The purpose of this study is to examine the social opportunity cost of preserving specified recreation sites along the lower Fraser River. In achieving this purpose it does the following: 1. it examines the institutional arrangements whereby land is allocated to specific uses, 2. it identifies the potential recreation sites for possible preservation, 3. it assesses the nature and extent of the conflict between recreation sites and existing and potential industrial shoreland use, 4. it develops an analytic framework for examining the social opportunity cost of preserving recreation sites, 5. it applies the framework to determine the benefits which the region might forgo if it were to preserve the recreation sites identified. An examination of the institutional setting found that private markets alone may not provide recreation facilities in the lower Fraser in accordance with society's willingness to pay for them. Public institutions have evolved to regulate the market, however, and an analysis of the social opportunity cost of preserving recreation sites is made in order to assist decision makers in future shoreland allocations. For this analysis to be meaningful it was necessary to identify specific recreation sites, and to determine the nature and extent of the conflict between these and industrial use. Thirty-two major recreation sites were identified. About two-thirds of these were found to conflict with potential industrial needs for shoreland designated industrial by the Regional Plan, and with log storage activities of the forest industry. Ideally a technique for allocating shoreland to recreational or industrial uses should be based on an assessment of the benefits and costs of alternative land uses. However, an opportunity cost approach is all that is practicable at this time because of the difficulties associated with evaluating present and future recreation demands. A qualitative approach to the evaluation was devised because past attempts to measure social opportunity cost were not appropriate in this situation where concern was primarily with demand far into the future. The analysis focussed on the rental value differences between industrial use of shoreland and upland, the supply and demand for industrial shoreland, and the cost of log storage alternatives. The analysis produced four main findings. First, most firms do not attach a significantly higher rental value to shoreland than to upland sites. Second, the supply of waterway access is much greater than anticipated industrial demand, and the opportunity cost of preserving land with recreation potential is zero in the short run. Third, the study area has sufficient land designated industrial that a small reduction for the preservation of recreation sites will net affect the land market. Four, seasonal storage leases and bundle booming can be implemented to free recreation sites of stored logs without incurring a net opportunity cost. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This descriptive study of campers in Golden Ears, Kokanee Creek, Monck and Bamberton Provincial Parks in British Columbia is based upon 140 on-location personal interviews conducted in the summer of 1967. The clientele have been described in terms of their socio-economic characteristics. Further analysis of the data occurred in testing the hypothesis that there were no statistically significant differences at the five percent level when the variables of age, income, occupation, education and distance from home were compared with a variety of camper needs and preferences. This information may help various agencies concerned with the use of parks to plan educational programs for the park visitor. The study revealed that families were the main users of the four Provincial study parks. The head of the family unit was generally a man possessing some high school education and receiving an annual income of less than $10,000. Most of the respondents visited a succession of Provincial parks while on their camping trips. The tent, as in earlier times, remains the most common form of shelter used by campers. The appeal of a camping holiday was centered mainly on the change of life-style offered by this recreational form. However, campers having a non-professional work background also laid considerable stress on the health and social advantages of camping. The high regard of campers for the Provincial parks interpretation program was made evident by the high percentage of campers who favoured on-site instruction as a preferred means of gaining information about the outdoors. Further confirmation appeared in the expressed wish that some form of the program should be implemented in all of the study parks currently lacking this facility. Continuing education courses with camping content held considerable appeal for the respondents, particularly those under 29 years of age with some university training. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this thesis is to propose a methodology for the estimation of demand for services and facilities for marine recreation. An attempt is then made to provide a methodological translation of these demands into, physical facilities for marine recreation in the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands, study area. Each of the major components of the proposed methodology is discussed in a chapter and applied to the study area. Chapter I introduces the scope and purpose of the study and hypothesizes that a comprehensive method is needed for planning for marine recreation development. The methodology should have both descriptive and prescriptive components if it is to, be successful. Chapter II studies methods of projecting the growth of the boat population, of a region. This, component has been refined to a high level of sophistication by previous studies. Human population growth, changes in income levels, and human population density are the parameters most useful for the projection of boating growth. Data obtained from a Federal Department of Public Works study on boating in the Georgia. Strait are reworked using, the method of a study done by .the State of Washington for Puget Sound in order to obtain consistent data for the international study area. Chapter III looks at how the number of trips taken in a region can be broken down into trips to and from an area within the region, and concludes that, at this time, the origin destination type of study is the most satisfactory method. Projection, of the distribution, of trips is based on the assumption that the number and type of trips taken by one boater will remain constant. Thus, the number of trips taken to an area can be projected by expanding the present trip distribution by a factor equal to, the projected growth of the boat population. For the thesis, trip, distribution