Conceptual development of an analytical recreation use model for the Madera Canyon Recreation Area.

Abstract

Faced with an increasing number of visitors to outdoor recreation areas, administrators and planners are seeking new and better means for making management decisions. These decisions must consider both the demand and supply sectors of outdoor recreation. This thesis attempts to show how outdoor recreation can be conceptualized as a system and how this approach can be used as an aid in making outdoor recreation management decisions. Two types of outdoor recreation systems are considered. The first type deals with an aggregate outdoor recreation system. The second type deals with the individual elements comprising this aggregate system. Given these two types of systems, this thesis then concentrates on the supply component, within the aggregate system. A conceptual model of an individual outdoor recreation area is developed. With such a model, it is possible to perform simulation experiments, whose results can be used in evaluating the effects of various outdoor recreation management decisions. This thesis then, shows conceptually how this could be done, what information is needed to do it, and some of the problems that would be encountered.