RRM 4232: the final stretch

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RRM 4232 the final stretch!?

• Today, Group topic Parks Canada
• Applying assessments MNRRA 3 part visitor use,
  biophysical, scenic
• TH Group topic Dog use
• Assessments MNRRA
• Next week
• Cultural Resource Mgmt Guest speaker
• Th work day, field Assessments due by 4 30 pm
• Last week! Topic Presentations

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MNRRA

• http//www.nps.gov/miss/photosmultimedia/index.htm
  
• a nationally significant historical,
  recreational, scenic, cultural, natural,
  economic, scientific resource.

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Management aspects
Env/Resource
Satisfying beneficial recreation opportunity
Mgmt/Institution/Culture
Social/Visitor
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Best visitor information for mgmt planning

• Activity based
• amount of use
• methods of travel
• timing of use
• travel patterns
• length of stay
• group size
• Experience (all activity )
• Motivations/experiences preferred
• Experience use history
• Acceptable/preferred conditions
• Benefits sought (all experience )

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Visitation?!
MNRRA no data reported ? Saint Croix NSR
259,665 Rec visits 93 visitors across NPS
satisfied with trails/walkways (2007 Visitor
Survey Card)
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Visitor activity/experience goals

• MNNRA Establish activity zones
• manage visitor access where
• necessary to minimize use
• conflicts enhance public
• safety.
• Visitors should have the opportunity to
• understand learn more about the ecological,
  cultural, economic, scenic, scientific,
  educational, and recreational values of the river
  corridor
• feel safe while using corridor areas
• experience the corridor without conflict with
  other visitors or private landowners
• find activities experiences that meet diverse
  interests, skill levels, abilities, learning
  styles, ages, ethnic backgrounds

• Part of the Grand Rounds
• Minnesota State Scenic Byway (1997)
• National Scenic Byway (April 1998)
• Recognized by the Federal Highway Administration
  as the premier national urban scenic byway (1998)
• Mission includes facilitate an enjoyable safe
  recreation learning experience for all byway
  users

??indicators????
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Observable visitor information for MNRRA mgmt
planning

• Activity based
• amount of use
• methods of travel (bike, walk, jog/run, other?)
• timing of use (am/pm)
• group size
• Dog use
• On leash?
• Other???! What would you ADD to this and why.?

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Management aspects
Env/Resource
Satisfying beneficial recreation opportunity
Mgmt/Institution/Culture
Social/Visitor
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Monitoring Biophysical Conditionscampsite
impacts, trail impacts

• Condition class estimates (Frissell Condition
  Class System and Parsons McLeod Sequoia-Kings
  Canyon Campsite Class System)
• Based on defined levels or types of impact
• Generally measure the presence, absence or degree
  of change in critical variables
• Usually results in an impact rating ranging from
  1 to 5
• Can be 1 rating (Frissell) or multiple (Parsons
  McLeod)
• Permanent measures
• Non-permanent measures

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Monitoring Biophysical Conditionscampsite
impacts, trail impacts

• Condition class estimates
• Based on defined levels or types of impact
• Generally measure the presence, absence or degree
  of change in critical variables
• Usually results in an impact rating ranging from
  1 to 5
• Provides relatively accurate and precise
  estimates of OVERALL impact
• Permanent measures (require a permanent center
  point) (Cole Eagle Cap Method of Measurements
  for Permanent Sampling Units)
• Based on detailed measurements of a number of
  critical variables (quadrates, transects, entire
  campsites, sections of trails)
• Requires repeated measures of variables of
  interest (vegetative cover loss, damage to
  trees, trees damaged, soil loss, etc.)
• Provides highly accurate precise measures is
  highly sensitive amount of information is high
  interval measurements are common.
• Requires high cost to implement
• Usually only feasible for a sample of campsites
  or trail sections
• Non-permanent measures

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Monitoring Biophysical Conditionscampsite
impacts, trail impacts

