Cooperative Park Studies Program
Cooperative Park Studies Program
Principal Investigators:
Dorothy
H. Anderson, Department of Forest Resources and CPSP, 612-624-2721
Jonathan
Vlaming, Department of Forest Resources and CPSP, 612-624-1746
Project Personnel:
Jerrilyn
L. Thompson, Department of Forest Resources and CPSP, 612-624-3699
Lindsey
Eichenlaub, Research Assistant, Forest Resources
Project Duration:
July
2001 – July 2004
Funding:
Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation
Summary:
The purpose of this study is to create a handbook for use in developing
and implementing a visitor and natural resource monitoring and standards program
for
Minnesota state parks. The handbook
will guide park managers through well-defined processes that help managers
identify park goals, create prescriptive management zones, identify social and
environmental indicators, define standards for indicators, and set up monitoring
programs for indicators.
One of the challenges in developing the handbook stems from the diversity of visitors, experiences and natural resources found within the 66 individual parks that comprise the Minnesota State Park system. The handbook will be comprehensive in scope and able to address the unique aspects of different parks. The handbook will describe a process for identifying indicators and standards for visitor quality and resource protection. It will also contain a list of potential social and environmental indicators from which managers can choose. The handbook will provide suggested management approaches to dealing with situations where standards have been breached.
During 2002 Tettegouche State Park was selected as the study site to field test biophysical and social indicators and standards of visitor and resource quality. Draft indicators and standards were developed and during 2003 those indicators and standards will be piloted at the park. Results of the pilot will be used to complete the handbook.