Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Lab (O.R.C.)
at the University of Tennessee
Current Projects
Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
Objective(s)
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To understand:
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Stakeholder groups (hunters (general and Mtn Lion), ranchers, farmers – grassroots stakeholders
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Agency perspectives (e.g. NPS, NDOW)
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How people who live around Great Basin view, perceive, value, and understand issues related to mountain lions
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Possible differences in urban v rural populations
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Funding Agency
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US Forest Service
Objective(s)
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How does the public perceive and value mature and old growth forests and their structural characteristics and how does that influence their recreation choices and
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What are public attitudes towards management of mature and old growth forests and trade-offs between management actions and disturbance in those forests.
Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
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In collaboration with the University of Georgia
Objective(s)
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Number of visitors on daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis
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Most frequented access spots to FOMO
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Types of recreational use
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How visitation may be different based on entry points
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Detailed long term monitoring plan for continued use of cameras and/or counters
Climbing Management Planning
Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
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In collaboration with Kansas State University and the University of Idaho
Objective(s)
To understand experiential and ecological impacts of recreational rock climbing at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Carderock Recreational Area and Great Falls Park.
Funding Agency
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Tennessee Division of Forestry
Objective(s)
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Conduct a condition and problem-area transect study to assess visitor-generated OHV related ecological impacts to terrestrial surface trails.
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Conduct a visitor survey to understand perceptions, opinions, and general user characteristics of OHV users in select locations.
Funding Agency
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National Park Service
Objective(s)
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Evaluate visitor use during the spring 2025 season.
Funding Agency
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University of Tennessee
Objective(s)
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To understand the impacts of OHV use on wildlife using trail cameras and counters.
Funding Agency
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University of Tennessee
Objective(s)
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Develop a comprehensive picture of GRSM tourists, residents and communities
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Expand on current understanding of parks and gateway towns
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Better describe the social ecosystems found at GRSM.
Completed Projects
Petroglyph National Monument
Funding Agency
US National Park Service
Objective(s)
Funding Agency
Objective(s)
Preliminary evaluation of visitor use and the development of visitor use monitoring protocols.
Funding Agency
US National Park Service
Objective(s)
US National Park Service
Objective(s)
To provide information to understand rock climbing and related resources and inform future management of climbing resources at the park.
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US National Park Service
Objective(s)
1) collecting baseline data on visitor use, visitor attitudes, and visitor perceptions of impacts and 2) assessing management alternatives for visitor use.
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US National Park Service
Objective(s)
1) collecting baseline data on visitor use patterns, visitor attitudes, and visitor perceptions of impacts and2) assessing management alternatives for visitor use.
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Objective(s)
Evaluate visitor characteristics across and within season to inform management decisions.
Objective(s)
Evaluate spatial - temporal travel patterns of visitors, visitor thresholds, and on-site current conditions.
Objective(s)
Objective(s)
Objective(s)
Objective(s)
Objective(s)
Objective(s)
Objective(s)
Understanding and evaluate visitor use distributions, impacts, crowding and conflict.
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Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
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In collaboration with the University of Georgia
Objective(s)
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How visitors choose to spend their 1-hour at the Fort before reboarding the ferry
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What activities/experiences visitors are able to engage with or not,
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How visitors move throughout the fort (e.g., what routes they take during their visit or the order in which they visit the sites)
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If visitors congregate and/or concentrate in certain areas
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How visitor use patterns change when there are more visitors (closer to the ferry’s capacity
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Final Technical Report
Project Storymap
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Objective(s)
Evaluate visitors temporal and spatial distribution and service level satisfaction.
Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
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In collaboration with Kansas State University and the University of Idaho
Objective(s)
To understand:
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visitor demographics
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trip characteristics (e.g., recreational behaviors, preferences, and motivations)
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visitor use amounts and behaviors
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visitor evaluations of services, facilities, and programs
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Project Storymap
Final Technical Report
Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
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In collaboration with Kansas State University and the University of Idaho
Objective(s)
To provide managers with valuable information about visitors parking, fee payment, and way-finding behavior, and thus, help inform ongoing and future management decisions and planning.
Funding Agency
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US National Park Service
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In collaboration with the University of Georgia
Objective(s)
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Better understand visitors’ demographic characteristics and use of KEMO
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Provide a profile of visitors and their expenditures associated with the park
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Assess visitors’ satisfaction with their experience and identify areas of improvement to enhance visitor experiences.
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Final Technical Report
Funding Agency
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Seychelles
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Sustainable Tourism International
Objective(s)
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To understand visitor perceptions of current and future conditions on select beaches in the Seychelles
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Final Technical Report
Funding Agency
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Aruba Tourism Authority
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Sustainable Tourism International
Objective(s)
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To evaluate the relationship between satisfaction, current conditions and visitor thresholds at attraction sites in Aruba
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Final Technical Report
Funding Agency
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U.S. National Park Service
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The George Wright Society
Objective(s)
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To facilitate a co-learning exchange between the Argentine Republic and the United States of America that develops mutually beneficial ways of delivering high-quality visitor experiences at National Parks.
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Chaco, El Leoncito, Monte Leon, Ciervo de los Pantanos, and El Palmar National Parks​
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Example Final Technical Report
Funding Agency
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Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism
Funding Agency
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US National Park Servic
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Lewis and Clack Trust
Objective(s)
To understand the economic impact and overall use of a subset of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.