers. We argue that the most important resource allocation issues are of the incremental variety, so nonmarket valuation should also yield incremental values. These values alone, however, are not sufficient economic input into rational public choice analysis. The missing link , or nexus, between outdoor recreation management theory and economic analysis is the integration of supply and demand, as called for by traditional managerial economics. Collaborative research to develop recreation supply response functions akin to agricultural production functions is an essential step that is missing from both literatures. Theoretical and applied work assume greater practical importance if they feed information into this broadened framework. It is our hope that this bulletin will bring the disciplines closer to that realization

Outdoor recreation management

vii, 290 p.; 26 cm