• Condition class estimates
• Based on defined levels or types of impact
• Generally measure the presence, absence or degree
  of change in critical variables
• Usually results in an impact rating ranging from
  1 to 5
• Provides relatively accurate and precise
  estimates of OVERALL impact
• Permanent measures (requires a permanent center
  point)
• Based on detailed measurements of a number of
  critical variables (quadrates, transects, entire
  campsites, sections of trails)
• Requires repeated measures of variables of
  interest (vegetative cover and loss, damage to
  trees, trees damaged, soil loss, etc.)
• Provides highly accurate and precise measures is
  highly sensitive and amount of information is
  high interval measurements are common.
• Requires high cost to implement
• Usually only feasible for a sample of campsites
  or trail sections
• Non-permanent measures multiple attributes
  (ColeBob Marshall Rapid Estimation Procedure)
• Combine many of the strengths of others
• Generally provide the greatest amount of
  information per unit of cost
• Major weakness is that they tend to be LOW in
  precision sensitivity

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Monitoring decisionsdepend on

• How much
• time will it take?
• time can I afford?
• What kind of technical expertise do I have on
  staff?
• What are my needs?!

• Accuracy
• Precision
• Scale of measurement
• Sensitivity
• Amount of information
• Cost

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Monitoring Biophysical Conditions MNRRA

• Create a condition class estimates (Frissell )
• Based on defined levels or types of impact
• Generally measure the presence, absence or degree
  of change in critical variables
• Usually results in an impact rating ranging from
  1 to 5

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MNRRA Visual management guidelines

• General guidelines riverfront areas.
• The bluffs, slopes, shoreline, vegetation,
  other natural features should be maintained in a
  natural state.
• Protect views as seen from designated overlooks
  in the corridor. Develop new overlooks at
  strategic locations offering significant views of
  the river corridor.
• (http//www.nps.gov/miss/parkmgmt/upload/cmpintro.
  pdf)

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MNRRA Shoreline guidelines

• Provide uninterrupted vegetated shorelines where
  practical to preserve a natural look from the
  river the opposite shore
• to provide connections to adjacent natural areas
• A 40-foot vegetated strip should be maintained
  along the shoreline. Native vegetation should be
  preserved for a natural appearance for erosion
  control.

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Criteria to delineate Scenic classes

• Scenic integrity
• Scenic attractiveness
• Landscape visibility
• Distance zones
• Concern levels

• Landscapes degree of intactness/wholeness
• Relative scenic value
• Sensitivity based on distance from observer
• Constituent analysis

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Criteria to delineate Scenic classes

• Scenic integrity
• Scenic attractiveness
• Landscape visibility
• Distance zones
• Concern levels

• Landscapes degree of intactness/wholeness
• Relative scenic value
• Sensitivity based on distance from observer
• Constituent analysis

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MNRRA Scenic management

• Landscape form
• Urban but natural?
• Scenic integrity
• Human caused deviation from existing landscape
  character from nat. lines 1-5 (low-very high)
• Scenic attractiveness
• A distinctive
• B typical
• C indistinctive

• Visibility
• Travelway level of use
• Pathunknown!?
• River-unknown!?
• Picnic area-unknown!?
• Level of concern
• Much of the land near the river appears
  natural. Many Twin Cities area residents feel
  that this natural appearance contributes to the
  quality of their lives.
• Distance
• Immediate foreground (0-300 feet)
• Foreground (1/2 mile from viewer)

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Combine for relative scenic classes

• 1-2 High public value, 3-5 Moderate, 6-7 low
  public value

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RRM 4232 the final stretch!?

• Today, Group topic Parks Canada
• Applying assessments MNRRA 3 part visitor use,
  biophysical, scenic
• TH Group topic Dog use
• Assessments MNRRA
• Next week
• Cultural Resource Mgmt Guest speaker
• Th work day, field Assessments due by 4 30 pm
• Last week! Inv species topic Presentations