Estimating Snowmobiling Use at Voyageurs National Park

Principal Investigators:
Dorothy H. Anderson, Department of Forest Resources and CPSP, 612-624-2721
Jerrilyn L. Thompson, Department of Forest Resources and CPSP, 612-624-3699

Project Personnel:
Mae Davenport, Research Assistant, Forest Resources
Joanna Rosendahl, Research Assistant, Forest Resources

Project Duration:
November 2001- September 2003

Funding:
Midwest Regional Office
NPS Great Plains CESU

Summary:
Snowmobiling in Voyageurs National Park’s winter landscape has become an increasingly popular recreation activity in the last decade. As a result, managers became in need of a snowmobile use estimation system that addressed changes in visitor travel dynamics and use levels within the park. The purpose of the use estimation project was to 1) identify visitor travel patterns and levels within the park and 2) provide managers with a more accurate model for estimating future use. Estimating visitor use in areas with multiple uncontrolled access points like Voyageurs National Park requires more than simply counting visitors. Two seasons of fieldwork were conducted in 2001 and 2002. The objective of the first “pilot” season was to develop reliable methodology for monitoring use and generate a preliminary model for estimating use in the park. The objective of the second season was to “ground truth” or verify the preliminary model.

In both seasons travel patterns and trip characteristics were collected in onsite interviews with visitors. Specific information gathered from visitors included the routes traveled, group size, number of snowmobiles in group, the number of days spent in the park, and the number of miles and hours visitors spent on routes. Interviews were conducted on weekends and weekdays in lodges near the park and along trails within the park.

Data were also compiled from mechanical traffic counters on park trails. The ability to verify the model in the second season was limited by poor snow conditions. Therefore a third season of onsite interviews will be conducted.

The model, generated in collaboration with a faculty member from the University of Minnesota Statistics Department, links the survey data with counts from the mechanical counters. The model will enable the Voyageur National Park managers to estimate total snowmobile use in the park based on current travel trends. The study findings will also allow managers to estimate use at specific sites within the park, which can be linked to other studies (e.g., water quality assessments).