Managing Recreation-related Impacts in the

ADIRONDACK PARK and Building a Culture of Wildlands Stewardship

Prepared by Ben Lawhon, MSLeave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics | February 2020

Confidentiality Notice: This document contains confidential and proprietary information of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (the Center). Accordingly, this document is confidential and is intended solely for the information of the individual or entity to which it is delivered by or on behalf of the Center. By accepting a copy of this document, the recipient agrees not to copy, distribute or otherwise disclose this document or its contents or any other related information to any other individual or entity without the prior

written consent of the Center. For more information on Leave No Trace, please visit www.LNT.org or call 1.800.332.4100*Stewardship – the management necessary to preserve wilderness, natural resources, and access for current and future generations.

A S S E S S M E N T R E P O R T

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AssessmentReportOverviewThisreportdetailsfindingsandobservationsfromacomprehensiveassessmentperformedbystafffromtheLeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics(theCenter).Theassessmentinvolvedseveralcomponentsincluding:

1. InitialconsultationwiththeAdirondackCouncilandtheAdirondackMountainClub(ADK)staffviaphone,email,andvideocallstogainbaselineunderstandingofrecreation-relatedissuesfacingtheAdirondackPark;

2. AdministrationofanonlinesurveytoAdirondackParkmanagers,keypartners,andothersduringAugustof2019tocollectdataonrecreationtrends,recreationpatterns,pressingrecreation-relatedissues,significantimpactsfromrecreation,andstrategiescurrentlybeingutilizedtoaddresstheseconcerns;

3. Anon-sitevisitconductedbyCenterstaffinconjunctionwithCouncilandADKstaff

toexploreandobservecurrentparkconditions,meetwithkeyParkmanagementstafffromboththeNYDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservationandtheAdirondackParkAgencyandotherstakeholders,andtoacquireasolidunderstandingofhowLeaveNoTracemightbeeffectivelyandefficientlyoverlaidonanddeployedintheAdirondackPark.

ThisreportisintendedtoserveasaguidingdocumentfortheAdirondackParkasmanagersandkeypartnersmovethroughtheprocessofintegratingLeaveNoTraceintooverallmanagementoftheParkwhereaneducationalapproachtovisitormanagementiswarranted.Educationismostsuccessfulwhenimplementedaspartofalargercomprehensivemanagementstrategy,andinconcertwithothermanagementtechniques,includinginfrastructure,staffing,anddirectintervention.Furthermore,whilethestrategies,techniques,andmethodsoutlinedinthisdocumenthavebeensuccessfullyutilizedinmanyparksandprotectedareasacrossthecountry,theseshouldbeconsideredastartingpointfortheAdirondackPark.Whenlocallandmanagerstailoreducationalandstewardshipeffortstotheirspecificenvironment,constituents,andvisitors,theeffortsaregenerallymoresuccessfulandgarnerbroaderbuy-infromthecommunityatlarge.Assuch,theCenterencouragesParkmanagersandkeypartnerstoviewthisreportasalivingdocumentthathasthepotentialtoprovideafoundationfromwhichinnovationandadaptationcanoccurtobestmeettheevolvingneedsoftheAdirondackParkforyearstocome.

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TableofContents

AssessmentReportOverview .......................................................................................................................... 2

AdirondackParkOverview .............................................................................................................................. 5

NeedforEffectiveLeaveNoTraceEducation ................................................................................................. 7

AdirondackParkUsagePatternsandImpactsSurvey .................................................................................. 9 Overview .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 ExecutiveSummary ................................................................................................................................................. 9 ResultsSummary ................................................................................................................................................... 10 SurveyMethodology .............................................................................................................................................. 11 SurveyResults ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 DiscussionofSurveyResults .................................................................................................................................. 26

UnderstandingandManagingVisitors–LiteratureReview ....................................................................... 28 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 EducationandInformation ................................................................................................................................... 28 EfficacyofVisitorEducation ................................................................................................................................. 30 DepreciativeBehaviors ......................................................................................................................................... 31 VisitorPerceptionsofImpacts .............................................................................................................................. 32 MessagingandSignage ......................................................................................................................................... 33 BarrierstoCompliance ......................................................................................................................................... 35 LeaveNoTrace ...................................................................................................................................................... 36 AttitudeTheory ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 ImplicationsforManagement–Keyfindingsfromtheliterature ....................................................................... 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................. 38

LeaveNoTraceProgramImplementation–2020andBeyond .................................................................. 39

RecommendationsforManagingRecreation-relatedImpactsintheAdirondackParkandBuildingaCultureofWildlandsStewardship ................................................................................................................ 41 I.Management&PlanningRecommendations .................................................................................................... 41 II.Research&MonitoringRecommendations ...................................................................................................... 43 III.Tourism&MarketingRecommendations ....................................................................................................... 45 IV.SocialMediaRecommendations ...................................................................................................................... 48 V.Partnerships&CoordinationRecommendations ............................................................................................. 49

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VI.GroupUse&Adirondack‘Challenges’Recommendations .............................................................................. 50 VII.Outreach&EducationRecommendations ..................................................................................................... 51 VIII.TrainingRecommendations .......................................................................................................................... 55 IX.Dept.ofEnvironmentalConservationRecommendations .............................................................................. 56 X.InfrastructureRecommendations ..................................................................................................................... 57

AdditionalRecommendedMethodsandTacticsforEducatingAdirondackParkVisitors ..................... 59

BenefitsofUsingLeaveNoTracefortheAdirondackPark ........................................................................ 62

PotentialResearch .......................................................................................................................................... 63 SampleMethodologies .......................................................................................................................................... 63 ResearchCouldAnswertheFollowingQuestions ................................................................................................. 64

ModelLeaveNoTraceLanguagetoAddressIssues ..................................................................................... 65

ExamplesofSignage,Brochures,andDigitalMedia .................................................................................... 71

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 90

References ....................................................................................................................................................... 91

Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................... 96 AppendixA–LeaveNoTraceEthicsCardExamples ........................................................................................... 96 AppendixB–LeaveNoTraceResolution–SanJuanIslands,WA ....................................................................... 97 AppendixC–Whatarethe3-5mostpressingissuesonthelandsyoumanage? ................................................ 99 AppendixD–Arethereotherrecreation-relatedimpactsintheAdirondackParknotlistedabove? ............. 100 AppendixE–HowfamiliarareyouwiththetypicalAdirondackParkvisitor? ................................................ 101 AppendixF–Whatarethemainobjectivesforyourvolunteerprogram? ....................................................... 101 AppendixG–Whattypesofsitesrequireafee?Checkallthatapply. ............................................................... 102 AppendixH–WhatagenciesprovidelawenforcementonpubliclandsintheAdirondackPark? ................... 102 AppendixI–WhatareyourgoalsforaLeaveNoTraceprogramforthelandsyoumanage? ........................ 102 AppendixJ–HowwouldyouenvisionLeaveNoTraceinformationbeingdisseminatedtoAdirondackParkvisitors?Checkallthatapply. ............................................................................................................................. 104 AppendixK–PleaselistadditionalfeedbackorcommentsorfeedbackregardingLeaveNoTraceeffortsintheAdirondackPark. ................................................................................................................................................. 104

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AdirondackParkOverviewTheAdirondackParkwascreatedin1892bytheStateofNewYork,effectivelyformingthelargestpubliclyprotectedareainthecontiguousUnitedStates.Atthetimeofitscreation,theAdirondackParkwasawildlandscapecontainingprodigiouswater,vastforests,andhighmountainpeaks.WhilethelandintheParkwasunderthreatfromloggingandcultivation,itwasalsopoisedforanincredibleconservationeffort,thelikesofwhichhadneverbeforebeenundertaken.ThoughtheAdirondackForestPreservewasestablishedin1885,itwasnotrecognizedasaconstitutionallyprotectedForeverWildareauntil1894,makingittheone-of-a-kindParkthatitistoday.OftheAdirondackPark's6millionacres,2.6millionacresareownedbyNewYorkState.Theremaining3.4millionacresareprivatelyowned.TheParkisalsohometoover100townsandvillages.ThereiscommonconfusionregardingthePark’sstatus–manythinkitisanationalpark.Regardlessofanyconfusion,thePark’smixofpublicandprivatelandallowsforconservationandcivilizationtoflourish.TheoriginalsurveyoroftheAdirondackParkwasVerplanckColvin,whoamongotherthings,wasatopographicalengineer.HisearlyworkinandfondnessoftheregionhelpedgenerateawarenessoftheneedtoprotecttheareawhichwouldeventuallybecometheAdirondackPark.Inthe1860s,Colvinspentmuchtimeexploringtheregion,andbythelate1860shedecidedageologicsurveyoftheareawasnecessary.ColvinappliedforfundsfromNewYorkStatein1872tocoverthecostsofthesurvey.Withagrantof$1,000,ColvinwasnamedSuperintendentoftheAdirondackSurvey,andtheworkbegan.BecauseofhisworkintheAdirondacks,hewasabletoexpressthegrowingneedtoconservethestate’swildestlands.ColvineventuallywasappointedasSuperintendentoftheNewYorkLandSurvey.HisworkinthispositionplayedasignificantroleintheestablishmentoftheAdirondackParkForestPreserve.ForestPreservelandcomprisesasignificantportionoftheAdirondackPark–2.6millionacres.ForestPreservelandhasspecificregulationsandlandusecodes,meaningthelandisdesignatedas“ForeverWild”undertheNewYorkStateConstitution,ArticleXIV.ForeverWildlandisdesignated“topreservetheexceptionalscenic,recreational,andecologicalvalue”inperpetuity.Formoreinformation,see:http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4960.htmlThislevelofprotectionfromtheStateensuresthattheselandswillnotbelogged,thatresourceprotectionwillbeprioritized,andthatlandswillofferexceptionalrecreationalopportunities.Thestate-ownedlandsintheParkconsistofhistoric,wilderness,canoe,primitive,wildforest,andadministrativelands.Oftheremaining3.4millionacresinthePark,theyareprivatelyowned(towns,villages,businesses,andfarms),andtheuseoftheselandsisoverseenandregulatedbytheAdirondackParkAgency.TheuniquenatureoftheAdirondackParkaddscomplexitytoconsiderationofrecreationalimpactsonseveralfronts.First,theterm“visitor”isnot,strictlyspeaking,accurateofmanyoftherecreationists.Manyareresidents,livingwithintheboundsofthePark,althoughvisitorstothepublicland.Second,unlikemanyofthefederallands,themandatefortheForestPreserveisnotequallyweightedbetweenrecreationandprotection.Theprimary

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reasonforprotectionoftheForestPreservewasforpreservationofwaterqualityandtimber.RecreationisnotgivenequalweightintheNYSConstitution,orlater,intheAdirondackParkStateLandMasterPlan,althoughthislatterisadocumentthatinherentlydealswithrecreationmanagement.1Nor,indeed,doesrecreationappearinthemissionstatementoftheagencychargedwithmanagingtheForestPreserve:ThemissionoftheNYSDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservationis"Toconserve,improveandprotectNewYork'snaturalresourcesandenvironmentandtoprevent,abateand controlwater,landandairpollution,inordertoenhancethehealth,safetyandwelfareofthepeopleofthestateandtheiroveralleconomicandsocialwell-being."Asistrueofmanyprotectedlandscapes,astakeholdergroupleftoutofdiscussionofrecreationalimpactsisthenon-usegroup(thosewhomaynevervisitaprotectedlandscape,butvalueitsexistence)2.Whileprotectionofalandscapeincludesprotectiononbehalfofthisgroup,thefocusofthisreportismitigationofrecreationalimpactsthrougheducation.Assuch,protectiononbehalfoffuturegenerationsandnon-visitorsisimplied,butotherwisenotexplicit.TheParkhas30,000milesofstreamsandriversaswellas3,000pondsandlakes,makingitidealforwater-basedrecreationincludingpaddlingandangling.Additionally,thereare46mountainpeaksintheAdirondacksthatareover3,900feetinelevationknownastheHighPeaks.ThehighestoftheHighPeaksisMountMarcy,whichisalsothetallestpeakinthestateat5,343feet.HikingandbackpackingarepopularactivitiesintheParkwhichpossessesmorethan2,000milesoftrails.Year-roundrecreationoccursintheParkincludingcrosscountryanddownhillskiing,snowmobiling,andsnowshoeingduringthewintermonths.GiventhePark’sproximityto60millionpeople,itdrawsvisitorsfromacrosstheregion.*Thisinformationwasadaptedfrom:AdirondackRegionalTourismCouncil.AbouttheAdirondackPark.(n.d.).RetrievedJanuary7,2020fromhttps://visitadirondacks.com/about/adirondack-park

1("Ifthereisaunifyingthemetotheclassificationsystem,itisthattheprotectionandpreservationofthenaturalresourcesofthestatelandswithintheParkmustbeparamount.Humanuseandenjoymentofthoselandsshouldbepermittedandencouraged,solongastheresourcesintheirphysicalandbiologicalcontextandtheirsocialorpsychologicalaspectsarenotdegraded"(APSLMP1987)2https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/beyond-visit-how-we-value-national-parks

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NeedforEffectiveLeaveNoTraceEducationDecadesofpublicinvestmenthaveyieldedmillionsofacresoflandsetasidefortheprotectionandpreservationofnaturalresources,withrecreationencouragedaswell—theAdirondackPark.Variousinitiativeshavenotonlyprovidedanunparalleledcatalystforcreatingworld-classrecreationalopportunitiesintheregion,buttheyhavealsocreatedanexpectationoftangiblepublicbenefit.ThosecurrentlyengagedinmanagingthepubliclandswithintheAdirondackParkhavealegalmandateintheNewYorkStateConstitutiontoprotectthenaturalresourcesoftheForestPreserve.3Thisisnotinconflictwithagoalofprovidingaccesstoexceptionalrecreationalopportunities,4particularlyifcriticalminimumimpacteducationandprogrammingdirectlyrelatedtooutdoorrecreationandresponsibleenjoymentoftheParkisalsoprovided.LeaveNoTraceinformationhasthecapacitytobeasubstantialandmeaningfulpartofthisgoal.Bydevelopingandprovidinglocally-tailored,Park-specificandactivity-basedLeaveNoTraceinformation,recreation-relatedresourceandsocialimpactscanbeavoided,minimized,ormitigatedintheAdirondackPark.LeaveNoTraceisagloballyrecognizededucationprogram,backedbyscience.IntheUnitedStates,ithasbeenadoptedbyallfivefederallandmanagementagencies(USForestService,NationalParkService,BureauofLandManagement,USFishandWildlife,ArmyCorpsofEngineers)aswellastheAssociationofStateParks.ItiswidelyimplementedacrosspubliclandsfromsmallmunicipalparkstolargeWildernessareas.Researchhasdemonstratedisefficacyinreducingrecreation-relatedimpactsthroughbehaviorchange.Usingconsistent,uniformlanguagebothincreasesthemessagepenetrationamongstrecreationistsanddecreasestheburdenonlandmanagerstocreateuniqueeducationalprogramming.ResearchincludingsurveysofrecreationistsfromacrossfederalandstatelandsshowsthattheLeaveNoTracemessageiswidelyrecognized.AdoptingthismessagingallowsotherareastoamplifyamessagethatAdirondacklandmanagerswantvisitorstohear.Consistencyinmessagingincreasesthelikelihoodofsuccessinchangingvisitorbehavior.Additionally,asvisitorstootherworld-classrecreationaldestinationsareaccustomedtoseeingLeaveNoTraceasthepreferredmessage,reiterationofthatmessagereinforcesboththemessageandtheworld-classnatureoftheAdirondackPark.DefiningandbettercommunicatingasustainablerecreationparadigmforParkvisitorsisgoingtobecomeincreasinglyimportantintheyearstocome.Parkmanagersandpartners

3ArticleXIV,Section4,NYSConstitution:“Thepolicyofthestateshallbetoconserveandprotectitsnaturalresourcesandscenicbeauty”4“..[TheAdirondackPark]wasmadeawildresortinwhichnatureisgivenfreerein.Itsusesforhealthandpleasuremustnotbeinconsistentwithitspreservationasforestlandsinawildstate.Itmustalwaysretainthecharacterofawilderness”Assn.forProtectionofAdirondacksv.MacDonald,228App.Div.73,81(N.Y.App.Div.1930)

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needtoaddressexpectationsforpublicusewhilesimultaneouslyprotectingthecriticalnaturalandculturalresourcesfoundinthePark.VisitorsneedaclearunderstandingofboththeexperiencesavailabletothemintheParkaswellasappropriateandresponsiblebehaviorwhileenjoyingthesesharedresources.

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AdirondackParkUsagePatternsandImpactsSurvey Inordertoobtainbaselinedataon,andperceptionsof,recreationaluseandrelatedimpactsintheAdirondackPark,CenterstaffsurveyedpertinentParklandmanagementagencyandNGOstaff,keystakeholders,andotherssuchastrailclubrepresentativesormembers.ThesurveydatayieldedconsistentresultsacrossthespectrumregardingperceptionsofcurrentusageoftheParkandtheassociatedimpacts.

Overview ThefollowingreportsummarizestheresultsofasurveyadministeredbytheLeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics(theCenter)AugustandSeptemberof2019.Thepurposeofthissurveywastocollectdataregarding:

1) PerceptionsofcurrentrecreationtrendsandpatternsinthePark2) Perceptionsofrecreation-relatedimpactsinthePark3) Currentmanagementtechniquesbeingusedtoaddresstheseimpacts4) Potentialdevelopmentoflocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogram(s)

Thefollowingisasummaryofthesurveydata.Open-endedresponsescanbefoundintheappendicesofthisreport.

ExecutiveSummary SurveyresultsindicatethatrespondentsfeelthereareseveralsignificantissuesfacingtheAdirondackPark.Furthermore,fourofthereportedissueswerecategorizedassevereintermsoflevelofimpact.However,surveyrespondentsindicatedthattherearenumerouspotentialopportunitiestoutilizeLeaveNoTraceeducationthroughavarietyofmeanstoimproveconditionsinthePark.Afewofthemostsalientfindingsinclude:

• Hiking,flatwateractivities,wintersports,campingindevelopedsites,andpeakbaggingwerereportedtobethetopfiverecreationalpursuitsintheAdirondackPark.

• Overuse,crowding,traildegradation,trailerosion,humanwaste,petwaste,parkingissues,andunpreparedvisitorswerelistedasthemostpressingissuesfacingthePark.

• Improperdisposalofhumanwaste,trailimpacts,increasedvisitationduetosocialmedia,andparkingissueswereallratedsevereintermsoftheimpactresultingfromtheseproblems.

• AvarietyoftechniquesarecurrentlyinusetoeducateParkvisitorsaboutenjoyingtheParkresponsibly,whichincludeLeaveNoTraceeducation,printededucationalmaterials,web-basedinformation,signage,anddirectvisitoreducation.

• WhenaskedwhetherornotthedevelopmentofaPark-specificLeaveNoTraceprogramwasaproactiveeffortorinresponsetoincreasedrecreation-relatedimpacts,over75%ofrespondentsindicateditwasbothproactiveandreactionary.

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• RespondentsindicatedthatthegoalsofafocusedLeaveNoTraceprogramfortheparkinclude:educatingvisitorsaboutprotectingthePark,reducing/preventingimpacttothePark,andpromotionofaconsistentLeaveNoTrace/stewardshipmessage.

ResultsSummary Surveyrespondentsweregivenalistof22recreationalactivitiesandaskedtoreportwhichwerethemostpopularintheAdirondackPark.Respondentsindicatedthathiking,flatwateractivities,wintersports,campingindevelopedsites,andpeakbaggingwerethefivemostpopularactivitiesintheAdirondackPark.RespondentswerealsoaskedaboutthemostpressingissuesfacingtheAdirondackPark.Thoughthiswasanopen-responsequestion,themajorityofsurveyparticipantswroteinthefollowing:overuse/crowding,traildegradation/trailerosion,humanandpetwaste,parkingissuesandunpreparedvisitors.Respondentswerealsogivenalistof20recreation-relatedimpactsandwereinstructedtorateeachashavingNoimpact,Slightimpact,Moderateimpact,ExtensiveorSevereimpact.Improperdisposalofhumanwaste,trailimpacts,increasedvisitationduetosocialmediaandparkingissueswereallselectedbythemajorityofrespondentsashavingaSevereimpact.Surveyrespondentswereaskedtoreportonthemanagementtechniquescurrentlyinusetoaddressrecreation-relatedimpacts.Theywereprovidedwithalistof15mitigationmethodsandaskedtonoteifeachwasCurrentlyinuse,UsedinthepastorNeverused.Eachmethodwasreportedasbeingcurrentlyinusebythemajorityofrespondentswiththeexceptionoflimitingaccessandpermitsystem.Fivemethodswereselectedbyover90%oftherespondentsincludingLeaveNoTraceinformation,printededucationalmaterials,websiteinformation,signage/kiosksandvisitoreducation.WhenaskedhowfrequentlyLeaveNoTracewasusedintheAdirondackPark,48%ofrespondentssaiditwasUsedoccasionally.NoneofthesurveyrespondentsindicatedthatLeaveNoTracewasNeverused.SurveyrespondentswereaskedhowfamiliartheyarewiththetypicalAdirondackParkvisitor.Themajorityofrespondents(58.5%)saidthattheywereExtremelyfamiliarwiththetypicalvisitortotheAdirondackPark.Respondentswerealsoaskedwhethertheiragencyororganizationadministersavolunteerprogram.Nearlythree-quartersofthesurveyrespondents(72.5%)indicatedthattheirorganizationadministersavolunteerprogram.Whenaskedinanopen-responsequestionwhatthemainobjectivesoftheirvolunteerprogramwere,mostoftheresponsesfocusedontrailwork/maintenance,stewardshipandeducation.RespondentswereaskedwhetherornottherewereanyusefeesintheAdirondackPark.Themajorityofsurveyrespondents(92.7%)indicatedthattherewereareasintheParkwithusefees.Whenaskedtoreportwhattypeofsitesrequiredfeesatleasthalfoftherespondentsreportedthatcampgrounds,dayusesitesandtrailheadparkingareashadusefees.Whenaskedwhetherornottherewasalawenforcementpresenceinthe

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Adirondackpark,100%ofrespondentsindicated,Yes,therewas.Additionally,100%ofrespondentsreportedtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(DEC)wasanagencyprovidingalawenforcementpresencefortheAdirondackPark.Thefinalportionofthesurveyfocusedonthepotentialfutureofalocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogramintheAdirondackPark.First,respondentswereaskedwhetherornottheybelievedthatthedevelopmentoftheprogramwasbeingusedtoaddressexistingissuesorifitwasaproactiveeffort.Over75%ofrespondentsbelievedthatthedevelopmentofaLeaveNoTraceprogramwasbothaproactiveeffortaswellasonetoaddressexistingissues.SurveyrespondentswereaskedtowriteindesiredgoalsforaLeaveNoTraceprogram.Thoughthiswasanopen-responsequestionmanyoftheresponsesfocusedoneducatingvisitorsaboutprotectingthepark,reducing/preventingimpacttothepark,andpromotionofaconsistentLeaveNoTrace/stewardshipmessage.Themajorityofrespondents(87.8%)reportedthattheiragencyororganizationhadstaffthataretrainedinLeaveNoTrace.Additionally,over72%oftheseagencieshadstaffthathadcompletedaLeaveNoTrace5-dayMasterEducatorCourseandanother44.4%reportedhavingstaffthathadparticipatedina2-dayLeaveNoTraceTrainerCourse.SurveyrespondentswereaskedhowtheyenvisionedLeaveNoTracebeingdisseminatedtovisitors.Theywereprovidedwithalistof14differentmethodsofdisseminationandaskedtoselectallthatapply.Sixofthe14methodswereselectedbyatleast90%ofsurveyrespondentsasbeingawaytheyenvisionLeaveNoTracebeingdisseminatedtoparkvisitors.Thesemethodsincludedsocialmedia,printmedia,website,localusergroupsandvolunteers.Finally,surveyrespondentswereaskedwhattypeofagencyororganizationtheyworkedorvolunteeredfor.Themajorityofrespondents(43.9%)workedforaStateagency.Another22%ofrespondentsworkedforNon-governmentalorganizationsand14.6%reportedworkingforaTrailorganizationorclub.