data was obtained from a survey made of boat awning yacht club members. Chapter IV studies the demand for a range of facilities used by boaters. This is done in terms of the uses made of a facility on a type of trip by a type of boat; sail, inboard, or outboard. It is concluded that, except for certain specific facilities such as launching ramps for outboards, the use of a facility does not vary greatly between different types of boats. The thesis has carried this section of the methodology further than other studies have done by quantifying demands for a wide range of facilities associated with marine recreation. Previous attempts have only been concerned with primary boating facilities such as moorage and launching ramps. A final section takes the demands in terms of uses per trip and converts them into demands for space. Chapter V states the need for a prescriptive component in the methodology. This enables the planner to make decisions in respect to what amount of services should be provided. Data limitations precluded the application of this component to the study area. A number of locational constraints were stated which should, be recognized in the planning of future facilities. Based on these constraints, possible areas for different types of development were mapped. In Chapter VI it is concluded that the use of a descriptive methodology for the examination and determination of demand for different facilities for marine recreation is feasible and desirable. A prescriptive component is needed for the planning methodology. This component will require a statement of regional goals and extensive site and ecological, evaluation before it can be used for planning. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Industrial private forest landowners in British Columbia have traditionally viewed their forest lands as a raw material supply for their wood processing facilities. However, they are now experiencing social and political changes which are restricting the way their forests are managed. These changes have enormous implications for large forestry firms, such as Canadian Pacific Forest Products. A portion of their lands, the focus of this study, has been examined to assess the impact of these restrictions on traditional land use. In addition, non-timber values have been examined for their revenue generating potential. A study area was delineated near the community of Sooke, B.C. Fishing, hunting, deer farming and camping were assessed. In order to complete the analysis, the costs in terms of foregone timber values, were calculated under a number of different assumptions. The impact of changes in bare land values on decisions with respect to the non-timber values were also examined. A number of policy changes, both by the landowner and the various levels of government involved, are required to promote forestry with a renewed emphasis on recreation. Initiating these changes is the next stage in the preparation of a recreation management plan for the area under study in this thesis. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Recreation planners at mountain resort communities must decide what types of recreation facilities and activities to provide in order to meet the diverse needs of the community. This thesis attempts to answer this question specifically for the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Determinants of participation in recreation are highly psychological. Thus, description of potential client groups must rely heavily upon attitudes, perceptions, and behavior. Theories of recreation serve as a useful planning tool helping planners understand peoples' recreation desires. A clear understanding of what people want recreation to accomplish for them is crucial when deciding what type of recreation facilities and activities to provide. However, as discovered when examining resort communities, it is not enough for planners just to take into account functional considerations when planning recreation facilities. Planners must be aware of the resort's image. People typically visit a resort community because they identify with its image. Images are based upon peoples' impressions of the entire resort community, including the facilities offered and both the natural and built environment. The challenge for the planner is to translate peoples' recreation desires into facilities that serve as concrete expressions of the resort's image. This thesis develops as framework to consider such a challenge. This is achieved by: a review of recreation theory and resort planning literature; review of resort communities similar to Whistler; informal interviews, and by a survey of Whistler property owners administered by the author. There are three main findings. First, recreation theory is an invaluable planning tool in helping planners decide what type of recreation facilities to provide. Second, recreation planners can help create a particular type of resort by providing facilities; however, the market eventually determines the resort's status. Third, more substantial market research is required to determine what type of resort the Municipality of Whistler should strive to become. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Theory of ecological (biophysical) land classification is presented. The theory of integrated ecological land classification, mapping and analysis is applied to recreational land planning. An approach to recreational site-suitability analysis appropriate for reconnaissance level inventories and analyses of recreation capabilities is presented. Clague Mountain Park, Kitimat, B.C. served as a case study for applying the recreation site-suitability analysis approach developed. Landforms, identified using the Terrain Classification System (Ministry of Environment, 1978), served as the basis upon which selected ecologically-significant parameters were inventoried and analyzed. The parameters used in this analysis included topography, depth to bedrock, frost action, flood hazard, vegetation, climate and various soil characteristics, including moisture regime, texture, stoniness, rockiness, permeability and erosion hazard. The activities considered in this analysis included camping (intensive), hiking (summer), picnicking/day use, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, mountain climbing/mountaineering, toboggan-ning, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. The recreational suitability of the park was summarized in tables and maps. It was found that this site-suitability analysis approach provided an effective means for establishing an area's recreational suitability. It is recommended that the findings of this analysis be used to assist in any future recreation planning and management within the park. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate