Page 12 - full mag fall 2017 flip

12 Friends oF red rock canyon

Article and photos By Chad Kooistra

ncreased visitation at the Red Rock Canyon Another part of the capacity study is to conduct
I National Conservation Area illustrates how vehicle and visitor observations at sites around the
the special features of the area provide enjoyment Scenic Loop. This process will give the BLM man-
to many people every year. More visitors can also agers a better idea of traffic flow around the loop
create more challenges for managers. The Great and where to focus efforts to address any issues
Basin Institute (GBI) is working with Bureau of related to safety, visitor experiences and ecological
Land Management (BLM) on a capacity assessment impacts. We will greatly appreciate some volunteer
project to provide recommendations for identifying help with these observations and will include more
and addressing these challenges. Will Rempel, an information in a future email to Friends members.
AmeriCorps intern
with GBI, and I are Will and I will be
the project leads. researching other
parks and protected
One component areas which have
of our project is similar issues. We
understanding will also be working
public perceptions closely with outfit-
of capacity-related ters and other local
issues. We are very and national agencies
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
grateful for the help and organizations
of volunteers who to identify potential
distributed satisfac- solutions to address
tion surveys to visi- Chad Kooistra, right, and Will Rempel, left, of the GBI are work- the challenges at Red
tors at several Red ing with the BLM to assess capacity issues at Red Rock Canyon. Rock Canyon.
Rock Canyon sites
this spring. Thank you for your help!! We sincerely appreciate the support and en-
thusiasm from the Friends of Red Rock Canyon
We will have results to report in the winter issue and are excited to talk to more of you in the future.
of the Rock and will be doing another visitor survey If you have any questions or comments, please
at more sites beginning in early October. Our plans feel free to contact me at (775) 636-5145 or email
include interviewing Friends members in the near ckooistra@thegreatbasininstitute.org. You can also
future to learn about the area’s increased visitation email Will Rempel at wrempel@thegreatbasininsti-
and their experiences at Red Rock Canyon National tute.org.
Conservation Area.

Chad Kooistra is a Social Science Research Associate with the Great Basin Institute (GBI).
After earning his B.S. in recreation management at Colorado State University, Chad worked
for GBI from 2006-2008 as a trail crew supervisor and crew coordinator before earning a
M.S. at the University of Idaho and a Ph.D. at Oregon State University studying people’s at-
titudes about public land management. He is excited to be working with GBI again, especially
on projects at Red Rock Canyon!

the Rock - Volume 8 Issue 1