SurveyMethodology Thissurveywasfacilitatedusingtheonlinesurveyplatformwww.SurveyGizmo.com.ThesurveywasadministeredfromAugust19-September25in2019.ThesamplewasaconveniencesamplewhichwasgeneratedbystafffromboththeAdirondackCouncilandtheAdirondackMountainClub.Thesurveylinkwasdistributedtoover60individualsthroughouttheregion,andatotalof44surveyresponsesweregenerated.Thissurveywasnotpassword-protected.

SurveyResults1. PleaseselectthefivemostpopularrecreationalactivitiesintheAdirondackPark.Surveyrespondentsweregivenalistof18recreationalactivitiesincludingHiking,Mountainbiking,Picnicking,Naturephotography,Bicycling,Campingindevelopedsites,Rockclimbing,Backpacking,Angling,Hunting,Birding,Wintersports(skiing,snowshoeing,sledding),ATV/OHVuse,Motorizedboating,Dispersedcamping(notindevelopedsites),Peak

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bagging,Flatwateractivities(swimming,standuppaddleboarding,canoeing,kayaking)andOtherinwhichtheycouldwriteinadditionalactivitiesnotincludedonthelist.Fromthis

listrespondentswereaskedtoselectthefivemostpopularactivitiestakingplaceinAdirondackPark.Hikingwasselectedasbeingthemostpopularactivitywith100%ofrespondentsselectingitwithinthefivemostpopularactivities.ThiswasfollowedbyFlatwateractivities(swimming,standuppaddleboarding,canoeing,kayaking),Wintersports(skiing,snowshoeing,sledding),CampingindevelopedsitesandPeakbaggingwerealsolistedinthetopfiverecreationactivitiesinthePark.RespondentswerealsogiventhechancetoselectOtherandwriteinotherpopularrecreationalactivitiesthatwerenotincludedinthelist.Ofthosewhowroteinaresponse,allrespondedwithsnowmobiling.Thesewriteinanswerscanbefoundintheappendices.2. Whatarethe3-5mostpressingrecreation-relatedissuesfacingtheAdirondack

Park?Thisquestionwasanopen-responsequestioninwhichrespondentscouldwriteinthe3-5mostpressingissuesonthelandsinAdirondackPark.Theanswerstothisquestioncanbefoundintheappendices.However,themajorityoftheresponsesrelatedtooveruse/crowding,traildegradation/trailerosion,humanandpetwaste,parkingandunderpreparedvisitors.

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3. Ratethefollowingrecreation-relatedimpactsintheAdirondackPark.Respondentsweregivenalistof22recreation-relatedimpacts(seetablebelow)andwereaskedtorateeachoneaseitherhavingNoimpact,Slightimpact,Moderateimpact,Extensiveimpact,SevereimpactorNotapplicable. No

ImpactSlightImpact

ModerateImpact

ExtensiveImpact

SevereImpact

Notapplicable

Petwaste 0(0.0%)

16(40.0%)

17(42.5%)

7(17.5%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

Damagetovegetation

0(0.0%)

4(9.8%)

9(22.0%)

22(53.7%)

6(14.6%)

0(0.0%)

Trash 0(0.0%)

5(12.2%)

16(39.0%)

14(34.1%)

6(14.6%)

0(0.0%)

Visitorconflicts

1(2.4%)

12(29.3%)

24(58.5%)

4(9.8%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

Inappropriateuseoftechnology(geocaching,drones,etc.)

1(2.4%)

13(31.7%)

18(43.9%)

6(14.6%)

3(7.3%)

0(0.0%)

Invasivespecies

0(0.0%)

2(4.9%)

17(41.5%)

10(24.4%)

12(29.3%)

0(0.0%)

Improperdisposalofhumanwaste

0(0.0%)

3(7.5%)

11(27.5%)

11(27.5%)

15(37.5%)

0(0.0%)

Publicsafetyissues

0(0.0%)

7(17.1%)

11(26.8%)

13(31.7%)

9(22.0%)

1(2.4%)

Petmanagement

1(2.5%)

16(40.0%)

16(40.0%)

6(15.0%)

1(2.5%)

0(0.0%)

Pollutionofwatersources

0(0.0%)

13(31.7%)

21(51.2%)

6(14.6%)

1(2.4%)

0(0.0%)

Damagetoculturalorhistoricalfeatures

1(2.4%)

24(58.5%)

10(24.4%)

5(12.2%)

1(2.4%)

0(0.0%)

Campfireimpacts

0(0.0%)

15(36.6%)

16(39.0%)

7(17.1%)

2(4.9%)

1(2.4%)

Impactstowildlife

0(0.0%)

11(26.8%)

16(39.0%)

12(29.3%)

2(4.9%)

0(0.0%)

Trailimpacts 0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

8(19.%)

13(31.7%)

20(48.8%)

0(0.0%)

ATV/OHVImpacts

0(0.0%)

16(39.0%)

15(36.6%

6(14.6%)

4(9.8%)

0(0.0%)

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NoImpact

SlightImpact

ModerateImpact

ExtensiveImpact

SevereImpact

Notapplicable

Increasedimpactsduetosocialmedia

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

10(24.4%)

15(36.6%)

14(34.1%)

2(4.9%)

Offtrailtraveldamage

2(4.9%)

18(43.9%)

9(22.0%)

9(22.0%)

3(7.3%)

0(0.0%)

Stock(horse,llama,etc.)impacts

16(39.0%)

21(51.2%)

3(7.3%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

1(2.4%)

Undesignatedcamping

3(7.3%)

24(58.5%)

11(26.8%)

2(4.9%)

0(0.0%)

1(2.4%)

Shootingimpacts

14(35.0%)

20(50.0%)

4(10.0%)

0(0.0%)

1(2.5%)

1(2.5%)

Increasedvisitationduetosocialmedia

0(0.0%)

1(2.4%)

5(12.2%)

16(39.0%)

18(43.9%)

1(2.4%)

Parkingissues

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

6(14.6%)

16(39.0%)

19(46.3%)

0(0.0%)

Trailimpactswereratedashavingtheheaviestimpactwithover48%ofsurveyrespondentsratingthemasSevere.ThiswasfollowedcloselybyParkingissues(46.3%)andIncreasedvisitationduetosocialmedia(43.9%)whichwerebothratedbymorethan40%ofrespondentsashavingaSevereimpactonthePark.Finally,53.7%ofrespondentsratedDamagetovegetationasanExtensiveimpactintheAdirondackPark.4. Arethereanyotherrecreation-relatedimpactsnotlistedabove?Respondentswereaskedtoreportonotherrecreation-relatedimpactsthatwerenotincludedintheoriginallist.Thisquestionwasanoptional,open-responsequestionManyofthe16responsestothisquestionaddressedtheDiminishedwildernesscharacterofthePark.Afulllistofresponsescanbeseenintheappendices.5. Howdoesyouragencyororganizationaddressrecreation-relatedimpactsinthe

AdirondackPark?Surveyrespondentsweregivenalistof15mitigationmethods(seetablebelow)andaskedtoselectwhethereachisCurrentlyinuse,Usedinthepast,orNeverused.Additionally,surveyrespondentsweregiventheoptiontowriteinothermitigationmethods.

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Currentlyinuse Usedinthepast NeverusedInterpretativeprograms

26(68.4%)

4(10.5%)

8(21.1%)

Lawenforcement 25(67.6%)

1(2.7%)

11(29.7%)

LeaveNoTraceinformation

37(92.5%)

0(0.0%)

3(7.5%)

Limitingaccess 13(34.2%)

3(7.9%)

22(57.9%)

Permitsystem 8(21.1%)

3(7.9%)

27(71.1%)

Printededucationalmaterials

36(92.3%)

1(2.6%)

2(5.1%)

Websiteinformation 35(92.1%)

2(5.3%)

1(2.6%)

Signage/kiosks 37(94.9%)

0(0.0%)

2(5.1%)

Stafftraining 34(85.0%)

2(5.0%)

4(10.0%)

Issuingcitations 24(63.2%)

0(0.0%)

14(36.8%)

Visitoreducation 39(100.0%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

Volunteerprograms 34(87.2%)

1(2.6%)

4(10.3%)

Youtheducation 30(76.9%)

0(0.0%)

9(23.1%)

Areaclosures 12(33.3%)

7(19.4%)

17(47.2%)

Publicoutreach 33(84.6%)

3(7.7%)

3(7.7%)

Ofthe15mitigationmethods,12werereportedbythemajorityofsurveyrespondentsasbeingCurrentlyinuse.ThemostpopularmethodsofmitigationwereVisitoreducation(100%),Websiteinfo(94.9%),LeaveNoTraceinformation(92.5%)andPrintededucationalmaterials(92.3%).Permitsystems,LimitingaccessandAreaclosuresweretheonlymethodsreportedbythemajorityofrespondentsasNeverused.Therewereonlyfourwrite-inanswersforadditionalwaysrecreation-relatedimpactswerebeingaddressed.TheywereLandconservation,Investmentininfrastructure,Publiccommentletters&advocacy,Trailmaintenanceandconstruction,andtrailheadandSummitstewards.

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6. TowhatextentisLeaveNoTraceinformationcurrentlyutilizedtoaddressrecreation-relatedimpactsintheAdirondackPark?

RespondentswereaskedtoreporttheextenttowhichLeaveNoTraceisbeingutilizedtoaddressrecreationrelatedimpactsintheAdirondackPark.TheyweregiventheoptionsrangingfromNeverused,Almostneverused,Usedoccasionally/sometimes,Usedalmosteverytime,Frequently/extensivelyused,orIdon’tknow.

Nearlyhalfofrespondents(48%)reportedthatLeaveNoTracewasUsedoccasionallytoaddressrecreation-relatedimpacts.Usedextensively(25%)andUsedalmosteverytime(23%)werealsoreported.NorespondentsindicatedthatLeaveNoTracewasNeverusedorAlmostneverused.7. HowfamiliarareyouwiththetypicalAdirondackParkvisitor?

SurveyrespondentswereaskedtoreporthowfamiliartheywerewiththetypicalAdirondackParkvisitor.RespondentsweregiventheoptionofNotfamiliaratall,Slightlyfamiliar,Somewhatfamiliar,Moderatelyfamiliar,orExtremelyfamiliar.TheywerealsogiventheoptiontoselectOtherandwriteinaresponse.Afulllistofresponsescanbeseenintheappendices.

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Themajorityofrespondents(58.5%)reportedthattheywereExtremelyfamiliarwiththetypicalvisitortoAdirondackPark.Another22%saidthattheywereModeratelyfamiliar.Overall,surveyrespondentswerefamiliarwiththeaveragevisitorwithnorespondentsindicatingthattheywereNotatallfamiliarwiththetypicalvisitor.8. IstheAdirondackParkopentocommercialuse(outfitter/guide,summercamps,

organizedgroups,etc.)?SurveyRespondentswereaskedtoreportwhetherornotthelandstheymanageorworkonareopentocommercialusebygroupssuchasoutfitters/guides,summercamps,orotherorganizedgroups.Alloftherespondents(100%)reported,Yes,theAdirondackParkisopentocommercialuse.ThisindicatesbroadunderstandingofcurrentuseoftheParkbycommercialentities.9. Doesyouragencyororganizationadministeravolunteerprogram?Surveyrespondentswereaskediftheiragencyororganizationadministersavolunteerprogram.TheyweregiventheoptionofselectingYes,No,orNotsure.

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Over72%ofrespondentsreported,Yes,thattheagencyororganizationstheyworkforadministerssometypeofvolunteerprogram.Theremaining27.5%reportedthattheiragencydidnothaveavolunteerprogram.10. Whatarethemainobjectivesforyourvolunteerprogram?Thisquestionwasanopen-endedquestioninwhichsurveyrespondentscouldlistthemainobjectivesofthevolunteerprogramsonthelandstheymanage.MostoftheresponsescenteredaroundTrailwork/maintenance,StewardshipandEducation.Afulllistofresponsescanbefoundintheappendices.11. ArethereusefeesatanysitesintheAdirondackPark?*SurveyrespondentswereaskedwhetherornottherewereanyusefeesatanyareasinthePark.TheywereabletoselectfromtheresponsesYes,No,andNotsure.*Note:WithintheAdirondackParkpermits,fees,andreservationsarerequiredatsomePrimitiveandStateLandcampsites,andatsomefrontcountryandbackcountrylocations.Atotherbackcountryorroadsidesitestheyarefreeandavailablefirst-come-firstserved.

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Themajorityofsurveyrespondents(92.7%)reportedYes,therewereusefeesatsitesinAdirondackPark.Only5%ofrespondentsreportedNotherewerenotusefeesatsitesintheAdirondackPark.12. Whattypesofsitesrequireafee?Checkallthatapply.SurveyrespondentswereaskedtoreportwhattypesofsitesintheAdirondackParkhadfees.TheyweregiventheoptionsofDayusesites,Campgrounds,Trailheadparking,anopen-endedresponseforOtherandaskedtocheckallthatapply.

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Themajorityofsurveyrespondents(89.5%)reportedthatCampgroundsintheAdirondackParkhadfees.Additionally,71.1%ofrespondentssaidthatDayusesitesintheparkhadfees.Over23%ofrespondentsselectedOther.Afulllistofthoseresponsescanbefoundintheappendices.13. IstherealawenforcementpresenceintheAdirondackPark?SurveyrespondentswereaskedwhetherornottherewasalawenforcementpresenceintheAdirondackPark.TheywereabletoselectfromYes,NoandNotSure.AllofthesurveyrespondentsselectedYesthereisalawenforcementpresenceintheAdirondackPark.14. WhatagenciesprovidelawenforcementonpubliclandsintheAdirondackPark?

Checkallthatapply.SurveyrespondentswereaskedwhatagenciesprovidelawenforcementintheAdirondackPark.TheywereabletoselectallthatapplyfromDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(DEC),Policedepartment,Localsheriff,Federalagency,NotsureandanoptionforOtherinwhichtheycouldwriteinanagency.RespondentswereabletoselectalltheagenciesthatapplytothePark.

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AllofthesurveyrespondentsreportedthattheDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(DEC)providesalawenforcementpresenceintheAdirondackPark.ThemajorityofsurveyrespondentsalsoreportedthataPolicedepartment(60%)andtheLocalsheriff(52.5%)providelawenforcement.FouroutoffiveoftheresponsesforOtherwereStatePoliceorStateTroopers.AfulllistofresponsestoOthercanbefoundintheappendices.15. Isdevelopingalocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogramaproactiveeffortoris

thegoaltoaddressexistingrecreation-relatedissuesintheAdirondackPark?Surveyrespondentswereaskedwhetherornottheybelievedthatdevelopingalocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogramisaproactiveeffortorgoingtobeusedtoaddressexistingissues.RespondentsweregiventheoptionofselectingtheLeaveNoTraceprogramisgoingtobeusedasProactiveeffort,Addressexistingissues,Both,NotSure,andOtherwithawrite-inoption.

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Themajorityofsurveyrespondents(75.6%)believethatthedevelopmentofalocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogramisbothaProactiveeffortandbeingusedtoAddressexistingissues.Only2.4%reportedtheywereNotsurewhetheritwasaproactiveeffortorworkingtoaddressexistingissues.NosurveyrespondentsansweredOther.16. WhatareyourgoalsforaLeaveNoTraceprogramfortheAdirondackPark?Thisquestionwasanopen-endedquestioninwhichsurveyrespondentscouldwriteintheirperceivedgoalsforaLeaveNoTraceprogramfortheAdirondackPark.MostofthereportedgoalsweregenerallyrelatedtoEducatingvisitorsaboutprotectingthepark,Reducing/preventingimpacttothepark,andPromotionofaconsistentLeaveNoTrace/stewardshipmessage.Afulllistofresponsescanbefoundintheappendices.17. DoesyouragencyororganizationhavestafftrainedinLeaveNoTrace?SurveyrespondentswereaskedwhetherornottheiragencyororganizationhadstafftrainedinLeaveNoTrace.TheyweregiventheoptionofselectingfromYes,No,Notsure,andOther,awrite-inoption.

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Themajorityofrespondents(87.8%)indicatedthattheiragencyororganizationhadstaffwhoweretrainedinLeaveNoTrace.Only9.8%reportedthattheydidnothaveanytrainedstaff.NosurveyrespondentsansweredwithOther.18. Whatisthelevelofstafftraining?Checkallthatapply.SurveyrespondentswereaskedwhatlevelofLeaveNoTracetrainingtheirstaffhavegonethrough.RespondentswereaskedtoselectallthatappliedfromMasterEducator,TrainerandAwareness.

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Themostcommoncourse(72.2%)thatrespondentsreportedtheirstaffhavingcompletedwasthe5-dayLeaveNoTraceMasterEducatorcourse.ThiswasfollowedcloselybytheLeaveNoTraceAwarenesscoursewith69.4%reportingthatstafffromtheiragencyhadcompletedthisleveloftraining.Only44.4%ofrespondentsindicatedthatstaffhadcompletedthe2-dayLeaveNoTraceTrainercoursewithintheiragencyororganization.19. HowwouldyouenvisionLeaveNoTraceinformationbeingdisseminatedto

AdirondackParkvisitors?Checkallthatapply.SurveyrespondentswereaskedhowtheyenvisionedthatLeaveNoTracewouldbedisseminatedtothevisitingpublic.Theyweregiven14optionsincludingaresponseforOther.Respondentswereabletocheckasmanythatappliedfrom:Socialmedia,Printmedia,Website,ChamberofCommerce,Localusergroups(e.g.hikingclub)Localmerchants,Volunteers,Signage,Maps,Guidebooks,Otherprintedmaterials,Agencystaff,Non-governmentalorganizationsandOther.

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Socialmedia(97.6%)andPrintmedia(97.6%)weretiedasthemostpopularmethodsrespondentsenvisionedfordisseminatingLeaveNoTracetothepublic.ThiswasfollowedcloselybyWebsite(95.1%),Localusergroups(e.g.hikingclubs)(95.1%)andAgencystaff(95.1%).Additionally,over90%ofrespondentssuggestedVolunteersasamethodfordisseminatingLeaveNoTraceinformation.Afulllistofresponsescanbeseenintheappendices.20. Whattypeofagencydoyouworkorvolunteerfor?SurveyrespondentswereaskedwhattypeofagencytheyworkorvolunteerforTheywereaskedtoselectfromeightagencytypesincludingonefill-in-the-blankoptionforOther.TheywereabletoselectfromStateagency,Non-governmentalorganization,Township,Business,Tourismentity,TrailorganizationorclubandCollegeoruniversity.

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Themajorityofsurveyrespondents(43.9%)reportedthattheyworkforaStateagency.Another22%reportedworkingforaNon-governmentalorganizationand14.6%foraTrailorganizationorclub.Onlytworespondents(4.8%)workedforaBusinessorTourismentity.21. PleaselistadditionalcommentsorfeedbackregardingLeaveNoTraceeffortsin

theAdirondackPark.Surveyrespondentsweregivenablankopen-responsequestioninwhichtheycouldincludeanycommentstheyhadaboutfutureLeaveNoTraceeffortsintheAdirondackPark.Elevenindividualsrespondedtothisquestion.Afulllistofresponsescanbefoundintheappendices.

DiscussionofSurveyResultsThepurposeofthissurveywastocollectdatainregardstotheneedsofalocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogramfortheAdirondackPark.Thiswasdoneusingquestionsthatfocusonrecreation-relatedimpacts,currentmethodsandprogramsbeingusedtoaddresstheseimpacts,andstakeholderbeliefsaboutthedevelopmentofaLeaveNoTraceprogramfortheAdirondackPark.SurveyresultsrevealedthatmanyoftheimpactsthreateningtheAdirondackParkcouldbeeffectivelyaddressedwithaLeaveNoTraceprogram.TheimpactsreportedasSevereincludedImproperdisposalofhumanwaste,Trailimpacts,andimpactsfrom

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Increasedvisitationduetosocialmedia.OtherimpactsincludingParkingissuesmayneedtobeaddressedwithothermethods,thoughLeaveNoTracemessagingcouldhelptomitigatesomeoftheseissues.Currently,LeaveNoTraceinformationisbeingutilizedinvaryingdegreesintheAdirondackPark.However,thereisasignificantopportunitytofurtherincorporateLeaveNoTraceintomanyoftheprogramsandmanagementstrategiesintheParkinamorecomprehensivemanner.Suchmessagingandpublicoutreachcouldbefurtherintegratedintovisitoreducation,websiteinformation,printededucationalmaterials,agencyandvolunteertraining,andsignage/kiosks.GiventhattheAdirondackParkisopentocommercialusebygroupssuchasoutfitters/guides,summercampsandotherorganizedgroups,ensuringthesegroupsareteachingandpracticingLeaveNoTracewhileintheParkiscriticalforreducingimpacts.Additionally,thereisalawenforcementpresencebytheNYDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservationinthePark,whichisacriticalcomponentoftheoverallmanagementstrategy,andshouldfunctionintandemwithLeaveNoTraceeducationaleffortsforoverallsuccess.UsingLeaveNoTracetoaddressissuesthatarebestsuitedtoaneducationalapproach(forunskilled,uninformed,andcarelessbehaviors),whilereservinglawenforcementeffortswhereneededcanbeaneffectiveandefficientstrategy(forillegalactions).Thedevelopmentofalocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceprogramisviewedasbothaproactiveeffortaswelloneintendedtoaddressimpactsalreadyfoundinthePark.ThesurveyresultsindicatedthatLeaveNoTraceinformationshouldbeincorporatedintosocialmedia,printmedia,andagencyororganizationwebsites.TheeffortshouldalsostrivetoeducatevolunteersandstakeholderstaffaboutLeaveNoTraceskillsandethics,andhowtocommunicatetheseeffectivelytoparkrecreationists.Thistypeoflocally-tailoredprogramshouldeducaterecreationalusersaboutprotectingtheParkandprovideinformationonhowtoreduceimpacts.UsingLeaveNoTraceinformationacrossallagenciesandorganizationswillleadtogreaterconsistencyandcontinualreinforcementofsalientmessagestoParkvisitorsandresidentsalike.

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UnderstandingandManagingVisitors–LiteratureReview

IntroductionContemporarymanagersoflandsusedbythepublicforrecreationfacecountlessandcomplexmanagementchallenges.Fromexternalthreatssuchasdevelopmenttoincreasingrecreationaluse,manylandmanagersmuststrikeabalancebetweenresourceprotectionandtheprovisionofrecreationalopportunities.WithintheAdirondackPark,legalmandatesclearlyputtheprotectionofresourcesastheprimarygoal.However,resourcedegradationduetoinappropriatevisitorbehaviorcontinuestobeasignificantconcernformanagers.Thoughnumerousparksandprotectedareashavearecreationmandate,resourcedegradationduetoinappropriatevisitorbehaviorcontinuestobeasignificantconcernformanagers(Leung&Marion,2000;Taff,Newman,Bright,&Vagias,2011;Vagias&Powell,2010).Inlightofthefactthatminimalrecreationalusecancausesubstantialimpacts,especiallysincemostimpactsarecumulativeovertime,landmanagersmustutilizeanarrayoftacticstoreducetheseimpacts(Hammitt,Cole,&Monz,2015;Leung&Marion,2000;Marion,Leung,Eagleston&Burroughs,2016).

Often,landmanagersdealwithresourceandsocialimpactsthroughtwoprimarystrategies:indirectstrategiessuchaseducationand/ordirectstrategiessuchasenforcement(Hendee&Dawson,2002;Martin,Marsolais,&Rolloff,2009).Directmanagementapproaches,includingfines,regulationsorsitemanagement,tendtobeexpensiveandpossiblylimitvisitors’senseoffreedom(Marion&Reid,2007).However,indirectmanagementapproachessuchasvisitoreducationhavebecomeastandardandeffectivemethodusedtominimizehigh-impactbehaviorsofoutdoorenthusiastsinparksandprotectedareas(Hammitt&Cole,1998;Hendee&Dawson,2002;Manning,1999,2003;Marion&Reid,2001).Educationismosteffectiveatmitigatingcertaintypesofbehavior,andassuch,ismosteffectiveaspartofalargercomprehensivestrategy,includingstaff,infrastructure,and,forsomeimpacts,directmanagement.

EducationandInformationManylandmanagers,andthegeneralpublic,oftenviewindirectmanagementtechniquesasalight-handedapproachforaddressingdepreciativebehaviorinparksandprotectedareas.Basedonanextensivereviewoftheliterature,Manning(1999)suggestedthattheuseofeducationandinformationtoaddresscertainbehaviorsiseffective,favorablyviewedbyvisitors,andisoftenmorecosteffectivethandirectmeasuressuchaslawenforcement.Visitoreducationeffortsoftendrawononeoftwopertinentmodelsofpersuasion:thecentralroutetopersuasionandtheperipheralroutetopersuasion(Roggenbuck,1992).TheconceptualbasisforthesetwodistinctmodelsofpersuasionisTheElaborationLikelihoodModel(seePettyetal.,1992).Theoveralleffectivenessofpersuasionislargelydependentonthetypeofimpact,thetypeofbehavior,andthemotivationsforthebehaviorinquestion(Roggenbuck,1992).Parkandprotectedareamanagersoftenutilizethecentral

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routetopersuasion,which,“reliesonvisitorattention,consideration,andinternalizationofthemessage”(Marion&Reid,2007,p.11).Thecentralroutetopersuasion’seffectivenessisduetothevisitorprocessingtheinformationbyfilteringitthroughpriorknowledgeandexperiencetoevaluatetheinformation(orarguments)presentedinthemessage.Onceaparticularmessageisinternalizedbythevisitor,andmeshedwiththevisitor’sbeliefstructure,long-termbehavioralchangeispossible(Marion&Reid,2007).Alternatively,theperipheralroutetopersuasiongenerallyreliesonthesourceoftheinformationratherthanthequalityorrelevanceoftheinformationitself.AsnotedbyRoggenbuck(1992),“therecipientpaysmoreattentionto‘whosaidit’thanto‘whatwassaid’”(p.195)inthecontextoftheperipheralroutetopersuasion.Whilethiscanbeaneffectivestrategyintherightcontext(e.g.parkrangertalksatavisitorcenter),thisroutetopersuasionhaslimitedeffectivenessincreatinglong-termbehaviorchange(Marion&Reid,2007).McGuire(1985)providesamodel(Figure1)forinformationprocessingthatoffersatheoreticalbasisforprogramsdesignedtochangebehavior,whichisparticularlywellsuitedforparksandprotectedareas.Asillustratedtheprocessofpersuasionbeginswhenavisitorisexposedtoaneducationalmessage,whichisfollowedbyprocessingandcomprehensionoftheinformation.Thenextstep,andperhapsthemostcriticalintheprocess,istheyieldingstep,whichinvolvesthevisitoracceptingthemessageandthenalteringhisorherattitudeaccordingly(Marion&Reid,2007).Themodelfurtherassumesthatonceavisitorhasyieldedtothemessageandachangeinattitudehasoccurred,thatthechangedattitudewillberetainedinthevisitor’smemorythusguidingfuturebehavior.Therefore,ifthegoalofa“persuasion-based”programistocreatelong-termbehavioralchangeinparkandprotectedareavisitors,thecentralroutetopersuasionislikelythemosteffectivestrategy(Pettyetal.,1992).

Figure1.Information-processingmodelofpersuasionandbehaviorchange(adapted

fromMcGuire,1985)Despitethenotionthatbehaviorchangeinparkandprotectedareavisitorsmaynotdirectlyresultfromsimplyattainingnewknowledge,bothMarionandReid(2007)andManning(2003)haveconcludedthatrobustvisitoreducationcanbeeffectiveinchangingthebehaviorofprotectedareavisitors.Althougheducationcanbeeffectiveinchangingbehavior,theoveralllevelofeffectivenessvariesbystrategy(Vagias,2009).Onestrategythathasmeritistheuseofmultiplemediatodelivereducationalmessagesratherthan

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relyingonanysinglemedium(Manning,2003).AccordingtoHam(2007),makinganymeaningfuldifferenceinvisitorbehaviorrequirespresentingstrong,relevantthemesthatprovokeavisitortointernalizethethemes.Thisinturnimpactsattitudes,whichcanthenimpactvisitorbehavior(Ajzen,1991;Ham&Krumpe,1996).

EfficacyofVisitorEducationManylandmanagersrecognizethatrecreation-relatedresourceimpactsarenotmaliciousbynature.Rather,theygenerallystemfromalackofknowledgeoftheconsequencesofsuchactions,andalackofknowledgeofappropriateminimumimpactbehaviorsandtechniques(Bradley,1979;Marion&Reid,2007).Visitoreducationthatisdesignedtopersuadevisitorstoadoptminimum-impactpracticesisviewedbymanagersasalessheavy-handedapproachtomanagingresourceimpacts(Manning,1999;Roggenbuck,1992),andisgenerallypreferredbyparkandprotectedareavisitorsratherthanmoredirectmanagementapproaches(Hendee&Dawson,2002;Park,Manning,Marion,Lawson,&Jacobi,2008). AccordingtoRoggenbuck(1992),problembehaviorsofparkandprotectedareavisitorscanbeclassifiedintofivedifferenttypesasshowninFigure2.Asillustratedinthefigure,certaintypesofproblemsaremoreapttobeeffectivelyaddressedbyeducationthanothers.Fortwoofthebehaviors,illegalandunavoidable,Roggenbuck(1992)assertsthateducationwillhavelittletonoeffectoncurbingtheundesirableactions.However,behaviorsidentifiedascareless,unskilledanduninformedhavevaryingpotential(frommoderatetoveryhigh)ofeffectivelybeinginfluencedbyeducationefforts.Thelevelofeffectivenessofvariouscommunicationeffortslargelydependsonthekindofimpact,thespecificdepreciativebehaviorinvolved,andthespecificmotivationforengaginginthebehavior.

Figure2.Typologyofproblembehaviors(adaptedfromRoggenbuck,1992)

Otherfactorsofefficacyincludemessagerational,messagedelivery,andsourcecredibility(Marion&Reid,2007).ChristensenandCole(2000)foundthatprotectedareavisitorsweremorelikelytobepersuadedtochangebehaviorbyecologicalrationalesthanbysocial

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ones.Intermsofmessagedelivery,timingofmessagesisacriticalfactorformaximizingefficacy(Roggenbuck,1992).Thissuggeststhatmanagersshouldstrivetotimethedeliveryofeducationalmessagestoreachrecreationistsearlyinthetrip-planningprocessformaximumeffectiveness(Marion&Reid,2007).Lastly,thecredibilityofthemessagesourceisanotherfundamentalkeytothesuccessofanyeducationaleffort.Messagesourcesviewedbyvisitorsascredible,suchasaparkranger,tendtobemoreeffective(Oliver,Roggenbuck,&Watson,1985).Inmanyparksandprotectedareas,educationalinitiativesareanessentialcomponentofaanoverallmanagementstrategyforensuringprotectionofrecreationalresources.AsnotedbyMarionandReid(2007),thereissufficientevidencethatthemajorityofcommonlyusedvisitoreducationmethodscanaffectvisitorknowledge,attitudes,andbehavior.Similarly,Manning(2003)concludedthateducationcanultimatelybeeffectiveinmodifyingparkandprotectedareavisitors’attitudes.Lastly,MarionandReid(2007)statethat,“Itisclearthatvisitoreducationcanbeaneffectivemanagementstrategyforaddressingvisitorimpactstoprotectedarearesources”(p.18).

DepreciativeBehaviorsItisclearfrombothpublishedliterature,andthefirsthandexperienceofparkandprotectedareamanagers,thatrecreationalactivityinnaturalareascreatessomelevelofecologicalandsocialimpact.Yet,manyvisitorsaresimplynotawareofhowtheirindividualbehaviorcontributestotheproblem.Researchershavepositedthatoneplausibleexplanationofdepreciativebehavioristheresultoffailuretocomplywithsocialnorms.Widner-WardandRoggenbuck(2003)proposedataxonomyofcausesofvariousdepreciativebehaviors,consistingofsixrepresentativeviolations:

1. Unintentional:“IwasunawareIwasdoingsomethingwrong.”2. Uninformed:“Ididnotknowfeedingwildlifecoulddamagetheirhealth.”3. Releasor-cue:“Isawsomeoneelseurinateinthepark,soitseemsoktome.”4. Responsibility-denial:“Itmaybewrongtolitter,butwhatIdroppedontheground

won’treallymatter.”5. Status-conforming:“Allmyfriendstagbuildings.”6. Willfulviolations:Destructionofproperty,breakinglaws,opendruguse,etc.

Evidencesuggeststhatthesevariouscausescanbelinkedandmaybeadditiveinnature.Forexample,avisitormayhaveseenaninstancewhereanothervisitordidnotpickupaftertheirpet.Assuch,thatvisitorthendoesnotpayattentiontohisorherpetonthenextparkvisitandleavespetwastebehindeventhoughheorshehadapoopbagwiththematthetime.Additionally,thevisitormaynotknowthatpetwasteisasignificantecologicalandsocialproblem.Asthisexampledemonstrates,therecanbecombinationsofcausesthatleadtodepreciativebehaviorsovertime.

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VisitorPerceptionsofImpacts Somepaststudieshaveindicatedthatparkandprotectedareavisitorsandmanagersoftendifferintheirperceptionofboththetypeandlevelofrecreation-relatedimpact.Additionally,thesetwogroupsalsodifferintheirassessmentorinterpretationofimpacts,eitherpositivelyornegatively(Farrelletal.,2001;Kimetal.,2003;Whiteetal.,2001).Thesedifferingperceptions,evaluations,andinterpretationscanleadtoconflictandmisunderstandingofparkandprotectedareamanagers’prioritiesandstrategiesaimedataddressingimpacts(Dorwartetal.,2004).AccordingtoManning(1999),itiscriticalformanagerstoobjectivelyandsystematicallygatherdatafromvisitorsaboutwhatdefinesahigh-qualityorsatisfyingrecreationalexperience.Assuch,managersshouldstrivetounderstandvisitorperceptionsandattempttoresolveagencyperceptionswiththoseofvisitors.Thiscanleadtoadoptionandimplementationofmanagementstrategiesthatamajorityofvisitorscanultimatelysupport.

Whilepublicsupportformanagementisnotagoalinandofitself,strategieswithlittletonosupportfromrecreationistswillrequireaninvestmentinenforcementtobesuccessful.Moreover,asdemonstratedthroughstudies,managementstrategiesthatareaccompaniedbycleareducationalmessagingastotheeaseoftherequestedchangeandtheefficacyofdesiredoutcomecanbemoresuccessfulatachievingthemanagementoutcome(Lawhonetal.,2013;2017).IntheAdirondackPark,theimplementationoftheBearResistantFoodCanisterregulationintheHighPeaksisaclearexampleofamanagementstrategyaccompaniedbyacleareducationalmessagethathasbeenlargelysupportedbyamajorityofvisitors.Again,withintheAdirondackPark,sincerecreationisasecondaryconcernfortheForestPreserve,visitorsupportformanagementmaybedesirablebutisnotlegallymandated.Manningetal.(2004)presentthefollowingforaddressingvisitorperceptionsofrecreation-relatedimpacts:

1. Involvevisitorsindecisionsaboutacceptablelevelsofrecreation-relatedresourceandsocialimpacts;

2. Visitorsmaybewillingtoacceptsomerestrictionsonvisitorusedesignedtominimizeresourceandsocialimpacts(iftheyareinvolvedintheprocess);and

3. Understandthatitisnotfeasibletoeliminateallresourceandsocialimpactslinkedtorecreation.

Someresearchershaveexploredtherelationshipbetweenvisitor-basedstandardsofqualityandexistingconditionsinparksandprotectedareas.OnesuchstudyconductedbyLavenetal.(2005)revealedthatvisitor-basedstandardsofqualityareoftenunrelatedtoexistingconditions,indicatingthatvisitorsdon’t“see”whatmanagersseeontheground.Additionally,theresearchsuggeststhatstandardsofqualitybasedonexistingconditionsmaycontinuallycontributetostatusquoorpossiblydiminishedresourceandsocialconditionsovertimegiventhefactthatconditionstendtoworsenincrementallywithincreaseduse.Inotherwords,visitorspartakeinrecreationalactivitiesforenjoymentofa

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particularareayetdon’trealizethattheiractivitymaybeconcurrentlydiminishingtheveryqualitiesoftheareathatdrewthemtheretobeginwith.Lastly,visitorassessmentofwhetheraresourceorsocialimpactisacceptableornotisoftendependentonthespecifictypesofrecreationaparticularareaismanagedtooffer,theobjectivesofvarioususergroups,andtheoverallresourcemanagementobjectivesoftheagency.Furthermore,theactuallevelofrecreation-relatedimpactmaybevieweddifferentlybyavisitordependingonthetypeofrecreationsetting.Forexample,avisitorinaforestednaturalareamaydeemlittermoreinappropriatethaninanurbanparkwithalessnaturalsetting(HammittandCole,1998).

MessagingandSignageInmanyparksandprotectedareas,signsarearegularlyutilizedtoolformanagingvisitoruseandimpact(Winter,2005;Parketal.,2008).Forcash-strappedagencies,particularlythosethatmaybeinsufficientlystaffed,implementingsignageisoftenafirstchoiceforcommunicatingrules,regulations,andinformationtovisitors.Givenvisitors’preferenceforindirectmanagementstrategies,signsaregenerallymoreappealingtomanyprotectedareavisitorsthanmoredirectstrategiessuchasenforcementofrulesorotherrestrictionsonvisitorfreedoms(Chavez,Winter,&Baas,1993;Winteretal.,2000).Asaresult,signsareakeymethodutilizedbyparkandprotectedareamanagersforgarneringdesiredvisitorbehavior.Whenconsideringtheimplementationofsignagetoaddressaparticularissue,managersmustevaluateboththetypeofmessage(DuncanandMartin,2002)andtheactualplacementofsigns(McCoolandCole,2000).Inthepastdecade,theuseoftheory-drivenapproachestomessagedesignhasbecomeamoreprominentstrategyforcreatingeffectivemessagesforvisitorstoparksandprotectedareas(Vagias,2014;Widner-WardandRoggenbuck,2003).Signsdesignedtoinform,warn,orprohibitvisitorsareoneofthemostcommonmethodsusedtoreducedepreciativeornoncompliantbehaviorinvisitors.Therearefourprimarymessagetypesutilized:

1. Plea–“Pleasepickupafteryourpet.”2. Sanction–“Dogsarenotallowedoffleash.Violatorssubjectto$250fine.”3. Prohibition–“Alcoholand/oropencontainersprohibited.”4. Interpretive–“Areaclosedforrevegetationtoprotectgroundnestingbirds.”

Numerousstudieshaveevaluatedtheefficacyofmessagesonsigns,andmostresearchhasindicatedthatanysignageisbetterthannoneatreducinginappropriate,impactful,ordepreciativebehavior(Cole,1998;DuncanandMartin,2002).Somestudieshavefocusedontheeffectivenessofcertaintypesofmessages,specificallyinterpretationandsanctionmessages(DuncanandMartin,2002;JohnsonandSwearingen,1992).Researchfindingssuggestthatthesetypesofmessageshavehadmixedsuccessinachievingcompliance.

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Factorsthatcaninfluencesuccessincludevisitordemographics,visitormotivations,recreationalsetting,andvisitationlevels.Researchindicatesthattheplacementofsignscanincreaseeffectiveness,andthatthosesignsplacedatornearaproblemareatendtobemosteffective.Insuchsituations,thesignfunctionsasacontextualrestrictionorunanticipatedintervention,andcanhaveaneducationaleffectonvisitors(Slater,1992).Insomesettings,sanctionmessageshavebeendemonstratedtobeeffectiveforcertainbehaviorssuchashikingoff-trailorcollectingofartifacts(Martin,1992;JohnsonandSwearingen,1992).Yettheeffectivenessofsuchmessagingtypesinurbansettingshasreceivedfarlessfocusbyresearchers.However,inmanyurbansettings,thereisoftenatendencytoavoiddirectmanagementstrategiesinfavorofeducationorinterpretationpresentedviasignage.Placementofsignsatentrypointstoparksandprotectedareasisaroutinepractice.Theuseofthistechniqueassumesthatvisitorswilltaketimetoread,process,andunderstandpostedinformation.Yet,awidevarietyoffactorsimpedethisprocess.Limitedtimeframes,informationoverload,competinginterestormessages,frequentdistractions,non-captiveaudiences,andadesiretoproceedtotheactivityallcandiminishefficacy(Cole,1998;McCoolandCole,2000;Orams,1997).AccordingtoCole(1998),theaveragetimeavisitorwillspendonasignis3.1–9.7seconds,andithasbeennotedthatvisitorscanbecomeeasilyconfusedifaparticularsigncontainsmorethanonediscretemessage.Anadditionalconsiderationistheideathattoomanysignsinanareacancreate“signpollution,”andcanleadtonegativeeffectsonvisitorexperiencegiventhepotentialdisruptionintheoverallsenseofdiscoveryandexploration(Roggenbuck,1992).Thesefindingsindicatethatsignsatentrypointsmaynotbeusefulinallcases.Furthermore,suchsignsshouldbebrief,andonlycontainasinglemessagewheneverpossibletoaidinvisitorcomprehension.ResearchconductedbyCialdinietal.(2006)exploredfourdifferenttypesofnormativemessagesforreducingoff-trailhiking.Testedmessagesincluded:

• Injunctive:whatoughttobe• Descriptive:whatcurrentlyis• Prescriptive:positivelyphrased,“dothis”• Proscriptive:negativelyphrased,“don’tdothis”

Findingsindicatedthattheinjunctive-proscriptivemessagewasmosteffectiveatattainingthedesiredbehavior.Inotherwords,tellingvisitorswhatoughttobeoccurring,andtellingthemnottoengageinaspecificdepreciativebehaviorwasshowntobemosteffectiveinthisstudy.However,theresearchersdidindicatethatthistypeofmessageismosteffectivewhenaparticularbehaviorisdesiredsoonaftermessageexposure,andthatsuchmessagesmaynotbeeffectiveatensuringlong-termbehaviorchange.Buildingonthiswork,Winter(2006)notedthatifmanagersareinterestedinprovidinghighqualityrecreationalexperiences,thentheymustbemindfulwhendecidingtousenegatively(proscriptive)messages,assuchmessagescanhaveanunintendednegativeeffectonvisitorexperience.Therefore,abalancedapproachtomessagingiswarrantedinmostcases.

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RecentstudieshavedemonstratedthatperceivedeffectivenessofLeaveNoTracepracticesisameaningfulpredictoroffutureLeaveNoTracebehavioralintent.Assuch,parkandprotectedareamanagersshouldconsiderfocusingeducationaleffortsonhowLeaveNoTracepracticeseffectivelyminimizeimpactstothelandscape.Thoughsomestudieshavefoundthatthatthisknowledgeisnotasignificantpredictoroffuturebehavioralintent,parkvisitorsdoneedtobemadeawareoftherecommendedLeaveNoTracepracticesinparksandprotectedareas.However,andperhapsmoreimportantly,parkvisitorsneedtobetterunderstandwhycertainLeaveNoTracepracticesarerecommended,andwhythosepracticesareeffectiveatreducingimpacts.FindingsfromthisresearchsuggestthateducationeffortsspecificallyfocusedontheperceivedeffectivenessofLeaveNoTracepracticesmaybemoreeffectiveatmodifyingvisitorbehaviorinordertominimizerecreation-relatedimpactinparksthanmessagesthatdon’tcontainthisinformation(Lawhonetal.,2013;2017).

