ANALYSIS OF USER ATTITUDES REGARDING MANAGEMENT POLICY OF COLORADO RIVER FLOAT TRIPS

Abstract

A dramatic increase in the number of individuals taking float trips on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park has occurred over the last decade. The National Park Service has attempted to protect the fragile river corridor from "overuse" through implementation of the 1979 River Management Plan. A survey of users taking float trips through Marble and Grand Canyons has been conducted to measure attitudes about National Park Service management policies of the river trips. The study has been designed to categorize users along a wildernist scale and determine whether a difference in attitude concerning river management policy existed between more wilderness oriented participants and less wilderness oriented participants. Users have been categorized into three wildernist categories: Neutralists, Slight Wildernists, and Moderate Wildernists. Attitudes regarding river and canyon management policy were significantly different between wilderness categories in ten of sixteen policy questions. Also, a significant difference existed in attitudes when comparing pre- and post-trip responses. Mode of travel was associated with mean wilderness scores. Two survey instruments have been used in the study: a self-administered questionnaire and a paired-picture comparison interview. Description of the two instruments used as well as a discussion of the major findings are presented.