Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 185 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 156-167).

Zugl.: Fort Collins, Colorado State Univ., Diss., 2007

Increasing visitation to national parks and the resulting resource impact has caused many park administrators to implement restrictive use management strategies. Though it seems clear that the resource has benefited from these use restrictions, little research has been done to determine their effect on the visitor. The goal of this study was to provide information to help guide the administrators of Rocky Mountain National Park in evaluating current use management actions and developing new ones in the future to both satisfactorily meet the protection needs of the resource and protect the quality of the visitor experience. Frontcountry campers were surveyed to determine awareness and attitudes about current and possible use management actions, perceptions of national park management purpose and challenges, and socio-demographic information. Respondents favored the majority of current use management actions, but were opposed to strongly restrictive actions considered as a possibility in the future.

Thesis (M. A.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr. Frederick R. Davis, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of History. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains v, 81 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Visitor use in parks and protected areas inevitably leads to resource impacts. In order to effectively manage for resource impacts, it is important for managers to not only understand ecological aspects of their system but sociological aspects as well. The two papers presented in this thesis used integrated approaches to better understand the current level of resource impacts within the Bear Lake Road Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park and to explore visitor perceptions of these impacts. The first paper used traditional monitoring and assessment techniques, as well as recently developed methodologies, to determine the current level of resource impacts and examine areas for potential future resource change. Findings showed that there is significant impact in the trail system, particularly at popular hiking destinations. At two of these popular hiking destinations, with current use levels, there is potential for future resource change. Integration with measures of social norms showed that visitors are frequently experiencing resource conditions within the Bear Lake Road Corridor that are considered unacceptable.