BarrierstoComplianceSomeresearchhasexploredbarrierstocompliancewithpostedinformation,rules,andregulations.Whiletheexistingliteraturedoesnotexamineallpossiblebarriers,specificfactorsuniquetoparksandprotectedareashavebeeninvestigated.Miller,Borrie,andHarding(2001)hypothesizedthefollowingexplanationsfornon-compliance:

• Cognitivefailureintheformoffaultydecision-making• Unsuccessfulattitudeshiftwhenpresentedwithnewinformation• Ingrainednegative,depreciative,orimpactfulbehaviors• Afunctionalinabilitytocarryoutdesiredorappropriatebehaviors• Variousnormativeinfluencesandsocialpressuresfrompeers

Additionally,workbyBorrieandHarding(2002)foundthatinsituationswhereavailableinformationisnotthelimitingfactortocompliance,thereareother,similarfactorsatplay:

1. Lackofawarenessofaproblem2. Peergrouppressure3. Lackofanunderlyingoutdoorethic4. Routine(habitual)behavior5. Lackofabilitytoperformdesiredbehavior

Theseauthorsconcludedthatwhenvisitorsareexposedtomultiplemessagestheycanexperiencecognitiveoverload,whichcanlimitrecallofspecificmessagesregardingmanagementobjectivesorrecommendedbehaviorsdesignedtominimizeimpact.Perhapsthemostsalientfindinginthisworkwastheideathatroutineorhabitualbehaviorisparticularlydifficult,ifnotimpossible,toaddress,alter,orinfluencewithon-sitecommunicationthroughsignage.

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LeaveNoTraceLeaveNoTraceisthemostprevalentminimum-impacteducationalprograminuseinparksandprotectedareasintheU.S.(Marion,2014).Theoverarchingintentoftheprogramistoeducateoutdoorenthusiastsaboutthenatureoftheirrecreation-relatedimpactaswellasteachthemtechniquesforminimizingtheimpact(Harmon,1997;LeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics,2016a;Marion&Reid,2007).LeaveNoTraceisparticularlyappealingtolandmanagersbecauseitoffersamorelight-handedapproachtovisitormanagementasopposedtomoreheavy-handedmanagementstrategies(Lawhonetal.,2013).ThefoundationoftheprogramistheSevenPrinciples(Figure3),whichareusedonprotectedareasignage,maps,andwebsitesandinterpretiveinformation.

Figure3.TheLeaveNoTracePrinciples(LeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics,2016b).

LeaveNoTraceconceptsdatebacktothe1960swhentheUSDAForestServicebeganencouragingvisitorsto“packitin,packitout.”TheseearlyeffortsweremodeledonthesuccessfulSmokeytheBearanti-forestfirecampaignandeventuallymorphedtheinitialminimumimpactcampingmessages.Asrecreationcontinuedtoincreasethroughoutthe1970sand1980s,itbecameclearthatamorecomprehensiveeducationalapproachtomanagingvisitorimpactsinthebackcountrywasnecessary.Assuch,theUSDAForestServicecreatednumerouspartnershipsinthe1990stocooperativelypromoteascience-basedapproachtominimumimpactrecreation.Thiseffortresultedinthedevelopmentofseveralpublicationsfocusedonresponsibleoutdoorrecreationpractices,andultimatelyledtothecreationofthe501(c)(3)LeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics(theCenter).TheinitialfocusofLeaveNoTracewasonimpactsinwildernessareasbuthasexpandedtoincludeothertypesofparksandprotectedareas.(Marion,2014;Marion&Reid,2001).Currently,theCenterhasaprimaryfocusonfrontcountryareavisitors,andhascreatednumerousLeaveNoTraceeducationalresourcesaddressingrecreationalpursuitscommontotheseareasincludingdayhiking,picnicking,campingindevelopedcampsites,dogwalking,biking,running,andothers(LeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics,2015;Marion,2014).

SevenPrinciplesofLeaveNoTrace

1. PlanAheadandPrepare2. TravelandCamponDurableSurfaces3. DisposeofWasteProperly4. LeaveWhatYouFind5. MinimizeCampfireImpacts6. RespectWildlife7. BeConsiderateofOtherVisitors

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AttitudeTheoryPreviousresearchhasestablishedthatattitudesoftenhaveasignificantinfluenceonaspecific,discretebehavior(Ajzen,2001;Fishbein&Manfredo,1992;Ham&Krumpe,1996).Attitudesaregenerallydescribedasanindividual’sevaluationof,anddispositionalresponseto,aparticularobject,includingbehavior.Onceaperson’sevaluationofanobjecthasoccurred,anassociativeattitudeaboutthatobjectcanberetainedinmemoryandinfluencefuturebehavior(Ajzen&Fishbein,2000;Fishbein&Ajzen,2010).LeaveNoTracebehavioristhereforetheoreticallyinfluencedinpartbyattitudestowardspecificLeaveNoTraceguidelinesandrecommendedpractices.Ifattitudesdirectlyinfluencebehavioralintention,andattitudescanbechanged,thenparkmanagersmayaltervisitorbehaviorbyspecificallytargetingthesalientattitudethatisdeterminingbehavior(Ham,2007;Ham&Krumpe,1996).UnderstandingvisitorattitudesrelatedtoLeaveNoTraceiscriticalinordertocrafteffectiveeducationalmessagesthathavethepotentialtoreducedepreciativebehaviorinparksandprotectedareas.Somepreviousinvestigationshaveutilizedknowledgeofminimum-impactpracticesasameasureofLeaveNoTraceefficacy.Whilesomerelationshipdoesexist,aprimaryshortcomingoffocusingonknowledgeisthattheassumptionofalinearrelationshipbetweenenvironmentalknowledgeandpro-environmentalbehaviorisquestionable(Hungerford&Volk,1990;Hwang,2000;Manning,2003;Petty,McMichael,&Brannon,1992).Inotherwords,increasingknowledgeaboutenvironmentalimpactdoesnotnecessarilyequatetoachangeinanindividual’sbehavior.Recently,socialscientistshavebegunexploringtheinfluencethatvalues,beliefs,attitudes,andotherfactorsplayindeterminingthebehaviorofoutdoorenthusiastswithinthecontextofLeaveNoTrace,basedlargelyuponbehavioraltheory(Vagiasetal.,2012;2014).Additionally,recentresearchhasstartedexaminingtheperceptionsoffrontcountryvisitorswithrespecttobehavioraltheoryandLeaveNoTrace(Taffetal.,2011;Taffetal.,2014).ThisisanimportantconsiderationinLeaveNoTrace-relatedresearchgiventhetheoreticalfoundationsthatsuggestattitudesareoneoftheimportantinfluencesonbehavior(Ajzen,1991).

ImplicationsforManagement–Keyfindingsfromtheliterature

• Messagesonsignsshouldbebriefandcontainasfewmessagesaspossible.• Considertheuseofinjunctive-proscriptivemessagesnearproblemareas.• Utilizemessagesthatmakevisitorsawareoftheconsequencesoftheiractions.• Directcontactwith/fromagencypersonnelmaybemoreeffectivethanother

communicationstrategies.• Visitorsareoftenunwillingtoseethemselvesaspartoftheproblem,somangers

shouldfindwaystoincreaseattributionofresourcedamagetovisitoractions.• Managersshouldworktoreconciletheirownperceptionsofresourceandsocial

impactswiththoseofvisitors,whichmaybedifferent(vastlysoinsomecases).• Messagesshouldillustrateidealsituations,behaviors,andresourceconditions.

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• Communicationwithvisitorsshouldprovideclearlinkagebetweenvisitorbehaviorandresourceandsocialimpacts.

• Dependingonthespecificproblem,messagesshouldemphasizeindividualresponsibilityforspecificimpacts.

ConclusionDespitethefactthatcountlessparksandprotectedareashavearecreationmandate,resourcedegradationduetoinappropriatevisitorbehaviorcontinuestobeasignificantconcernformanagers(Leung&Marion,2000;Taffetal.,2011;Vagias&Powell,2010).Formanyprotectedareamanagers,educationisanessentialcomponentofoverallmanagementeffortsforensuringprotectionofrecreationalresources.LeaveNoTraceisthemostprevalentminimum-impacteducationprograminuseinparksandprotectedareasintheU.S.,dueprimarilytoitslight-handedapproachtovisitormanagement(Vagias&Powell,2010).AsnotedbyMarionandReid(2007),thereissufficientevidenceindicatingthatvisitoreducationcanaffectvisitorknowledge,attitudes,andbehavior.

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LeaveNoTraceProgramImplementation–2020andBeyondTheAdirondackParkfaceschallenges,bothintermsofincreasingvisitorimpactsandavailableresourcestoaddresscurrentandfutureimpacts.However,theDECanditspartnersarewellpoisedtominimize,mitigate,oreliminatespecificrecreation-relatedimpactsfoundintheParkbyimplementingeffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationprogramsasakeycomponentofacomprehensivemanagementplanthatincludesadditionalcomponents(suchasstaff,infrastructure,andlimits).DevelopmentofsuchaplancouldbemodeledontheInteragencyCouncilonVisitorUse’sVisitorUseManagementFramework,aplanningprocesscreatedtoprovidecohesiveguidanceformanagingvisitoruse.TheParkenjoysastrongsupportbasefromtheregion,over100partnersandfriends’groups,andactiverecreationalusergroupsthatcouldplayavitalroleineducatingParkvisitorsaboutLeaveNoTrace.Bysimplyleveragingthenumerousagencies,partners,andindividualsinvolved,muchcanbeaccomplishedintermsofcreatingacommunityofresponsibleparkandnaturalareavisitors.Therearemanypossibilitiesforprogramimplementation,whichhingeonavailablefinancialandstaffingresources.However,thetwobasicstrategies,eitherofwhichwouldlikelybeeffective,include:

1. TargetedimplementationofeducationalprogramsandstewardshipinitiativesinchosensiteswithintheAdirondackPark.Theseselectsitescouldbethoughtofas“pilotsites”whereeducationalinformationcouldbetestedineitherhigh-useareas,areaswithsensitiveenvironments,orareaswithsignificantimpacts.Whenusingthepilotsiteapproach,LeaveNoTraceinformationcanbetestedforitseffectivenessandcansubsequentlybeenhancedtoincreaseitsefficacy.Anotherbenefitofthisapproachisthatitallowsmanagersandpartnerstoworkatamanageablepaceintermsofimplementation,therebyenablingthemto“cherrypick”thestrategiesthatworkbest.ThesestrategiescanthenbeusedinotherpartsoftheParkuntiltheentireParkhasconsistentinformationandeffectivemessaging.

2. ParkwiderolloutoftheLeaveNoTraceeducationprogram.Whilelikelyamoreeffectivestrategybecauseofitscomprehensivenature,itispotentiallyunrealisticduetoresource,staffing,andotherconstraints.Basedonotherprogramsofthiskind,theCenterhasfoundthatfull-scaleprogramimplementationthatsaturatesanareatendstoachievemanagementobjectivesinashortertimeframe.However,thiskindofeffortisgenerallymoreintensiveandrequiresaconcerted,coordinatedeffortonthepartofallpartners.Furthermore,giventhecomplexityanddiversityoftheAdirondackPark,itisquitelikelythatLeaveNoTraceeffortswillbemoreeffectiveatsomesitesandlesseffectiveatothers.Thereasonsforthisincludesitetype,location,visitortype,amenities,usertype,andvisitationtrends.

Atargetedroll-outmaybethemosteffectivestrategyfortheAdirondackPark.LeveragingtheaffinityforspecificareasoftheParksuchastheHighPeaks,andimplementingatargetedLeaveNoTraceeffortinthoseandothersimilarareas,wouldlikelyprovideasuccessfulstartingpointforpromotingsustainableandresponsibleuseandenjoymentof

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theentireParkovertime.WhileLeaveNoTracecontinuestobeeffectiveinallparktypesfromurbantowilderness,theCenterrecommendsselectionofalocationorsuiteoflocationswhereLeaveNoTracecanbemosteffectiveinaparticulararea.Forexample,LeaveNoTraceeducationcanbeutilizedeffectivelyintheHighPeakstokeepvisitorsondesignatedtrailsbutmaynotexperiencethesameinitialsuccessinOldForgeifusedtoeducatesnowmobilersaboutproperdisposalofhumanwaste.Inotherwords,deployLeaveNoTraceeffortswherethelikelihoodofinitialsuccessisgreatest,whichwillprovideaspringboardfromwhichfutureeffortscanpropagateandsucceed.ThefollowingitemsneedtobeaddressedinordertoimplementaneffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationprogramintheAdirondackPark:

1. Agreeonoverallgoalsfortheeducationalprogrampriortoimplementation.2. Determineimplementationstrategy–full-scalerolloutoratargeted,pilotsite

model.3. Ifthepilotsitemodelisselected,theinitialpilotsitesneedtobeselectedbasedon

predeterminedcriteria.4. Determinespecificmanagementconcernstobetargeted.Whileitmayseemlikean

opportunitytoaddressmultipleconcernsforanarea,theCenterrecommendschoosing1-3discreteissuesofhighestconcerntobetheprimaryfocusduringtheinitialrolloutofeducationalefforts.

5. UtilizeexistingLeaveNoTracemessagesand/orlanguagetoaddressspecificmanagementconcerns.Languagewilllikelyneedtobelocally-tailoredtobetterresonatewithresidentsandvisitorsalike.

6. Developadditionallanguage(inconsultationwiththeCenter)asnecessaryforaddressingotherconcernsforwhichtargetedlanguagemaynotbeavailable.

7. Determinewhetherornotmanagers,keystaff,partners,orvolunteerswillneedLeaveNoTracetrainingpriortoimplementationofeducationalefforts.

8. Determineoutreachmethods(possibilitieslistedbelow).9. Definethetimelineforimplementationstrategy.10. Ifbaselinedataexistforchosensiteswhereeducationaleffortswillbeimplemented,

suchdatacouldbeutilizedtoassesschanges(atpredeterminedintervals)insocialorresourceconditionsaftereducationaleffortshavebeenputinplace.

11. Createlistofspecificandrealisticmetricsformeasuringeffectivenessofeducationalefforts.

12. Ifresearchtogaugetheefficacyofoutreacheffortsisdesired,detailsofsuchresearchwillneedtobefinalizedpriortoeducationprogramimplementation.

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RecommendationsforManagingRecreation-relatedImpactsintheAdirondackParkandBuildingaCultureofWildlandsStewardship

I.Management&PlanningRecommendations

A. Needforcomprehensiveparkplanning–Duetoitssizeandcomplexity,thereisaninherentchallengeintryingtohaveaparkwidecomprehensiveplan.However,suchaneffortwouldbenefitthelong-termstewardshipandsustainabilityofthePark.Inordertohaveasuccessfulparkwidevisitoreducationprogram,DECmanagersandpartnersmusthaveasolidimplementationplan.Totheextentpossible,keystakeholdersshouldbealignedandhaveacommongoaltoeffectivelyreachparkvisitorswithcriticalinformation.Givennationaltrendsinrecreationparticipationgrowth,increasedrecreationaluseoftheParkishighlylikelyinthefuture,andacomprehensiveParkplan(includinganoutreachandeducationplan)isimperative.

B. Utilizeanestablishedplanningframework–AdirondackParkmanagersand

partnerscouldgreatlybenefitfromworkingthroughaformalvisitorusemanagementplanningprocessforthePark.ThiswouldallowforabetterunderstandingofthecarryingcapacityoftheParkaswellashelptodefinecomplementaryvisitorexperienceopportunitiesanddesiredfutureresourceconditions.Therearenumerousplanningframeworksthatcouldbeutilized,andinclude:

• VisitorUseManagementFramework:http://visitorusemanagement.nps.gov/(themostcontemporaryandrobust):

• LimitsofAcceptableChange:http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5346360

• VisitorExperienceandResourceProtection:

http://winapps.umt.edu/winapps/media2/leopold/pubs/320F.pdfTheuseofanyoneofthese(orsimilar)planningframeworkswouldgreatlyaidParkmanagersandpartnersindeterminingandattainingaspecificdesiredfutureconditionforthePark,andwouldbevaluableforlong-rangestrategicplanningefforts.

C. BuildLeaveNoTraceintomanagementplans–ConsiderbuildingLeaveNoTrace

intotheAdirondackParkmasterplanningdocuments,andParkprojectplans.ManyfederalandstatelandmanagementagencieshavebuiltLeaveNoTrace(andstewardshipconcepts)intotheirlong-rangeplans.See:https://www.nps.gov/acad/learn/management/upload/schoodic_gmpa.pdfSomemunicipallandmanagementagencieshavedonethisaswell,includingtheCityofBoulder,Colorado–OpenSpaceandMountainParksDepartment:https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/osmpmp-final-1-

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201910221147.pdf?_ga=2.225274716.794717831.1574112296-111660396.1574112296;andTravisCountyParks:https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/tnr/Docs/parks/2_parks_master_plan.pdf(Texas).

D. CodifyLeaveNoTraceasguidingmanagementprinciples–Considerdraftinga

formalresolutionfortheAdirondackParkpertainingtoLeaveNoTrace.Somemunicipalitiesaroundthecountryhaveundertakenthiskindofinitiativewithsuccess.OneexampleistheSanJuanIslandsinWashingtonState(mixofcounty,state,andfederallands).ThemunicipalitypassedsuchaLeaveNoTraceresolution,whichisleadingtogreaterawarenessandadoptionofLeaveNoTrace,andultimatelyareductioninrecreation-relatedimpacts.SeeappendixI

E. EnsureadequatestaffingforParkmanagementagencies–Aperennialchallengefor

parkandprotectedareasisadequatestaffing.Local,state,andfederalagenciesallfacethisissue.Whenagenciesareunderstaffed,parksandprotectedareasoftensufferfromavoidableimpacts,manyofwhichmaybedirectlyrelatedtorecreationanduse.Thoughvolunteerscanfilltherolesofsomeagencypersonnel,awell-fundedandadequatelystaffedagencywillgenerallybebettersuitedtomeetthegrowingdemandsonpublicoutdoorspacessuchastheAdirondackPark.Clearlythereisafiscalimplicationtoaddingstaffwhichmustbesortedouttoensurethenecessarystaffingresourcesareinplace.

F. Permitsystemforhighuseareas–Thoughnotanappropriateoptionforevery

location,permitsystems,whenwellthoughtout,welldesigned,andsoundlyimplemented,canserveanimportantfunctioninparksandprotectedareas.Dependingonthenatureoftheresourceinquestion,permittingusecanbenefitthenaturalresourcesandthevisitorexperience.Additionally,apermitsystemallowsforaneducationaltouchpointwithvisitorsbeforetheydepartontheirtrip.ManyparksandprotectedareashaveexistingpermitsystemsinplacesuchasGreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark.AccordingtotheNationalParkService,visitorsbenefitfromthesysteminseveralways:“Throughacombinationofeducationandenforcement,parkrangersassignedexclusivelytothebackcountryareexpectedtoleadtobettercompliancewithregulationsandLeaveNoTraceethics.IncreasedcompliancewithregulationsandLeaveNoTracealsohelpsprotectandpreserveresources,suchaswildlife,thatmostvisitorshighlyvalue.Allbackcountryusersstandtobenefitfromthechanges[tothepermitsysteminthepark].Inaddition,bymakingallsitesreservation-only,thenewreservationsystemwillhavethecapabilitytonotifypermitholdersofsiteclosures,safetyissuesandotheremergencyconditionsviaemailandtextmessagingpriortobeginningtheirtrip.”Seethisexample:https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/bc-reservation-permit-faq.htm.Seehere:https://visitorusemanagement.nps.gov/Content/documents/highres_VUMFramework_Edition1_IVUMC.pdfformoreinformationontheimplementationanduseofpermitsystems.

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G. Revisegroupusepermittingsystem–Thoughthereisacurrentsysteminplacefortheissuanceofgroupusepermits,itcouldbeenhancedtobemoreefficient,providearobusteducationalopportunityforthegrouppriortotheirvisit,andcouldyieldvaluablegroupusedataforDECanditspartners.UnderstandingandmanaginggroupuseshouldbeapriorityfortheParkasgroupsseekingpermitsoffermanybenefitsincluding:educationalandregulatorytouchpointswithspecificgroupsthatusethePark;abilitytocollectreliabledataongroupuse;andanopportunitytomonitorresourceconditionsatsitesusedbygroups.

H. WhenprovidingalternativestotheHighPeaks,ensuresuchareasarecapableof

handlingtheincreasedvisitation–Awell-utilizedstrategybylandmanagersistodirectvisitorstootherareasofaparkorprotectedareathatoffersimilarvisitorexperiences,challenges,ornaturalenvironments.Oneofthedifficultissueswiththisstrategyisensuringsuchalternativeareasarecapableofhandlingtheincreasedimpactsassociatedwithrecreation.InthecaseoftheAdirondackPark,somecurrentsuggestedalternativesappeartobeunderresourcedtoaccommodatetheadditionalinfluxofvisitors.Lackofparkingspaces,limitedavailabilityoftoiletfacilities,trailsnotdesignedforheavyuse,andasignificantlackofvisitoreducationareasamplingofthecurrentproblemsfacedbymanyofthesuggestedalternatives.Otherparkshavesuccessfullyusedthisstrategybyconductingassessmentsofpotentialalternativestoensuretheycaninfactcopewithadditionalrecreationalusepriortoofferingthemtothepublic.Considercatalogingexistingrecommendedalternativestodetermineifinfrastructureoreducationalprogrammingarelacking.Identifiedgapsshouldberemediedandaddressedtotheextentpossible.Areasbeingconsideredasnewalternativesshouldbeassessedforoverallsuitabilitybeforelocationsgopublic.

I. Buildonsuccessfulmanagementefforts–TheDECanditspartnershave

demonstratedsuccesswithseveraleffortsintheParktominimizerecreation-relatedimpacts,e.g.implementationofthebearcanisterregulationsfortheHighPeaks,checkstationsdesignedtominimizethespreadofinvasivespeciesthroughthemovementoffirewoodandboats,etc.SucheffortscouldbefurtherenhancedandbuiltuponforcontinuedsuccessinordertoeffectivelyminimizeandmitigatevisitorimpactsinthePark.Thisisparticularlysalientnowasreinventionofthewheelistimeconsuming,resourceintensive,andoftenimpractical,whereasbuildingonexistingsuccessfuleffortscanbefarmoreefficient,effective,andtimely.

II.Research&MonitoringRecommendations

A. Baselineandongoingmonitoringdataisessentialforparkmanagement–AdirondackParkmanagersandpartnerswouldbenefitfromobtainingbaselinedataoncurrentresourceconditionsinthePark.Therearenumerousmethodologies,fromsimpletocomplex,forgatheringbaselinedata.Baselinedatacouldbecollectedbyrelativelysimplephotodocumentation,GPSdata,orothermeans.However,therearemorecomplexmethodsforgatheringrobustbaselinedataifdesired.Regardless,

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suchdataisextremelyusefulformonitoringchangeinconditionsovertime,andcanserveasaneffectivemetricforguidingmanagementefforts.SeeVisitorUseManagement:https://visitorusemanagement.nps.gov/Content/documents/highres_trifold_Monitoring_Guidebook_Primer_Edition_One_IVUMC.pdf

B. Collectdataonvisitornumbers–Implementationofasystemforcapturingbaseline

Parkvisitationonanannualbasiswouldgreatlybenefitoverallmanagementefforts.Anunderstandingofvisitationnumbers,patterns,seasonalvariation,andvisitortypewouldaugmenteducationaloutreacheffortsbyallowingforatargetedapproach.Additionally,havinginformationonannualvisitation,includingpeakvisitation,wouldallowforbettermanagementoftheinevitablespikesinvisitorusethroughouttheyear.Therearenumerousvisitorcountmethodologies:http://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/cromptonrpts/files/2011/06/3_2_5.pdfandhttp:/www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/technical_reports/pdfs/2004/317papers/kaczynski317.pdf,whichcanbetailoredtoaparticularparksystem,oranindividualpark.

C. Gainanempiricalunderstandingofvisitorperceptions–AsrecreationintheParkispromoted,andcorrespondinglyincreasesovertimeduetoavarietyoffactors(marketing,socialmedia,promotion,etc.),itwouldbeusefulforthemanagersandpartnerstodeterminewhatvisitorperceptionsarewithregardtothelevelofimpactfoundinthePark.DovisitorsfeelthattheParkis“beinglovedtodeath?”OrdotheyfeeltheParkprovideshigh-qualityrecreationalexperiences?AnunderstandingofbaselinevisitorperceptionsoftheParkallowsfortheimplementationofappropriatemanagementandeducationalstrategies,whichcanhelpensurethepredeterminedfuturecondition:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287234314_Studies_in_Outdoor_Recreation_Search_and_Research_for_SatisfactionofthePark.

D. UsecitizensciencetogathercurrentimpactdatathroughoutthePark–Data

collectedviacitizenscientistscouldbeusedtogeneratevisualrepresentationsofimpactssuchasheatmaps(forinformationonheatmapssee:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_map)ofimpacttoallowforamorestrategicapproachtoimprovingeducationforspecificimpactissues.Thiscouldfacilitateafundamentalshiftfrombeingreactivetobeingproactive.Suchaneffortcouldbeyetanother‘challenge’eventtogathermeaningfuldataforthePark.TheprogramcouldofferrecognitionsimilartootherParkchallenges.Alternatively,thiskindofprogramcouldbeinitiallyadministeredbyagraduatestudenttoassesstheefficacyandviabilityofsuchaneffort.

E. ConsiderreinvigoratingAdirondackAll-TaxaBiodiversityInventoryorother‘bio

blitz’eventstoengagecitizenscientistsandgathervaluabledatainacentralrepository–Bothpublicandprivateentitieshavebeensuccessfullyutilizingbioblitzesforanumberofyearstoengagethepublicintheprotectionofparksandprotectedareas.FromNationalGeographic,“ABioBlitzisaneventthatfocuseson

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findingandidentifyingasmanyspeciesaspossibleinaspecificareaoverashortperiodoftime.AtaBioBlitz,scientists,families,students,teachers,andothercommunitymembersworktogethertogetasnapshotofanarea’sbiodiversity.Theseeventscanhappeninmostanygeography—urban,rural,orsuburban—inareasassmallasabackyardoraslargeasacountry.SmartphonetechnologiesandappssuchasiNaturalistmakecollectingphotographsandbiologicalinformationaboutlivingthingseasyaspartofaBioBlitz.HighqualitydatauploadedtoiNaturalistbecomepartoftheGlobalBiodiversityInformationFacility,anopensourcedatabaseusedbyscientistsandpolicymakersaroundtheworld.”TheNationalParkServicehasalsobeenutilizingtheseeventswithgreatsuccess.See:https://www.nps.gov/subjects/biodiversity/national-parks-bioblitz.htmhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/projects/cfab/adirondackatbi/

F. MapalllocationswheretherearecurrentlystewardsinthePark–Suchamapping

exercisewillallowfortheaccurateidentificationofwhereon-the-groundstewardsarelocated,andthereforewheregapsexist.Identificationofcaretakersandstewardsatsummits,visitorcenters,trailheads,etc.willprovideamoremeaningfulpictureofcurrent‘bootsontheground,’andwillallowforreal-timeprogrammaticenhancements,betterdeploymentofexistingresources,andidentificationofareasnotcurrentlyservedbyon-the-groundstewards.Shouldnewareasinneedofanon-sitestewardbeidentified,thisinformationcouldbeleveragedtoengagenewindividualsorgroupsinterestedinstewardshipofthePark.

III.Tourism&MarketingRecommendations

A. EstablishpartnershipwithILoveNY,ROOST,andothertourismentities–ResearchhasshownthatmostoutdoorenthusiastsfirstencounterLeaveNoTraceinformationinaparkorprotectedarea(fromvarioussources:rangers,signage,etc.).Whiletherearebenefitstopeoplebeingreachedon-siteinparks,thereisalsotheissuethattheinformationmaybecomingtoolateinthe5-stepprocessofarecreationalexperiencetoactuallymakeadifference(atleastforthatvisit).The5-stepsofrecreationalexperiencesinclude:1)anticipation–thisinvolvestripplanningandpreparation;2)travelto–thephysicalactoftravelingtoaparkorprotectedareawhetherit’sjustacrosstownoracrossthecountry;3)on-site–individualsareactuallyinapark,engagedinvariousformsofrecreation;4)travelback–thephysicalactoftravelingbackhome;and5)reflection–takingstockoftheexperience,postingphotostosocialfeeds,blogging,sharingtheadventurewithfamilyorfriends.Giventhis5-stepprocess,theidealtimetoreachoutdoorenthusiastwithLeaveNoTraceinformationisintheanticipationphaseasthey’replanningtheirouting.Whenpeoplearereachedearlierintheplanningprocessthereisagreaterlikelihoodthattheywillbebetterpreparedfortheirouting,whichgenerallymeanstheywillalsocreatelessimpact.TourismentitieshavesignificantinfluenceonpubliclandsvisitationthroughouttheUS,andtheAdirondackParkisaprimeexampleofaparkthatcouldgreatlybenefitfromhavingstrongpartnershipswiththetourismindustry.Whenpotentialvisitorsarereachedviatourismpartners

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inthetripanticipationphase,theyarelikelytobebetterinformedandpreparedforavisittothePark.ColoradowasthefirststateintheUStocreateaspecific,focusedpartnershipbetweentheColoradoTourismOffice(CTO)andtheLeaveNoTraceCenterforOutdoorEthics.Forinformationonthispartnershipseethefollowing:

• https://www.colorado.com/articles/leave-no-trace-care-colorado

• https://www.colorado.com/sites/default/files/CO_LNTBrochure_8.pdf

• https://www.colorado.com/videos/care-colorado

• https://industry.colorado.com/care-colorado-principles-toolkit#

• https://industry.colorado.com/sites/default/files/BB_Stewardship.pdf

• https://www.colorado.com/news/colorado-tourism-office-and-leave-no-

trace-center-outdoor-ethics-join-ground-breaking

B. LeveragetheuniquenatureoftheParktodrivestewardship–TheAdirondackParkisincrediblyuniqueintheworldofparksandprotectedareas,e.g.size,management,largeWildernessareas,ForeverWildprotection,patchworkofpublic/privateland,opentomanyuses(consumptive,non-consumptive,motorized,non-motorized,etc.),incrediblehistory,etc.Assuch,theseindividualattributesortheuniquenatureoftheParkasawholeshouldbeutilizedasaleveragepointfornotonlyencouragingbutactivelydrivingstewardshipeffortsinthePark.ManyunitsoftheNationalParkServiceutilizeasimilarstrategywhenworkingtoencouragestewardship.SeeexamplesfromYellowstoneNationalPark:https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/index.htm(theworld’sfirstnationalpark).InthisNPS-createdvideo,theParkServicespecificallynotestheattributesoftheParkthatsetitapartfromallothers,andexplicitlyaddressthenotionthatparkvisitorsshouldnotonlyenjoytheparkbutlearnaboutitanddosomethingtocareforit.TheAdirondackParkshouldemployasimilarstrategygiventhattheParkistrulyone-of-a-kind.

C. DevelopandwidelyadvertiseanAdirondackStewardshipPledge–Stewardship

pledgeshavebecomemorecommonoverthepastseveralyears.They’rebeingutilizedfornotonlyparksandprotectedareasbutalsoforspecialdestinations.Theuseofpledgesisatypeofsocialmarketingthatisintendedtoinfluencebehavior.TheAdirondackParkcouldlikelybenefitfromapark-specificpledge.Suchaninitiativecouldhavenumerousbenefits:engagethepublic,provideinformationonresponsibleenjoymentofthepark,encourageandfosteron-the-groundstewardship,promoteandeducatevisitorsaboutLeaveNoTrace,andcouldgeneratealargerfollowingonsocialmediachannels.Seeexamplesofexistingpledgesthatcouldbereplicated:

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• https://palaupledge.com

• https://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/icelandicpledge

• https://www.aspenchamber.org/pledge

• https://www.pledgewild.com–thisisanexcellentexampleofagroupofmountaintownsinthewesternUScomingtogethertopromoteresponsibletourism.

• https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-pledge.htm

• https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yellowstonepledge.htm

• https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/rockypledge.htm

• https://www.nps.gov/grca/getinvolved/grand-canyon-pledge.htm

• https://www.wmf.org/sustainable-tourism-pledge

Seealsorecentarticlesontheuseofpledges:

• https://www.adventuretravelnews.com/success-of-responsible-tourism-pledges-falls-on-destinations-not-travelers

• https://www.fastcompany.com/90379126/6-american-cities-ask-for-

responsible-tourism-pledge

D. Assesscurrentcross-bordermarketingandadvertisingaimedatCanadians–GiventhesignificantnumberofCanadianvisitorstotheHighPeaksregionitwouldbeadvisedtoconsiderbothexploringcurrentcross-bordermarketingeffortsanddeveloping(orenhancing)aplanforbetterreachingthesevisitorsbeforetheycometothePark.Determiningthecurrentinformationsourcesthesevisitorsusetoplantheirvisitswouldbeusefulandcouldbeaccomplishedviainternetresearchoron-sitevisitorsurveys.HavinganunderstandingofthevariousoptionsforreachingthiscommunityofParkvisitorswouldallowformoreeffectiveandtimelycommunicationandmarketingregardingresponsibleenjoymentoftheAdirondacks.

E. Continuetoworkwithopinionleadersintheregion–Astrategythathasbeeneffectiveinsheddinglightonrecreation-relatedimpactsformanymunicipal,state,andnationalparksandprotectedareasistheengagementandenlistmentoflocalorregional“opinionleaders”tohelpbringattentionandactiontoaproblem.IfDECoritspartnerscanidentifyasuiteofopinionleaders,e.g.theleaderofawell-knownhikinggrouporclub,leadingmembersofpopularAdirondackChallenges,or

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corporateorgovernmentalentitiesincludingsuchinfluentialfigures/entities,thiscanhelpgeneratebroadsupportandawarenessforthePark.

IV.SocialMediaRecommendations

A. EstablishandfollowacomprehensivesocialmediastrategyforthePark–Itisclearthatsocialmediaplaysaroleindrivingvisitationtopubliclands.Additionally,socialmediahasthepowertoinfluencebehaviorofoutdoorenthusiasts.Whenharnessed,socialmediacanbeanexcellenttoolforengagingtensofthousandsorevenmillionsofpeople.However,intheabsenceofcoordinatedsocialmediaeffort,effectivenessislikelylimited.Therearenumerousadvantagestohavingasocialmediastrategy,whichinclude:a)astrategyforsocialmediaprovidescleardirectionforefforts,especiallyforsuchalargepark;b)astrategywillallowforassessingthemetricsofsocialmediaeffortsandwillalsoallowforbetterreportingandimprovementsovertime;c)astrategyallowsforgreaterefficiencyinutilizingandmanagingsocialmedia;d)astrategycanensureongoing,continuous,andconsistentactivityonvarioussocialplatformstokeepcontentfresh,relevant,andcoordinated;e)astrategycanallowforloftierandmoreeffectivecampaignsorspecificactivations;and,lastly;f)astrategywillkeepsocialmediaontrackasitshouldcontaininformationandproceduresforposting,replyingtotheaudience,dealingwithquestions,addressingadulationornegativecomments,andrespondingtocomplaints.SuchastrategyfortheParkmustbebroadinscope,andshouldbeasinclusiveaspossibletoengagemanypartnerstoparticipatetherebyprovidingalevelofconsistentsocialmediathroughoutthePark.

B. Partnerwithsocialmediainfluencers–Socialmediaisonlyasgoodasthefollower

baseofanyparticularuser(agency,NGO,club,individual,etc.).Socialinfluencermarketingisatacticthatisheavilyusedtodaybymany,andissimply“leveragingthefollowerbaseofinfluencers”forspecificpurposes–sales,donations,support,volunteerism,etc.Theuseofmarketingthroughsocialmediainfluencershasmanybenefits:itisconsideredalight-handedapproachthatdoesn’tfeelaggressivetotheenduserlikesometraditionalmarketingefforts;influencersmeticulouslybuildandcuratetheirfollowerbasesooftensocialinfluencersareviewedasacrediblesource;socialinfluencermarketingcan,overtime,liftSearchEngineOptimization(SEO);lastly,socialinfluencermarketingcanfostermeaningfulonlineexchangesthatcanengagemanyinatopicofspecificinterest.IdentifyingandcollaboratingwithsocialinfluencersinNewYorkandthebroaderAdirondackregiontochampionLeaveNoTraceand/orstewardshipeffortsintheParkcouldbeaneffectualstrategyforbuildingastrongersustainabilityculturefortheAdirondacks.

C. Considertheuseofsocialmediaasamonitoringtool–Somelandmanagersarenow

monitoringsocialmediafeedsandplatformsdailytodrawreal-timedatafromsocialposts.Oftentherecreatingpublicisawareofissuesbeforethelandmanager,andsocialmediahasbecomeanimportanttoolformanagers.Examplesofissuesthatmanagersarebeingmadeawareofviasocialchannelsincludehuman-wildlife

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conflict,dangerouswildlife,dangeroustrailconditions,userconflict,accidents,andwildfire.

V.Partnerships&CoordinationRecommendations

A. Create(orreinvigorate)anAdirondackParkWildlandsStewardshipCommittee–ThecreationofanAdirondackParkWildlandsStewardshipCommitteewouldgreatlybenefitLeaveNoTraceeffortsinthePark.Acommitteethathaspark-widerepresentation,notjusttheHighPeaksorhikers,wouldbeaneffectivewaytobettercoordinatemarketing,socialmedia,outreach,education,andtrainingforthePark.Suchacommitteeshouldincludenon-motorizeduserssuchashikers,climbers,paddlers,anglers,mountainbikers,trailrunners,skiers,etc.aswellasmotorizedusers(e.g.snowmobilers,boaters,ATVriders,etc.)andotherssuchashuntersthatutilizethepublicandprivatelandsofthePark.Furthermore,acommitteeofthiskindwouldbewellservedbyhavingNGOrepresentation,agencyrepresentation,andrepresentativesfromthemunicipalitieswithinthePark.Considerasubcommitteestructure–education,socialmedia,citizenscience,research,training,etc.TheoverarchingpurposeofsuchacommitteewouldbetodrivestewardshipeffortsintheParkinacoordinatedandorganizedfashion,andwouldallowfortheidentificationofspecificsuccessmetricsasvisitationtotheParkcontinuestoincrease.

B. ExamineexistingDECpartnershipstoenhancestewardshipefforts–TheDEC

currentlyhasmanypartnershipagreementswithmyriadentitiesinthePark.SomeoftheseexistingpartnershipsinvolvetheuseanddisseminationofLeaveNoTracetoParkvisitors.However,therearelikelyopportunitiesthathaveyettobeidentifiedbyDECandallofitspartnersforbetterpromotingresponsibleenjoymentofthePark.Totheextentpossible,theDECshouldreviewcurrentpartnershipsandidentifyopportunitiesforprovidingminimumimpactinformationtothepopulationsthevariouspartnersrespectivelyserve.Themoreexistingpartnershipscanbeleveragedinamutuallybeneficialwaytopromoteaconsistentstewardshipmessage,themorepeoplethatcanbereachedovertime.

C. WorkmorecloselywiththeNYGovernor’sOfficetopromoteresponsiblerecreation

inthePark–GiventheNYGovernor’sinterestintheAdirondackPark,hisofficeshouldbeengagedtohelppromoteresponsibleenjoymentofthePark.EverymessagecomingfromtheGovernor’sOfficeabouttheParkshouldincludeamessageaboutwildlandsstewardshipandLeaveNoTrace.Asthechiefexecutiveofthestate,theGovernorhasatremendousopportunitytoreachmillionsofpeopleinordertohelpprotecttheAdirondacks.ConsiderationshouldbegiventoinvitingtheGovernortotheParkforatourofareaswhererecreation-relatedimpactismostsignificantsoheandhisstaffcanseefirsthandthechallengesfacedbyDECanditspartnersinthePark.GreaterawarenessoftheissuesfacedbytheParkcouldbethesparkthatleadstoincreasedfunding,attention,andresourcesforthePark.Given

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thesignificanceoftheParkasaneconomicdriverforthestate,thisshouldbeahighpriorityiftheParkistobeenjoyedinperpetuity.

VI.GroupUse&Adirondack‘Challenges’Recommendations

A. Require(orstronglyrecommend)inclusionofLeaveNoTraceineveryParkchallenge–Allchallenges(46ers,CranberryLake50,FireTowerChallenge,SaranacLake6er,etc.)thatcurrentlytakeplaceintheParkshouldberequiredtoincludeLeaveNoTraceinformationforchallengeparticipants.Web-basedinformationaswellasthespecificinclusionofLeaveNoTraceintosuchchallengesshouldbestronglyrecommendedand/orrequired.Thesechallengesareoperatingonpubliclandsandhavearesponsibilitytominimizetheimpactofparticipation.Furthermore,manychallengeparticipantsmaybedrawntotheParkforothertypesofrecreationandeducatingallparticipantsacrossallchallengescouldfurthertheLeaveNoTraceethicinthePark.InareviewofmorethantenAdirondackchallengewebsites,itwasfoundthatvirtuallynoLeaveNoTraceinformationexistsonthewebsites.EachofthesechallengeshasasignificantopportunitytoreachthousandsifnotmillionsofParkvisitorsovertime.Assuch,thisrepresentsanimmediateopportunityforvisitoreducation.

B. CreateLeaveNoTraceguidelinesforchallenges–TheLeaveNoTraceCenterfor

OutdoorEthicsroutinelyworkswithpartnerstocreatetailoredLeaveNoTracemessagingandcurriculum.SuchaneffortcouldbeeasilyundertakentoensurethatallchallengesintheParkhavethenecessaryinformationtopromoteresponsibleenjoymentofthePark.Theinformationcouldbefeaturedoneachchallenges’website,andcouldevenbemadepartofthechallengeitself.

C. All“Challenge”events/programsintheParkshouldactivelypromoteLeaveNo

Trace–Notonlyshouldchallengesberequired(orstronglyrecommended)toincludeLeaveNoTraceontheirwebsitesbuttheyshouldactivelybepromotingLeaveNoTraceaspartoftheirpublicoutreachandmarketing.AsitcurrentlyexistsinthePark,thisisasignificantmissedopportunitytoreachmanypeople.

D. Conductasurveyofchallengetakers–Challengetakerswouldhavetoparticipatein

ashortsurveybeforetheycouldreceivetheirrecognition(e.g.patch,certificate,etc.)togatherdataonwhythey’retakingthechallenge,whattheirmotivationis,iftheyarespecificallygoal-focused,etc.Withthisdata,specificmessagingcouldbedevelopedtobetterresonatewithchallengeparticipantsregardingtheirroleintakingcareofthePark.

E. Implementagroupnotificationsystem–Considertheimplementationofagroup

notificationsystemsuchastheoneutilizedbytheAppalachianMountainClub(AMC)intheWhiteMountainsandtheMahoosucRange.TheAMCimplementedthissystemtobettermanagethehighovernightuseofsites.FromtheAMC,“Tobettermanagethesepublicwildlandssothatallhikerscontinuetoexperienceanuncivilized

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forest,wemustreceivepre-notificationfromlargegroupsconcerningwhichsitestheyplantouse.ProperuseoftheGroupNotificationSystemhelpstopreventmultiplegroupsfromconvergingatacampsiteonagivennightandexceedingsitecapacity.Thissimpleactionhelpsusworktogethertolessenimpactsonthesebeautifulareas,minimizeovercrowding,andincreaseeveryone’senjoymentofthebackcountry.However,thisnotificationisnotaformalreservation.Allsitesaremanagedonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.WehopethatuseoftheGroupNotificationSystemwillpreventtheneedforamoreformalizedreservationsystem,whichwouldmeanmoreregulationsandfees.Yourcompliancehelpsusprotecttheresourcesweallvalue!”Formoreinformationonthissystem,see:https://www.outdoors.org/lodging-camping/lodging-camping-campsites/campsites-notificationSuchasystemintheAdirondackParkcouldbeaveryeffectivewaytomanagegroupusewithouthavingtomovetoaformalreservationsystem.Furthermore,thedatacollectedthroughthistypeofsystemcouldbevaluableforpredictingtrendsingroupuse,trackinggroupuse,monitoringimpacts,andaddressingissuesresultingfromgroupuseinthePark.

VII.Outreach&EducationRecommendations

A. Createaconsistent,cohesiveeducationalplanforthePark–Comparedtootherlandsusedbythepublicforrecreation,theAdirondackParkcurrentlyappearstobereceivingasimilaramountofrecreation-relatedresourceandsocialimpact.Levelofexistingimpactisimportantbecausetimingiskeytoimplementingsuccessfulvisitoreducationprograms.Thesooneraprogramisimplemented,thebetterofftheParkwillbeinthefuture,i.e.whenpossible,havinganeducationprograminplacepriorto(orconcurrentwith)theopeningofthenewtrails(e.g.newMt.VanHoevenbergtrail)orotherrecreationalamenities(e.g.FrontierTown)willhelpensureeffectivenessofoutreachandeducationalefforts.Itisofteneasiertodealwithproblemsinanascentstageratherthantryingtoaddressdeeply-rootedresourceorsocialimpacts.Assuch,theCenterstronglyrecommendstheimmediateimplementationofcomprehensiveLeaveNoTraceeducationaleffortsParkwidetobeginminimizingandmitigatingexistingandfutureimpacts.

B. Catalogexistingrules,regulations,andeducationalmessagesinthePark–

Currently,thelistsofrulesandregulationsarenotreadilyvisibleorconsistentonkiosksthroughoutthePark,andLeaveNoTrace-typeinformationisessentiallynon-existentinmuchPark-relatedliterature.Thisisarelativelyeasyfix,butsomethingthatshouldberemediedovertimeinordertoconsistentlypromoteresponsibleandsustainableenjoymentofthePark.Onewaytoaddressthiswouldbeforaninternorgraduatestudenttodocumentexistingmessages(regulatoryandeducational)beingusedintheParktobetterunderstandthegapsinoverallmessaging.FromthereaplancouldbecreatedtofosterconsistencyacrossthePark.

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C. Ensureconsistencyofsignage–SomeofthemoreimportantsignagecurrentlyfoundintheParkshouldbemademoreprominentandconsistentacrossthePark.Whensignagedoesnothaveanofficiallookorfeel,itcanleadtonon-compliance.Makeallsignageaspermanentaspossible.Generallyspeaking,morepermanentsignagehasamoreauthentic,authoritative,andlegitimatefeel.Visitformoreinformationonvisitorperceptionsofsigns:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yu_Fai_Leung/publication/260165571_Frontcountry_visitor_informationeducation_programs_Are_there_lessons_for_wilderness/links/0a85e5367ce676a965000000.pdf

D. IdentifyandcapitalizeonmissedopportunitiestoreachParkvisitors–Whilethere

areactivevisitoreducationeffortsinmanypartsofthePark,therearealsomanymoreopportunitiesthathaveyettobecapitalizedon.Fromagencies,tolocationssuchastheVIC(PaulSmith’sCollege),tothevariousChallengesinthepark,aswellaslocationsliketheI-87exit17reststop,andinformationonshuttlevehicles,therearemanypotentialopportunitiestobettereducateParkvisitorsonenjoyingtheAdirondacksresponsibly.Furthermore,therearenumerouspublicationsthatshouldbeengagedinthiseffortastheyreachmanyvisitorsofalltypesinthePark.Acursoryreviewofpossibilitiesincludes:

• NYStateCampingGuide• TownofWebbTrailSystemmap• ILoveNYRoadmap• FrontierTownliterature,e.g.“EquestrianOpportunitiesNearFrontierTown”• OldForgeSummerFunGuide• AdirondackSports• AllAdirondack-focusedILoveNYGuides–CapitalSaratogaRegion,Seasonto

Seasonvisitorguide,ILoveNYTravelGuide,ILoveNYNewYorkStateTravelHighlights,etc.

• VICSummerProgramsGuide• AdirondacksFishingGuide• AdirondacksPaddlingGuide• DEC–YourNYSCampingAdventure(goodinformationbutcallit“LeaveNo

Trace”)• OldForgeSnowmobileTrailMap• AllDECdayuseandcampgroundmaps,e.g.LimekilnLake,AlgerIsland,

NicksLake,FishCreekPond,etc.• www.ReserveAmerica.comforcampgroundreservations

AninternatoneofthecollegesoruniversitiesinornearthePark,anagencyorNGOintern,orevenadedicatedvolunteercouldundertakesuchaproject.Knowingwhatopportunitiesexists,thatarenotcurrentlybeingcapitalizedon,willallowforatargetedandstrategicefforttomaximizeandutilizeallavailableoutreachopportunities.

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E. PSAReducationefforts–AccordingtotheDECthereareaccuratestatisticsonthenumberofsearchandrescueoperations(SAR)thatoccurinthePark.GiventheincreaseinSARinthepastfewyearsthereappearstobeaneed(andanopportunity)todevelopaPreventativeSearchandRescue(PSAR)educationaleffortand/orprogramwiththegoalofreachingparkvisitorsaboutbeingpreparedandstayingsafebeforetheyventureintothebackcountryofthePark.SuchaprogramwouldneedtobecoordinatedacrossthePark,andcouldinvolveawidevarietyofpartnersthatcouldallpromoteasinglePSARmessage.SeeexampleofsuccessfulPSAReffortsatGrandCanyonNationalPark:

• https://www.nps.gov/articles/parkscience33-1_99-

107_malcolm_heinrich_3864.htm

• https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/hike_smart-01.htmForresearchonthetopic,see:Malcolm,C.,Hannah,H.,&Pearce,E.(2014).Effectivenessofpreventativesearchandrescue:illnessandinjurypreventionandfiscalimpact.Wilderness&EnvironmentalMedicine,25(3),355-356.Collins,EthanG.andPettengill,PeterR.(2019).AnalysisofSearchandRescueIncidentsintheAdirondackStateParkfrom2015-2016.AdirondackJournalofEnvironmentalStudies,23,49-59

F. Replicatesuccessfulexistingoutreachefforts–Therearenumerousexisting

outreacheffortsinthePark(e.g.HPICatADK,summerinvasivespecies/boatinspectionstewards,firetowerstewards,etc.)thatcouldbereplicatedovertime.Giventhedocumentedeffectivenessofthesekindsofefforts,itwouldbebeneficialandmoreefficienttoenhanceandexpandonprovenoutreachmodelsratherthantocreatenewonesoutofwholecloth.Furthermore,itmayinitiallybeeasiertoraisethenecessaryfundstoreplicateeffortsthathavegeneratedesiredoutcomesratherthanfunduntestededucationandoutreachmechanisms.

G. TailorDECwebsitetowhatvisitorsaresearchingformost–Whiletherearegood

resourcesontheDEC’scurrentwebsite,areviewutilizingGoogleAnalyticsorathird-partyauditorofthemostvisitedpageswouldallowfortheagencytobettertailorthewebsitetocurrentParkvisitors.OncetheDEChasabetterunderstandingofwhatwebsitepagesvisitorsaresearchingfororviewing,thatinformationcanthenbelocated(orrelocated)tomoreaccessiblelocationsonthewebsite.MakingthemostsearchedforinformationbetteravailableandmoreeasilylocatedwouldgreatlybenefitvisitorstotheDECwebsitewhensearchingforinformationonresponsibleandsustainableenjoymentofthePark.

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H. SearchEngineOptimization–WhensearchingtheinternetforinformationontheAdirondackPark,themostprominentwebsitesarelargelytourism-focusedwebsites(thisisasignificantmarketing/outreachopportunity)andtheDECwebsiteisn’tfounduntilthesecondpageofaGooglesearch.Assuch,theDECshouldworkwithsearchengineoptimization(SEO)expertstoenhancethesearchabilityoftheDEC’swebsitegiventheagency’sroleinthemanagementandprotectionofthePark.BasedonacursoryreviewofsomeofthePark-relatedwebsitesthatarefoundviaGoogle,veryfewprovideinformationonresponsibleenjoyment(i.e.LeaveNoTrace)ofthePark,andnonewerefoundthatdetailedtherulesandregulationsforthePark.SearchengineoptimizationcouldhelpremedythissituationandmaketheDEC’swebsiteaprominentandeasily-accessedsourceofinformationforthePark.

I. CreateasingularwebsitefortheHighPeaks–Becauseoftheintenseandgrowing

useoftheHighPeaks,DECanditspartnersintheHighPeaksshouldconsiderasinglewebsitefortheareathatcouldserveasthecomprehensiveanddefinitiveinformationsourceforthosewishingtovisit.SuchasitecouldbeinbothEnglishandFrenchtoaccommodatevisitorsfromboththeUSandCanada.TherearecurrentlynumerouswebsitesthatprovideinformationabouttheHighPeakswhichcreatesinconsistenciesfromonesitetothenext.Aquicksearchonwww.networksolutions.comrevealsthatpotentialURLssuchaswww.adkpeaks.org(or.net),www.nyhighpeaks.org(or.net)andwww.adkhighpeaks.org(or.net)areallcurrentlyavailable.HavingonewebsitededicatedtothisspecialregionoftheParkwouldbeanexcellentwaytohelpensurethatvisitorstotheHighPeakscouldhaveaccesstoaccurateandtimelyinformationtothearea.

J. Publicizeexistingshuttleservices–TherearesomeshuttleservicesintheParkthat

havebeenimplementedtoremedythemyriadparkingissuesmanagersandpartnersarecurrentlydealingwithintheAdirondacks.Whilewellintentioned,suchservicesarevirtuallyuselessunlessParkvisitorsknowabouttheservices.TheDECanditspartnersshouldcatalogallexistingshuttleservicesandwidelypromotethemandthebenefitstheyprovide.AllvisitorsshouldbeencouragedtousetheseservicestobenefittheParkandtheexperienceitisintendedtoprovide.Forresearchonshuttleservicesinparksandprotectedareas,see:

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692313000525

• https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=684539079697772;

res=IELBUS

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-006-0061-9

K. Catalogthetop50(or100)educationalopportunitiesinthePark–Considerutilizinganinternorstudent(undergraduateorgraduate)toidentifyandcatalogthetop50–100educationalopportunitiesintheParkthatarenotcurrentlybeingutilized.Fromoutfitterandguideservicestoretailerstohotelandlodgingto

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restaurantsandbars,therearemanypotentialopportunitiesforreachingvisitorsthathaveyettobetakenadvantageof.However,withoutabetterunderstandingoftheopportunitiesthatexistitwillbechallengingtocreateaplanforensuringthedisseminationofconsistentLeaveNoTraceorotherparkinformationthroughsuchoutlets.

L. EnsureLeaveNoTraceispartofrelevantcollegeorientationprograms,courses,and

outingprograms–TherearenumerouscollegesanduniversitiesthatprovideavarietyofprogrammingintheParkofferingmeaningfulopportunitiestoreachstudents(andstaff)withLeaveNoTraceinformationforthePark.DECanditspartnersshouldreachouttoallknowncollegesanduniversitiesthatoperateintheParkinsomecapacitytoensuretheyareprovidingLeaveNoTracetotheirparticipantsbeforeandduringanyvisit.

VIII.TrainingRecommendations

A. SpecifictrainingforDECstaffandrangers–ConsidersendingDECForestRanger,ECOs,andLandsandForestsstafftotargetedtrainingonproperuseoftheAuthorityoftheResourceTechnique,aprovenmethodforeffectivelyinteractingwithParkvisitorsaboutLeaveNoTraceandsimilarstewardshipconcepts.ThistrainingisoftencoupledwithEffectiveCommunicationtraining,whichisdesignedforstaffandvolunteerswhoroutinelyinterfacewithParkvisitors.Thisparticulartrainingmoduleisgenerallya4-hourtrainingbutcanbetailoredtoaparticularaudienceformaximumeffectiveness.ContacttheCenterforadditionaldetails.MoreinformationontheAuthorityoftheResourcetechniquecanbefoundhere:https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/ART_Wallace_Original.pdf

B. EntitiesoperatingunderaVolunteerServiceAgreement(VSA)shouldbetrainedinLeaveNoTrace–AnyentityoperatingonstatelandsasavolunteerwithDEChastheopportunitytoprovideLeaveNoTraceeducation,whetheritisexplicitlyintheirmission(suchasFrontCountryStewards)ornot(suchasvolunteertrailcrews).OrganizerscouldberequiredtohaveLeaveNoTraceAwarenesstraining(a1-dayorshorterformalLeaveNoTracetraining)ataminimum.TheLeaveNoTraceCenteroffersaFREEonlineLeaveNoTraceAwarenessCoursethatparticipantscouldtake.Uponsuccessfulcompletion,participantsreceiveacertificateofcompletion,whichcouldbesubmittedaspartoftheVSAapplicationorrenewalapplication.

C. SummercampstaffshouldbetrainedinLeaveNoTrace–Therearecountless

summercamps(bothdayandresident)intheAdirondackPark.CampsrepresentatremendousopportunitytoreachbothcampstaffandyouthwithLeaveNoTraceinanoutdoorcontext.TheLeaveNoTraceCenterhasarobustsuiteofcamp-focusededucationalcurriculumandprogramsthatareeffectiveatincreasingLeaveNoTraceknowledgeincampparticipantsaswellasinfluencingyouthbehaviortobetteralignwithLeaveNoTraceintheoutdoors.Formoreinformation,see:

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• https://lnt.org/our-work/youth-education/

• https://lnt.org/our-work/youth-education/accreditation/

• https://lnt.org/our-work/youth-education/youth-educator-library/

• https://lnt.org/our-work/youth-education/things-to-do/

D. MakeLeaveNoTracearequiredcomponentofNYGuideLicensure–Currently

thereareapproximately2,500licensedguidesinNewYork,whichrepresentsatremendousopportunitytoeducateaprofessionalcommunityaboutLeaveNoTracethathasasignificantreachintheAdirondackPark.Outfitterandguideservicesoftencatertobeginnersornoviceswhoareinterestedinlearningnewoutdooractivities.Assuch,guidesareteachingspecificskillsandLeaveNoTraceshouldbeoneofthoseskillsthatisimpartedtoeveryindividualorgroupthatisservedbyaNYDECLicensedGuide.Furthermore,allNYGuidesshouldberequiredtohaveLeaveNoTraceAwarenesstraining(a1-dayorshorterformalLeaveNoTracetraining)ataminimum.TheLeaveNoTraceCenteroffersaFREEonlineLeaveNoTraceAwarenessCoursethatallguidescouldtake.Uponsuccessfulcompletion,participantreceiveacertificate.Thatcertificateofcompletioncouldbesubmittedaspartoftheguidelicenseapplicationortherenewalapplication.Lastly,theNYGuideexamcouldeasilyincorporateLeaveNoTracetoensurethatalllicensedguidesareawareofhowtominimizetheimpactoftheirguidingserviceandpassalongtheinformationtotheirclients.SeeLeaveNoTraceonlinecourse:https://lnt.org/get-involved/training-courses/online-awareness-course/

IX.Dept.ofEnvironmentalConservationRecommendationsA. DECworkwithmedia/outdoorindustrymedia–DEChasatremendousopportunity

toexpanditsoutreachandengagementwithoutdoorindustrymediaentitiesthatarepromotingtheAdirondackPark.ThesekindsofinfluencerscanplayakeyroleinpromotingresponsibleenjoymentofthePark.AninternetsearchrevealsnumerousmediaoutletsthatareheavilypromotingtheParkyetprovidelittletonoinformationonresponsibleenjoymentoftheareasthey’repromoting.Afewexamplesinclude:www.lonelyplanet.com;www.visittheusa.com;www.tripadvisor.com;www.alltrails.com;www.outside.com;www.backpacker.com;www.wikipedia.com;www.adirondackexplorer.com;www.outdoorproject.com,aswellasmanyothers.

B. IncludeLeaveNoTraceintheDECRangerAcademy–TheDEC’sEnvironmentalConservationPoliceOfficerandForestRangerBasicTrainingacademyshouldincludearobustLeaveNoTracecomponent.GiventheroleofECOsandForestRangersintheprotectionofthePark,interactionwiththepublicisakeypartofthescopeofworkforthesecrucialstaff.EnsuringthatECOsandRangersareequipped

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withLeaveNoTracewillallowthemtopassalongcriticalinformationtooutdoorenthusiaststheyinterfacewiththroughoutthecourseoftheirduties.ResearchhasshownthatvisitorstopubliclandsoftenfirstlearnaboutLeaveNoTracefromaranger.Assuch,itisimperativethatDECfieldstaffarewell-versedinLeaveNoTraceskillsandethics.

C. CreateaDECJuniorRangerProgram–ConsiderthedevelopmentofanAdirondack

ParkJuniorRangerProgramthatcontainsaLeaveNoTracecomponent.Suchprogramsarewidelyutilizedbythefederallandmanagementagencies,andbysomestateagenciesaswell.Generally,theseprogramsarestructuredtoengageyouthages5–15butsomeencourageparticipationofadultsofanyageaswell.ThemajorityofthesekindsofprogramsincludeLeaveNoTraceactivitiesandassociatededucationalopportunities.TheNationalParkServicehasanexcellentJr.Rangerprogram:https://www.nps.gov/kids/junior-rangers.htmthathasbeenverysuccessfulinAmerica’snationalparks.Twootherexamples,onefromTexasStateParks:https://tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/programs/jr_ranger/andtheotherfromCaliforniaStateParks:http://kids.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22783.Thesekindsofprogramsareeasytoreplicate,doanexcellentjobofengagingyouth,andhaveaddedbenefitssuchasparentalinvolvement(andsubsequentlearning).ThistypeofprogramcouldberolledoutParkwideintheAdirondacks,andcouldhelpfosterthenextgenerationofParkstewards.

D. Enforcementofexistingregulations–DECmanagersshouldexploreoptionsfor

greaterenforcementofrulesandregulationsinthePark.Iftheapplicablerulesandregulationscannotbeenforcedadequately,managerswillhavetorelysolelyonvoluntarycompliance,whichhasbeenshowntobelowforsomeissues.Additionally,DECcouldconsiderdevelopingamatrixfororganizingthoseimpactsintheParkthatarebestsuitedtolawenforcementandthosethatcouldeffectivelybeaddressedthrougheducationalefforts.SuchamatrixwouldallowDECstafftobejudiciouswithitsresources,andfosteramoretargetedapproachtomanaging,mitigating,andminimizingimpactsintheParkthroughbotheducationandlawenforcement.

X.InfrastructureRecommendations

A. Technological/infrastructuresolutions–DECanditspartnerswillneedtofurtherexplorewhichkindofinfrastructureandfacilitiesare,orwillbe,necessarytoprovidetheintendedvisitorexperience.Thisinfrastructurecanbeusedasaneffectivemanagementtool,e.g.parkingareascanbedesignedtolimitvisitationbasedonnumberofparkingspaces,high-trafficareascanbehardenedtominimizetramplingeffects,campsitescanbebuilttocontainandminimizeimpacts,etc.Thougheducationiseffective,technicalsolutionssuchasinfrastructure,arenecessaryandappropriateattimestomanagehighvisitoruseandrecreation-relatedimpacts.Moreinformationcanbefoundhere:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeffrey_Marion/publication/242240482_Ma

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naging_Visitor_Impacts_in_Parks_A_Multi-Method_Study_of_the_Effectiveness_of_Alternative_Management_Practices/links/02e7e53a037ba53d93000000/Managing-Visitor-Impacts-in-Parks-A-Multi-Method-Study-of-the-Effectiveness-of-Alternative-Management-Practices.pdf

B. Considerestablishingactualvisitorcenter(s)forthePark–Thoughafew“visitor

centers”existinthePark,thereisnotaformalvisitorcenter(orsuiteofvisitorcenters)thatoffersaone-stop-shopforParkvisitors.Federalandstatelandmanagersroutinelyutilizevisitorcenterstointeractwithvisitors,provideeducation,interpretation,guestservices,andresources(books,maps,equipment,etc.).DECanditspartnersshouldevaluatetheneedforasinglevisitorcenter(orperhapsmultiple)forthePark.NYSDOTdatashowsthatthemajorityofvisitorsaccesstheParkthroughafewkeyentrypoints,whichmakestheideaofformalvisitorcenterspotentiallymorefeasible.GiventhatthereisnosingleentrypointforthePark,coupledwiththefactthattheParkhasaporousboundary,anassessmentshoulddeterminethefeasibilityoftrulyutilizingsuchfacilitiesforeducationandoutreachpurposesamongotherthings.

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AdditionalRecommendedMethodsandTacticsforEducatingAdirondackParkVisitors• Brochures–Distributeatvisitorcentersandnaturalareasorindividualpilotsites–

tailoredLeaveNoTraceeducationalinformationthatcouldbedistributedattrailheads,managerandpartneroffices,orotherrecreationsites,theChambersofCommerceortourismpartnersintheParkandsurroundingcommunities,othergovernmentaloffices,localoutdoorretailshops,throughNGOpartners,theAdirondackMountainClub,theAdirondackCouncil,otherkeypartnersandstakeholders,andatothervenuesthroughoutthePark.

• Trailhead/ParkSignage–Whendonecorrectly,signagecanbeaneffectivetoolfordisseminatinginformationtoParkusers.Theinformationcontainedonsignswouldneedtobeconsistentwithotheroutreachmethods,andwouldprovidelocallyrelevantinformation.Placementofsignageandkioskcanbeanimportantfactor(theCentercanprovidemoreinformationonthisdependingonlocalvariables,constraints,andimpacts).GiventhevastanddispersednatureofthePark,andpotentialstafflimitations,signscanbeaneffectivemanagementstrategyforprovidingLeaveNoTraceinformationaswellasrules,regulations,andotherarea-specificinformation.OnekeyistheneedtohaveconsistentsignagethroughouttheParkinordertobestreachvisitorsrepeatedlywithstewardshipmessages.

• InformationonParkMaps–Locally-tailoredtocovertheentireParkorevenspecific

partsofthePark.Informationcouldbefurthertailoredtoaspecificactivityorusergroup.

• Website–Consistentinformationacrossthemanager/partnerspectrum,possibly

includingalinktotheLeaveNoTracewebsitesovisitorscangetevenmoreinformationiftheysodesire,canbeacriticaleducationaltool.Web-basedinformationshouldbethemostup-to-dategiventheeaseandrelativelowcostofupdating.ConsiderhavingaspecificLeaveNoTracesectionofagencyandpartnerwebsitessimilartowhatmostnationalparks,manystateparks,andnumerousmunicipalitieshave:

https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-leave-no-trace.htm;https://austintexas.gov/leavenotrace;https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/lnt.aspx;andhttp://stateparks.mt.gov/protect-and-respect/leaveNoTrace.html

• ContinuetocoordinatePublicServiceAnnouncements–Anewtopiceach

week/month/season/year–“TipsforLeavingNoTraceintheAdirondackPark.”PSAscouldbedistributedthroughavarietyofoutlets–agencyandpartnerwebsites,localprintanddigitalmedia,regionalmedia,NGOs,socialmedia,etc.

• StaffTraining–Providetrainingforappropriateagencyandpartnerstaff–fromthe1-

hourLeaveNoTraceAwarenessWorkshoptothe2-dayLeaveNoTraceTrainerCourse,

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tothe5-dayLeaveNoTraceMasterEducatorCourse(theAdirondackMountainClubisanapprovedMasterEducatorCourseProvider).AllowstaffandkeypartnerstheopportunitytolearnmoreaboutLeaveNoTrace,thesciencebehindit,andhowtoeffectivelyteachit.SuchtrainingcouldbeacriticalcomponentoftheoverallLeaveNoTraceeffortsinthePark.

• Trainingforkeypartners,volunteers,orinterestedindividuals–LeaveNoTrace

Trainingcouldbeprovidedbyagency/partnerstafforotherappropriatevolunteersforthegeneralpublic,volunteergroups,schoolgroups,etc.ThiskindoftrainingcouldengageexistingParksupporters,andfurtherbuildstrongerstewardshipeffortsforthePark.

• InterpretiveWalks/Presentations/RangerTalks–ThesecouldbeofferedbyDECor

partnersonaweeklyormonthlybasistoteachlocals,Parkusers,andtouristsabouttheuniqueresourcesfoundintheParkatkeylocations,suchascampgroundsandotherDECfacilities.Theseeducationalmethodsofferturnkeyopportunitiesfordisseminatinginformationaboutwaystominimizerecreationalimpacts.Theseeducationalsessionshelpbuildasenseof“ownership”andfosterstewardshipinParkvisitorsandsupporters.ConsiderbuildingLeaveNoTraceintoexistingprogramsofthiskindalreadybeingofferedbyDECandotherpartners.

• VolunteerPrograms–ProgramssuchasAdopt-a-ParkorFriendsoftheHighPeakscould

beveryusefulinthiseffort(assumingsimilarprogramsexistorcanbecreated).Training(bothLeaveNoTraceandAuthorityoftheResource)forvolunteersiskeysothattheycaneffectivelyinteractwithparkusersregardingLeaveNoTraceatparkingareas,trailheads,andatdestinations.Currently,trainingrequirementsaremostlylefttotheorganizationholdingtheVolunteerServiceAgreement(VSA).DECcouldrequireallorganizationsholdingVSAstoprovideLeaveNoTracetraining,eitherinpersonorviatheFREEonlineAwarenessWorkshop.

Volunteerprogramscouldbeaveryeffectivewaytohelpmanagevisitoruse,andprovidemeaningfulpublicoutreachandeducation.Researchandbestpracticehasdemonstratedthatvolunteerscanoftenmakeveryworthwhileandlastingpubliccontacts,giventhattheirpersonalattachmenttoaparticularparkornaturalareaisondisplaywheninteractingwiththerecreatingpublicratherthanuniformedagencypersonnel.Thereisagreatdealofstrategytoensuringthatvolunteerscanbeeffectivelyutilizedinparksandprotectedareaswithoutcompromisingtheirpersonalsafety.Additionally,volunteersmustbedeployedinareasthataremorelikelytobenefitfromsuchapresence,i.e.areaswithrecreation-relatedimpactssuchaspetwaste,off-trailtravel,wildlifefeeding,etc.ratherthanthosewhereillegalactivitiescomprisethegreatestmanagementconcerns.

• InterpretiveSignage–SignagecouldbeplacedatstrategiclocationsinandaroundtheParktoeducateusersabouttheareastheyarerecreatingin,theecosystemfunction,andwaystoprotectsuchareasbyusingLeaveNoTraceskillsandtechniques,e.g.

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signageinriparianareas,historicalfeatures,criticalwildlifehabitat,sensitiveplanthabitat,etc.Researchhasshownthatvisitorsareoftenmoreapttoprotectwhattheyunderstand.Suchinterpretivesignage,whendeployedintherightcircumstance,canaccomplishbothraisingawarenessandimpartinganeffectivestewardshipmessage.

• SupplementaryOutreachMethods:

v AnAdirondackPark-specificethicsreferencecardcouldbeproducedanddistributedtoParkvisitors.Thesecardsgenerallycontainapproximately500wordsoftext,highlightingthekeyissuesinanarea,andspecifictechniquesforminimizingimpactinthearea.TheCenterhasutilizedsuchcardsforover20yearswithgreatsuccess.Theyarerelativelyinexpensive(~$0.20percard),visitorsgenerallylikethecards,andtheyareoftenkeptaseitherakeepsake/mementooraneducationaltool.TheNYSDEChaspreviouslyhadastandardlanguage,butspecificallyForestRangerbrandedethicscard,whichitdistributedtothepublic.SeeappendixII

v AnAdirondackParkappforsmartphoneuserscouldbecreatedthatwouldgivepertinentParkinformationaswellasrelevantLeaveNoTraceinformationtailoredtothePark.

v Informationcouldbepostedonthebackofrestroomstalldoors–captive

audience.

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BenefitsofUsingLeaveNoTracefortheAdirondackPark

Ø ThrougheffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducation,recreation-relatedresourceandsocialimpactscanbeavoided,minimized,ormitigated.

Ø Bycreatingacultureofstewardshipandresponsiblerecreation,therecouldbeanoverallincreaseinvisitorsatisfactionwiththePark,whichcouldleadtogreatersupportforconservationoftheAdirondackPark.

Ø AneffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationprogramcouldleadtoareductioninmaintenanceneedsforParkamenitiessuchastrails,campsites,campgrounds,shelters,etc.

Ø Locally-tailoredLeaveNoTracemessagingandinformationwouldmeettherecreationandresourceneedsoftheAdirondackParkand/orindividuallocationsifdesired.

Ø Tappingintoanexisting,well-establishedprogramcanconservebothstaffandfinancialresources,asmuchoftheworkhasalreadybeendonebytheCenterforOutdoorEthics.

Ø TheworkundertakenintheAdirondackParkwouldbepromotednationallyasa

modelforotherrecreationalresourcesofthiskind.

Ø TheAdirondackPark(anditsmanagersandpartners)wouldbedirectlylinkedwiththepremier,nationallyrecognizedoutdoorskillsandethicseducationprogram.

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PotentialResearchBecauseLeaveNoTraceisresearch-based,theCenterstrivestoincorporateresearchcomponentsintoappropriateprojectsorinitiativestoassesstheeffectivenessofeducationaleffortsand/orchangesinresourceconditions.Researchcanbeundertakeninavarietyofwaysfromsimplequestionnairesoronlinesurveystomorein-depth,scientificresearchconductedbymaster’sstudentsordoctoralcandidatesinconjunctionwithauniversityorcollege.Thesetypesofempiricalstudiesgenerallyresultinpeer-reviewed,publishableresearch,andaddtothebodyofparkandprotectedareamanagementliterature.RecentlytheCenterhasbeenusinganapproachtoexploreLeaveNoTrace-relatedbehaviorsofinterestwhichhasprimarilyconsistedofvisitorobservationcoupledwithsurveydata.Thismethodologyasksstudyparticipantswhattheywoulddowhilealsoobservingwhattheyactuallydoinaparkcontext.Throughamulti-method,experimentaldesignincludingunobtrusiveobservation,andpairedvisitorsurveydatacollection,thistypeofstudymethodologycanexamineattitudes,norms,perceptions,andmotivationsthatleadtovariousbehaviorsinparksandprotectedareas.Italsoprovidesopportunitiestoexploretheefficacyofindirectanddirectmanagementstrategiesforreducingrecreation-relatedimpactsandgarneringappropriatebehaviorbyparkvisitors.

SampleMethodologiesFormethodologiesthatinvolvepairedsurveyswithbehavioralobservation,specificstudyobjectivesoftenincludethefollowing:

1. Explorationofcurrentpractices,educationalstrategies,andmessagessurroundingspecificbehaviorsofinterestthroughdirectobservationand/orvisitorsurveys;

2. Thedeploymentofaseriesofeducationaland/orregulatorytreatments/controltorandomlyselectedproblemareasinselectlocationsusingastratifiedsamplingstrategy(e.g.,attemptingdistributedstratificationbyAM/PM,weekday/weekend,treatment,location,pairedsampling/observationonlysampling)overasettimeperiod(e.g.one-monthperiod),todeterminewhichtreatmentismosteffectiveatreducingimpactsfromthespecificbehavior(s)ofinterest;

3. Thepairingofobservedvisitors’responsestotreatments/controlwithsurveydata

fromthosesameobservedindividualsorpartiesforcomparativeanalysisofobservedandreportedbehavior.

OthersocialsciencemethodsutilizedbytheCenteranditsacademiccollaboratorsincludeon-site,researcher-administratedvisitorsurveys.Whenusingvisitorsurveystoexplorespecificparkandprotectedareatopicsofinterest,therearegenerallyfourprimarystudyobjectives:1)Togainanunderstandingofvisitors’attitudes,perceptions,andmotivationstowardspecificissues,impacts,orbehaviorsthroughtheoretically-basedvisitorsurveys;

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2)Tocatalogthequantityorqualityofimpactatselectedsitesinparksandprotectedareas;3)Todevelopanintegratedunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenpatternsofimpactand/orbehaviorsofinterestandtheinfluencesofsocialandmanagerialconstructsonthesepatterns;4)Toadvanceeducationalandmanagementrecommendationsforreducingthesocialandecologicalimpactsofrecreationthroughdirectand/orindirectmanagementactions.

ResearchCouldAnswertheFollowingQuestions

• CouldeffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationprovideadirectandmeasurablereductioninbothbiophysicalresourceimpactsandsocialimpactsintheAdirondackPark?

• CouldeffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationprovideareductioninnecessaryfacilities

maintenanceintheAdirondackPark?

• CouldeffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationresultinareductioninavoidablesearchandrescueoperationsintheAdirondackPark?

• CouldeffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationincreasevisitorsatisfactionwithoutdoor

recreationexperiencesintheAdirondackPark?

• CouldeffectiveLeaveNoTraceeducationleadtoanimprovementinthebiophysicalresourceandsocialconditionsintheAdirondackPark?

Ataminimum,itwouldbebeneficialtogatheranypossiblebaselinedatathroughacompilationofanecdotalevidence,photodocumentation,GPSdata,surveys,citizenscience,orothermeans.ThemoreinformationAdirondackParkmanagersandpartnershavepriortoprogramimplementation,thebettertheoveralleffectivenessofeducationeffortscanbemeasured,documented,andenhancedovertime.ForacomprehensiveoverviewoftheCenter’sresearch,visit:https://lnt.org/research-resources/leave-no-trace-focused-research-2011-2018/

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ModelLeaveNoTraceLanguagetoAddressIssuesThefollowingsamplelanguage(invariousforms)hasbeensuccessfullyusedinnumerouslocationsacrosstheU.S.,includingParkCity,UT;WashingtonDC;LittleRock,AR;Boulder,CO;Boise,ID;LasVegas,NV;Kennesaw,GA;Phoenix,AZ;Philadelphia,PA;Madison,WI;Golden,CO;etc.,andcouldserveasastartingpointtodevelopthemostrelevantandeffectivemessagesthatareconsistentwithexistingrulesandregulationsfoundtheAdirondackPark.Understandably,thislanguagewillneedtosyncwithexistingParkrules,regulations,andspecificmanagementobjectivesinordertoberelevantandeffective.Petwaste:PickUpPoop–Phew!Dogpoopstinks,isnotnaturaltoForestParkandotherscanstepinit.Packapick-upbagorgraboneatthetrailheadandalwayspickupyourdog’spoop–whereveritmaybe.Dogpoopisahealthhazard.ItalsoincreasesthenitrogeninthesoilinForestPark,givingweedsanadvantageoverthenativeplantsthathavenaturallyevolvedinForestPark.DogpoopcanalsocontributetowaterpollutionintheuniqueriparianareasfoundinForestPark.Thanksforbaggingyourdog’spoop,butremember,thejob’snotdoneuntilyoudropitinthetrashcan.PleasedoyourparttokeepForestParkdogpoopfree.Petmanagement:ManageYourDog–Keepingyourdogincontrolkeepspeople,otherdogs,livestockandwildlifesafe.Othersmaynotappreciateyourdog’scompany;ifnotsure,askbeforeallowingyourdogtoapproachthem.Pleasedonotletyourdogapproachothersunlessinvited.DogsmustbeonleashatalltimesinForestParkunlessyou'reinanoff-leasharea.Inareaswhereleashesaren'trequired,keepyourdognearbyandundercontrol.Beaware-checksignsandfollowarearegulations.Keeptrackofyourpetswhileyou’rerecreatinginForestPark.Apetundercontrollessensthechanceforharmtoyourdogfromotherdogsorwildlife.Pleasedonotletyourdogapproachorchasewildlife.Chasedorharassedwildlifechangetheirfeedingpatternsandexertmoreenergy,whichcanresultinpoorhealthorevendeath.Respectadjacentprivatepropertybynotallowingyourdogtowanderfromdesignatedtrailsoroff-leashareas.Remember,unlessyou'reinanoff-leasharea,petsmustbeonleashinForestPark.Pleasedoyourparttomanageyourdog.Userconflict:ShareourTrails–WeallenjoyForestParkindifferentways.Payattention,expecttoencounterothers,slowdownandbecourteous-offerafriendlygreeting.Thosetravelingfastershouldslowdownforotherusers.Downhillriders,hikersandrunnersshouldalwaysyieldtoallotherusers.

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Bikers,becauseoftheirmobility,shouldalwaysyieldtohikersandhorsebackriders.Thebestchoicewhenyieldingistostop,thenstepoffthetrailontoadurablesurface(rock,sand,etc.)andremainuntilotherspass.Ifyoucontinuetohikeorrideofftrailwhenyielding,youtrampletrailsidevegetationandcreatemultipletrailswhereoneisusuallybest.Weallknowhowgreatoutdoorexperiencescanbe.Onediscourteouspersoncanruinanouting.Expectandrespectothers.Makeroomforothers.Controlyourspeed.Passwithcareandletothersknowyou'repassing.Becourteousandwe'llallhaveabettertime.Litter:TrashYourTrash–Pleasepickupalltrash–yoursandothers’.Evenbiodegradablematerials,suchasorangepeels,applecoresandfoodscrapstakemonthstobreakdownandattractscavengersthatcanharmnativewildlife.Trashisunsightlyandruinseveryone’soutdoorexperience.Studieshaveshownthattrashattractsscavengingbirdsandanimalsthatdriveawayorkillnativebirds.Let’salldoourparttotakecareofForestParkbypickingupalltrash.Protectionofriparianareas:ProtectOurWaterORKeepOurWaterHealthy–ForestParkishometomanyuniqueresourcesincludingriparianareas–thegreenvegetatedareasoneachsideofstreamsandcreeks.Bothpeopleandanimalsaredrawntowater,especiallyinforestedenvironmentslikethosefoundinForestPark.RiparianareasarevitaltothehealthanddiversityofplantsandanimalsinForestPark.Theseareasareoftenthesolehabitatformanyplantandanimalspeciesthatneedwetconditions.Riparianareassupplyfoodandcoverforanimals;provideabuffer,whichactsasafiltertohelppreventwatercontamination;reducetheriskofflooding;andhelpreducestreambankerosion.Doyourparttohelpprotectthiscriticalresourcebystayingontrails,onlyaccessingthewateratdesignatedaccesspoints,keepinglitter,humanandpetwasteoutofthewater,andnottramplingstreamsidevegetation.Pleasehelpprotectourwater.Off-trailtravel:SticktoTrails–Stayingontrailsprotectswildlifeandtheirhomes.Shortcuttingtrailscauseserosionanddamagestrailsideplants.Pleasewalkandrideondesignatedtrailsonly.Contact[insertappropriatecontactorweblink]fortrailinformationandmaps.Studieshaveshownthatwhenwetramplevegetationonthesideofthetrail,thereisagreaterchanceweedswillreplacenativeplants.Inthisenvironment,nativeplantstakemonthstorecoverfromtramplingdamage.

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Avoidareasthatareunmarked,closedforrevegetationorsignedassensitive.Respectprivatepropertybystayingondesignatedtrails.WecanallhavefuninForestParkbystickingtothetrail.Collectingand/orremovingnaturalobjects:LeaveItAsYouFindIt–Pickingflowers,collectingrocksortakingothernaturalobjectsmightnotseemlikeabigdeal,butitmeansthatotherswon’thaveachancetoenjoythem.Takingoneortwoflowersorplants,eveniftheyseemplentiful,isnotOK.Weallenjoyflowersandfruit,butpickingthemreducesseeds,whichcanmeanfewerplantsnextyear.Wildlifedependontheseplantsforfood.Remember,therearealotofusenjoyingForestPark,soweallneedtobeextracareful–pleasedoyourparttoprotectForestPark’sresourcesbyleavingthemasyoufindthem.OtherExamplesofSite-specificLanguageinUse:FromBoise,Idaho–RidgetoRiversPartnershipManageYourDogLeashesarerequiredbylawintheBoiseCityReserves.ThesearethenaturalopenspacesmanagedbyBoiseCityParksandRecreation.Checkthetrailheadsignboardsformoreinformation.Elsewhereinthefoothills,allowingyourdogtoapproachpeopleuninvitedandtorunfarandwideinvitesconflictswithotherusers.Besmart-controlyourdogatalltimes.EnjoyOff-LeashTrailsCertaintrailshavebeendesignatedforoff-leashuse,butonlywhenadogisdeemedtobeundercontrol.Thismeansdogsmustbewithin30’ofownerandreturnwhencalled;theymustnotapproachorharasspeople,petsorwildlife.Doesyourdogmeetthistest?Ifnot,thenleashesarestillrequired.PickupPoopDogwastesmells,peoplecanstepinitanditcancontributetowaterpollution.Itiseasytopickupwastebybringingabagorgrabbingoneatthetrailhead.Youcanhelpbylookingoutfor#2.Remember,thejob’snotdone‘tillthebagsinthecan.LeaveNoTraceReduceimpactstothelandbykeepingyourdogonthetrail,avoidallowingthemtodigforrodentsandmakesuretheydonotchasewildlife,especiallywinteringbiggame.SharetheTrailsNoteveryonelovesyourdoglikeyoudo.Respectothertrailenthusiastsandkeepcontrolofyourdogatalltimes.Leashupattrailheadparkingareasandothercongestedspots.Yellingforyourdogdestroysthequietthatmanyareseeking.Protectyourpet–SticktoTrails

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Encounterswithpredators,rattlesnakes,ticksandcheatgrassaremorelikelyofftrail.Bringwaterforyouandyourdog.Accesstocreekscanincreaseerosion.Enjoyingoffleashtrailsisaprivilegeearnedbyrespectfulandresponsibleuse.Yourdog,thewildlife,thelandandyourfellowtrailenthusiastswillallbenefitfromyourresponsibleactions.Thisinformationisprovidedaspartofanongoingefforttoencourageshareduseandanenjoyabletrailexperience.FromParkCity,Utah–SnydervilleBasinSpecialRecreationDistrictLeaveNoTraceonBasinRecSpace.TheSnydervilleBasinrecreationspaceprovidesasafehavenfornativeplantsandanimalsandawelcomebreakfromourbusylives.Byrecreatingwisely,wecanminimizeourimpactonwildlifeandtheirhomesandfellowvisitors,whileenjoyingouroutdoorexperienceevenmore.WiththousandsofpeoplevisitingBasinRecreationSpace,thelessimpactweeachmake,thelongerwewillenjoywhatwehave.PleasedoyourparttoLeaveNoTraceonBasinRecSpace.ManageYourDog–Keepingyourdogincontrolkeepspeople,otherdogs,livestockandwildlifesafe.Othersmaynotappreciateyourdog’scompany;ifnotsure,askbeforeallowingyourdogtoapproachthem.Pleasedonotletyourdogapproachothersunlessinvited.DogsmustbeonleashintheBasinunlessyou'reinanoff-leasharea.Inareaswhereleashesaren'trequiredkeepyourdognearbyandundercontrol.Beaware-checksignsandfollowarearegulations.Keeptrackofyourpetswhileyou’rerecreatingintheBasin.Apetundercontrollessensthechanceforharmtoyourdogfromotherdogsorwildlife.Pleasedonotletyourdogapproachorchasewildlife.Chasedorharassedwildlifechangetheirfeedingpatternsandexertmoreenergy,whichcanresultinpoorhealthorevendeath.RespectprivatepropertyintheBasinbynotallowingyourdogtowanderfromdesignatedtrailsoroff-leashareas.Remember,unlessyou'reinanoff-leasharea,petsmustbeonleashintheBasin.Pleasedoyourparttomanageyourdog.PickUpPoop–Phew!Dogpoopstinks,isnotnaturaltotheBasinandotherscanstepinit.Packapick-upbagorgraboneatthetrailheadandalwayspickupyourdog’spoop–whereverit’sleft.Dogpoopisahealthhazard.Italsoincreasesthenitrogeninthesoilaroundthetrail,givingtheadvantagetoweedsoverthenativeplantsthathavenaturallyevolvedintheBasin.DogpoopcanalsocontributetowaterpollutionintheuniqueriparianareasfoundintheBasin.Thanksforbaggingyourdog’spoop,butremember,thejob’snotdoneuntilyoudropitinthetrashcan.PleasedoyourparttokeepBasinRecreationSpacedogpoopfree.SticktoTrails–Stayingontrailsprotectswildlifeandtheirhomes.Shortcuttingtrailscauseserosionanddamagestrailsideplants.Pleasewalkandrideondesignatedtrailsonly.ContacttheSnydervilleBasinRecreationofficefortrailinformationandmaps.

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Studieshaveshownthatwhenwetramplevegetationonthesideofthetrail,thereisagreaterchanceweedswillreplacenativeplants.Inthisenvironment,nativeplantstakeyearstorecoverfromtramplingdamage.Avoidareasthatareunmarked,closedforrevegetationorsignedassensitive.Also,mostBasintrailspassthroughprivateland.WearefortunatethatlandownersintheBasinarewillingtoallowtrailsontheirproperty.Respectprivatepropertybystayingondesignatedtrails.WecanallhavefunonnaturalBasinRecreationspacewhilestickingtotrails.ShareourTrails–WeallenjoyBasinRecreationSpaceindifferentways.Payattention,expecttoencounterothers,slowdownandbecourteous-offerafriendlygreeting.Thosetravelingfastershouldslowdownforotherusers.Downhillridersshouldalwaysyieldtoallotherusers.Bikers,becauseoftheirmobility,shouldalwaysyieldtohikersandhorsebackriders.Thebestchoicewhenyieldingistostop,thenstepoffthetrailontoadurablesurface(rock,sand,etc.)andremainuntilotherspass.Ifyoucontinuetohikeorrideofftrailwhenyielding,youtrampletrailsidevegetationandcreatemultipletrailswhereoneisusuallybest.Weallknowhowgreatoutdoorexperiencescanbe.Onediscourteouspersoncanruinanouting.Expectandrespectothers.Makeroomforothers.Controlyourspeed.Passwithcareandletothersknowyou'repassing.Becourteousandwe'llallhaveabettertime.TrashYourTrash–Pleasepickupalltrash–yoursandothers’.Evenbiodegradablematerials,suchasorangepeels,applecoresandfoodscrapstakeyearstobreakdownandattractscavengersthatcanharmnativewildlife.Trashisunsightlyandruinseveryone’soutdoorexperience.Studieshaveshownthattrashattractsscavengingbirdsandanimalsthatdriveawayorkillnativebirds.Let’salldoourparttotakecareofBasinRecreationSpacebypickingupalltrash.LeaveItAsYouFindIt–Pickingflowers,collectingrocksortakingarrowheadsmightnotseemlikeabigdeal,butitmeansthatotherswon’thaveachancetoenjoythem.Takingoneortwoflowersorplants,eveniftheyseemplentiful,isnotOK.Weallenjoyflowersandfruit,butpickingthemreducesseeds,whichcanmeanfewerplantsnextyear.Wildlifedependontheseplantsforfood.Remember,therearealotofusenjoyingBasinRecreationSpace,soweallneedtobeextracareful–pleasedoyourparttoprotectBasinresourcesbyleavingthemasyoufindthem.ProtectOurWater–TheSnydervilleBasinishometomanyuniqueresourcesincludingriparianareas–thegreenvegetatedareasoneachsideofstreamsandcreeks.Bothpeopleandanimalsaredrawntowater,especiallyinsemi-aridenvironmentslikethosefoundintheBasin.RiparianareasarevitaltothehealthanddiversityofplantandanimallifeintheBasin.Theseareasareoftenthesolehabitatformanyplantandanimalspeciesthatneedwet

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conditions.Researchhasshownthatover75%ofanimalspeciesinaridregionsneedriparianhabitatduringsomeportionoftheirlifecycle.Riparianareassupplyfoodandcoverforanimals;provideabuffer,whichactsasafiltertohelppreventwatercontamination;reducetheriskofflooding;andhelpreducestreambankerosion.Doyourparttohelpprotectthiscriticalresourcebystayingontrails,onlyaccessingthewateratdesignatedaccesspoints,keepinglitter,humanandpetwasteoutofthewater,andnottramplingstreamsidevegetation.Pleasehelpprotectourwater.

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ExamplesofSignage,Brochures,andDigitalMedia

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How Much Does Your Pack Weigh?

As a Rule of Thumb:��3DFN�ZHLJKW�VKRXOG�QRW�EH�PRUH�WKDQ�����RI �\RXU�ERG\�ZHLJKW�

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To learn more about it: www.LNT.org

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Steel Creek Boat Launch

You are here

• PFDs (life vests) required. For your safety, at least one wearable personal flotation device (PFD) for each occupant must be on board all vessels, including inner tubes. Children who are twelve (12) years of age or younger must wear a personal flotation device at all times while aboard any vessel. Because of hazards in the river, we recommend wearing PFDs any time while in or near the water.

• Seatbelts required. When operating a motor vehicle within the park, please stay on park roads and parking areas and wear seatbelts. ATV/UTVs are not permitted.

• Fasten cooler lids. Glass and Styrofoam prohibited. To prevent items from spilling and sinking in the river while paddling, cooler lids must be fastened and all contents in your boat must be properly secured. When beverages are removed from the cooler, keep them attached to or held within a floating holder. Glass and Styrofoam containers are not permitted on the water or on gravel bars.

• Leave cultural artifacts where you find them. Each artifact tells a story of those who inhabited this area before us. Allow future visitors the opportunity to discover those stories in proper context by observing, taking a picture, but not disturbing artifacts.

• Keep pets on leash. Please keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The following trails are open to pets: Mill Creek Trail (Pruitt, Upper District); Spring Hollow, Buck Ridge, and Rock Wall Trails (Tyler Bend, Middle District); and Forest, Overlook and Campground Trails (Buffalo Point, Lower District). Always pick up after your furry friends, and please don’t leave them unattended.

• Attach and use a mesh litter bag. To help keep this beautiful river clean, paddlers must carry and use a mesh litter bag to collect and secure trash while floating. Be prepared to pack out what you bring in.

• RV/camper access limited. RVs/camper trailers are allowed at Erbie, Ozark, Woolum, Tyler Bend, Maumee South, and Buffalo Point campgrounds. Be advised: Most access roads within park boundaries are gravel, and water/hookups are available only at Buffalo Point Campground.

For more information, check out the Superintendent’s Compendium online at www.nps.gov/buff.

The

Law

/For

You

r Saf

ety

Paddle the BuffaloThe upper river’s flow is extremely weather-dependent. Check with local concessioners for river conditions, boat rentals, and shuttle services.

Buffalo Outdoor Center: 1-800-221-5514Buffalo River Canoes: 870-446-2644Gordon Motel: 1-800-477-8509Lost Valley Canoe & Lodging: 870-861-5522Riverview Motel: 870-446-2616

IN AN EMERGENCY

You are at Steel Creek Boat Launch.

Emergency phone available outside of Steel Creek Ranger Station. Phone the

24-hour Park Dispatch at 1-888-692-1162 or dial “911” for

assistance.

Help Protect Public Lands... Follow Leave No Trace Principles!

Plan Ahead & Prepare: Know the rules and regulations for each land management agency, be ready for extreme weather and road hazards. Bring extra food, water, etc. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces: Reduce impacts on nature, stick to durable surfaces including established trails/campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. Camp at least 200 feet from any water source. Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter including toilet paper and diapers. Use portable toilets or provided facilities, otherwise bury human waste at least 200 feet from any water source in a hole 6 inches deep. Bathe and wash dishes at least 200 feet from any water source. Leave What You Find: Examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts including arrowheads. Do not collect natural objects such as rocks or plants and do not cut or carve trees. The collection of any live vegetation (including seeds and roots) is not allowed on USACE or Linn County property. Minimize Campfire Impacts: Use established fire rings, fire pans, or camp stoves when possible. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand, and never leave campfires unattended. Respect Wildlife: View Wildlife from a distance and never approach, feed or follow them. Seal food and store out of reach. Keep pets on a leash or contained. Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Avoid loud voices and noises. Yield to other users on the trail and avoid resting or camping on trails.

Bureau of Land Management Northwest Oregon District (503) 375-5646

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Willamette Valley Project (541) 367-5127

Linn County Parks and Recreation Department (541) 967-3917

U.S. Forest Service Detroit Ranger District (503) 854-3366 Sweet Home Ranger District (541) 367-5168

For more information on rules, regulations and permits contact these local managing agency offices:

Know Before You Go…

Driving Conditions: Please drive carefully, sections of this road are narrow and winding and varies from two lanes to one lane with turnouts. Weather conditions can change to wet or icy throughout the year. Snow can close parts of the road during the winter and early spring. Watch For: Oncoming traffic, non-motorized vehicles, pedestrians, fallen rocks, wildlife on the road, adverse road conditions, and inclement weather. Be Prepared: The closest full-service communities with food, gas, lodging, and supplies are Detroit, Sisters, and Sweet Home. Call reception is limited in certain areas

© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (800) 332-4100

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Please Respect Wildlife

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ConclusionTheAdirondackParkispoisedtoprovideexceptional,world-classoutdoorrecreationopportunitiesinNewYorkState.However,withrecreationgenerallycomessomelevelofbiophysicalandsocialimpact.,andrecreationaluseofparksandprotectedareasisontherise.Inordertoavoid,minimize,ormitigatetheseinevitableimpacts,ParkmanagersandpartnersneedtoprovideandactivelypromoteparkuseguidelinesthatareconsistentwithLeaveNoTrace.ParkmanagersarecurrentlyinauniquepositiontopromoteresponsibleenjoymentoftheParkgiventheaffinitytheregion’sresidentshaveforthePark.Adirondack-specificLeaveNoTraceinformationconveyedtovisitorscanbehighlyeffectiveatinfluencingvisitorbehaviorandimprovingresourceconditions,andcanultimatelyprotectandpreservetheAdirondackParkforcurrentandfuturegenerations.“Wehaveachoice:wecanregulateandtolerateparkvisitorsorwecancelebrateandeducatethemtocreatelifelongstewardsofoursharedspaces.” –RickPotts,NationalParkService

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Appendices

AppendixA–LeaveNoTraceEthicsCardExamples3x5”recycledplasticcardcontaininglocally-tailoredLeaveNoTraceinformation.Generousflexibilitywiththisresource.

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AppendixB–LeaveNoTraceResolution–SanJuanIslands,WA

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AppendixC–Whatarethe3-5mostpressingissuesonthelandsyoumanage?(Numbersindicatethenumberofresponsesforparticulartypeofanswer)

• Overuse/highvolumeofuse/crowding/overcrowding(14)• Promotionaleffortsdirectingpeopletotheregion• Trailimpacts/degradation/deterioration/erosion(16)• Parkingissues(13)• EducationofUsers/hikers(8)• ImproperdisposalofHumanwaste(6)• Human/petwaste(2)• LackofDECEnvironmentalEducationCenter• wilderness(small“w”)ethicincorporationintothemindsandbehaviorsofpeople

usingtheresources• Lackofstaffandmoneyforpropertrailmaintenance(3)• Overcrowding/highuseinpopularareas/oncertaintrailsandsummits(12)• Underpreparedhikers/hikerpreparedness(8)• OnlineandSocialMedia(2)• Traildesignandmanagement(5)• Lackofstaffing(FieldStaff,Rangers,DECstaff,maintenance(8)• Lackofsafety,educationalandLeaveNoTraceinfo(6)• IllegalATV/UTV/snowmobileuse(4)• Transportationbarriers(2)• Lossofwildernesscharacter/solitude(2)• Hikinglistssuchasthe46highestpeaks,SaranacSixers,etc.• Usersleavingbehindgarbage(2)• Invasivespecies(6)• Resourcesdedicatedtotraildevelopment&maintenance(2)• HavingLeaveNoTracemessagesmakeadifferenceontheground• ebikes• Misuse/abuseofresources(2)• Shorelinedevelopment• Income-relatedbarriers• Improperfoodstorage/Bearencounters(4)• Resourceprotection(3)• Vegetationdamage(2)• Lawsuitsfromenvironmentalnon-profits(2)• LackofInfrastructurebythefrugalState• Irregularrules• Non-LeaveNoTraceuse• AccessandPlanningforWildlands• Trailimprovements• Lackofdataonuse/visitation• Treecutting(2)

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• RecreationonStatelandisviewedasanincomeforlocaltowns/businesses• Poorlyadvertisedaccess• Usersafety• Userconflicts• Protectlakefrontsandwaterways• Trailsdirectlyfromthecommunities• LackofoutreachandinclusionofPOC• Trafficcongestion• Landmanagementagenciesnotadequatelysupportedtofulfilltheirmission• Planning• Protectingtourism• Campfireimpacts• LimitationsofarticleXIV• AbilityofDEClandmanagers(notForestRangers)tomanageForestPreserveunits

properly,forthelongterm,inasustainablemanner• Lackoftheconcept“CarryingCapacity”byallinvolved• 6,970milesofroads/roadswitheasyaccesstowildlands(2)• Lackofmoney&staff

AppendixD–Arethereotherrecreation-relatedimpactsintheAdirondackParknotlistedabove?

• Higheramountsofvisitors&recreation-relatedimpactsdiminishwilderness/userexperience.

• Tramplingofalpinevegetation,touristremovalofvegetation/rocks/etc.,noiseandlightpollutionwithinwildernessareas,lackofeducationmeasures,improperdisposaloffood,negativehuman-wildlifeinteractions,spreadofaquaticandterrestrialinvasivespecies

• Comprehensiveplanningistotallylacking• Agenerallackofpreparationisabigcontributingfactor.• N/A(3)• Huntingandtrappingreducecertainanimalpopulations(bobcat,coyote,fox,and

bear).• Overuseofspecificareas/trails• LossofsolitudeonthetrailsandsummitsduetoovercrowdingLossofwilderness

ethic• OrganizationschoosingtonotfightforfullWildernessAreas,whichpreventthe

excessivemotorizationofthenortheast'sremainingwildspaces.Moreroads=higheruse.Also,moremagicalWildernessAreasinotherplaceswouldhelpdrawvisitationtolocalgems,notsolelytotheHighPeaks,thePresidentials,andBaxter.Increasingpubliclandconservationisanissue.

• Probablybuttheyarelimitedincomparison• CrowdinginWildernessisasignificantsocialimpactthatdegradesWilderness

values.

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• NoiseandimpactonsolitudeLightpollution• Trailheadaccess,specificallyparkingandsafety;trailerosion• Damagetolessaccessiblecampsites.e.g.,nailsintreesonLowerSaranacLake

Islandscampground.

AppendixE–HowfamiliarareyouwiththetypicalAdirondackParkvisitor?

• AdirondackParkvisitorsaretoodiverseofagrouptosaythereisa"typical"one• IaminaeducationalsettingsoIknowourstudentpopulationwell• Idon'tknowofa"typical"AdirondackParkvisitor-Iknowwhatactivitiesare

popularandwherevisitorstravelfrom,butIdon'tknowofa"typical"Adirondackvisitoroutofthe12.4millionpeoplevisitingtheParkeachyear

AppendixF–Whatarethemainobjectivesforyourvolunteerprogram?

• Engagestudentsinstewardshipofpubliclands.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,campsiteandtrailmonitoring,trailmaintenance,andtechnicalreportwriting.

• infrastructurework• education,information,conservation• Stewardshipofnaturalresourcesandrecreationalfacilitiessuchastrails• Trailwork• Maintenance,stewardship• ToprotectNewYork'salpinehabitatthrougheducation,trailworkandresearch.• Trailworkandconstruction.• TrailMaintenanceBackcountryWaterMonitoringforInvasiveSpeciesTrailhead

andSummitResponsibleRecreationEducation• morethan250volunteeragreements• TrailMaintenance&Construction• Resourceprotection,education,freelabor• VolunteerStewardshipAgreementsareusedtoengagevolunteersinactivitieson

theForestPreserve/ConservationEasementsthatprovideanetbenefittotheperson/organizationdoingworkandtheDEC/StateofNewYork.Example:asnowmobileclubmaintainingapublictrail.

• Assistwithallofthetasks,suchastrailmaintenanceandvisitoreducation,thatarefallingbythewaysideduetoalackofstaff.

• resourcemaintenance• EducatethepubliconhowtorecreateresponsiblyTounderstandandappreciate

theimportanceofstewardshipofwildplaces• Stewardshipandeducation• Stewardshipandmaintenanceoftrailsandlean-tos.Alsopublicoutreachinparking

lotsandonsummits.Volunteersalsosurveypondsforinvasivespecies.• Educatethepublicattrailheads,summits,andparkinglotsonLeaveNoTraceand

regulations

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• Promotetheconservation,preservation,andresponsiblerecreationaluseoftheNYSForestPreserve,whiledevelopingalifelongconnectiontothewildlandsyouenjoy.

• trailmaintenance• Assistwithmaintenanceoffacilitiesandpublicoutreach• Stewardshipandprotectionofnaturalresources• Trailwork• Mostlyfortrailprojects,someresourceprotection• Involvepublicinstewardship;helptakecareoffacilities• Helppeoplelearnofplacestopaddle,hike,bikeetc.andtheimportanceofthe10

essentialsandLeaveNoTrace• facilitiesmaintenance

AppendixG–Whattypesofsitesrequireafee?Checkallthatapply.

• IfonADKproperty• MarcyShuttle• ORDAfacilities• Paymentforshuttleservicestoaccesspubliclands• PrivateLandaccess• PrivatelyownedbusinessessuchasAusableChasm,andHighFallsGorge• historicalsites• privatesites• shuttleride

AppendixH–WhatagenciesprovidelawenforcementonpubliclandsintheAdirondackPark?

• StatePolice• Federallawsstillapplyonpubliclands&publiclandsexistbyvirtueoffederaland

statelaw...Whatdoes"lawenforcement"meaninthiscontext?• StateTroopers

AppendixI–WhatareyourgoalsforaLeaveNoTraceprogramforthelandsyoumanage?

• Toeducatevisitorsonhowtohavesafe,positiveexperienceswhileensuringappropriatestewardshipanduseofallAdirondackParklands,includingstatelands,toprotectournaturalresources

• LeaveNoTraceshouldreacheveryvisitortopreservelandsintheAdirondackPark-LeaveNoTracesignageshouldbelargeandclearlyvisibleatforestpreserveentrances/trailheads-LeaveNoTraceeducationshouldtakeaproactiveapproachandmakeuseofonlinechannelstoeducatevisitors

• Reduceecologicalandsocialimpactsfromparkvisitors.

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• longtermplanning,sustainabletrailreroutingandrebuilding,permitsystemforeducationalprograms

• Iwouldliketoseehikerswhoareinformedandprepared,andwhorespectallaspectsofboththepublicandprivatelandsinthePark.

• TohelpvisitorsenjoytheirexperienceTohelpvisitorsunderstandtheimpactstheiractionsmayhave

• ToincreaseeducationandawarenessfrombothvisitorsandlocalsthatrecreationalactivitiesleaveanimpactontheAdirondackPark.Toincreaserecreationalpreparedness,andincreaseresponsiblerecreation.

• Educateusersbeforetheybegintheirhike.Aneducateduserwillultimatelycreatesignificantlylessimpacts.

• Tohelpeducatehikersinordertomitigateimpactontheresourceandaspartofapreparednesseffort

• Increaseduserawarenessandanimprovementinuserbehaviorandbeingagoodneighbor.

• Educationofuserstoprotecttheenvironmentandthemselves• LeaveNoTraceateverytrailhead.• Makepeopleunderstandthattheyarepart-ownersoftheADKpark,andthatthey

arebeingneglectfultoaresourcethatbelongstothem.• ToProtecttheNaturalResourcesPreserveSocialExperience• Itwouldbegreattotheaverageusertounderstandandfollowthe7LeaveNoTrace

principle• Itshouldbeconsistentwiththenationalprogram.Itshouldreducesomecurrent

useimpacts.Itshouldreducethenumberofincidentsthatresultinbackcountrysearchandrescue.

• Consistentmessaging• Parkwidebranding,MorePreventiveSearchandRescue(PSAR)• EducatepeopleabouttheAdirondackPark-whyitisspecial,different,andmore

protectedthanmostotherlandscapes.AlsohowstewardshipofthepubliclandintheParkismanagedbyDEC.2.IncorporatingandembeddingtheLeaveNoTraceprinciplesintothemindsandbehaviorsofthepeoplewhovisitthePark,sothatitactuallymakesadifferenceontheground.CreatinganethicintheParkthatisholisticandunderstoodbyall.

• Reducevisitorimpacts,steervisitorsawayfromthemorepopular/overusedsitestootherareas

• publicoutreach• ToinformvisitorsbeforetheyarriveandwhiletheyarerecreatinginthePark.• LeaveNoTracespecificinformation,dedicatedstewardswithhighqualitytraining,

andbettersignagedisseminatedacrossthepark.• Toeducatevisitorsandultimatelyreduceuserimpacts• Tominimizerecreationimpactsthroughoutthepark,increasethequalityof

recreationexperiences,andimprovepublicsafety.• Consistentsignageandmessagingfromallagencies,organizations,andbusinesses

thatoperateonstatelands.

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• EveryvisitorshouldknowaboutLeaveNoTracebefore,while,andaftervisiting!• IncreaseAwarenesstohelppeopleinthefuture• managingwastecuttingdownontrailerosionimpactonothervisitors• ComprehensiveintegrationofLeaveNoTraceprinciplesateverylevelof

managementandvisitorengagement.• Effectiveeducationofvisitors/userssothattheyengageinspecificpracticesthat

ensuretheirrecreationalimpactisminimal• ReducingimpactstonaturalresourcesandpreservingtheoverallAdirondack

recreationalexperience;improvingaccessandvisitorsafety;encouragingbettervisitormanagementpracticesandmorebuy-infromtheDEC;gettingpeopleoutonthelandinaresponsiblewayandencouragingstewardship

• BetterTrails• Provideamoreconsistenteducationalmessagefortherecreationaluser• ReducetheimpactsofrecreationistsonthenaturalresourcesofthePark• Theultimateoutcomeistochangevisitorbehavior.Ibelievewehavetobemore

specificthantheLeaveNoTraceprinciples.Wehavetobespecificrethebehaviorswewant/need.

• impactbehaviorofuserstolessenimpactofrecreationalactivities

AppendixJ–HowwouldyouenvisionLeaveNoTraceinformationbeingdisseminatedtoAdirondackParkvisitors?Checkallthatapply.

• HighwayRestAreasandVisitorCenters• Kiosks,thatshouldbemandatoryateverytrailhead• NOLS• Schools• Schools–statewide• TownofKeeneFrontCountryStewards• Localbusinesses

AppendixK–PleaselistadditionalfeedbackorcommentsorfeedbackregardingLeaveNoTraceeffortsintheAdirondackPark.

• ScientificassessmentsofuserbehaviorandknowledgeofLeaveNoTraceprinciples.LeaveNoTracesignageandoutreacheffortsshouldmakeuseofknownpsychologicalprinciplestoensuremaximumparticipationinLeaveNoTracepractices.

• LeaveNoTraceneedstobepairedwithothermanagementtools.100peopleonasummitwithLeaveNoTracetrainingmayhavelessimpactthanalargernumberofun-trainedindividuals.Butitisstill100peopleonasummit.

• Doingalotbutsomuchmorecanbedoneparkwide!• ThishasbeenacontinuousproblemsincetheadventofStateownershipofland.

Withanincreaseinpopulation,increaseinapushfortourism(namelythroughsocialmedia),anda"mefirst"attitudethatpervadessocietytoday,degradationof

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Statelandshasbecomemoreevident.Ifeelthatagrassrootsmovementbythepublic,givingthemafeelingofownershipofthelandsbeingtrashed,wouldbethebestwaytoincorporatechange.

• Thank-youfortheopportunitytotakepartinthissurvey• Let'sdomoreofthesetypesofoutreach,thanks• TheADKhasdonealotinthisfront.ItistimeforotherORGSandAGENCIEStotake

betteradvantageofLeaveNoTraceinformation.• Keepdoingthegreatworkyou'redoingtobringLeaveNoTraceinformationto

everyParkandeveryKid!Thankyou!• LeaveNoTraceisanexcellenttoolwecanusetopromotewiseuseofresources.It

doesn'tlimitanygroupbutgivesthemareasonandactiontohelptheplacestheyuse

• AsIsaidabove,wemusttargetbehaviorsandthatisalabor-intensivejob.• Isupporttheeffort