Abstract
Recreational impact was measured on eight beaches in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and 15 beaches in Grand Canyon National Park using permanently located transects and plots. Recreational impact indices included densities of human trash and charcoal and a measure of sand discoloration due to charcoal. Significant increases in the indices occurred on several Glen Canyon beaches over a seven-month period. Sand discoloration became significantly higher over all Glen Canyon beaches during the same time period. All indices were significantly higher in Glen Canyon than on similar Grand Canyon beaches. These differences are probably due to differences in: (a) level of impacts tolerated by the respective management regimes and, (b) in the number of user days among the two National Park Service administrative units. Management alternatives are presented for reversing the present trends of recreational impact on Glen Canyon beaches.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Aitchison, S. W., S. W. Carothers, and R. R. Johnson. 1977. Some ecological considerations associated with river recreation management. Pages 222–225in Proceedings: river recreation management and research symposium. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experimental Station, Minneapolis, MN.
Cole, D. N. 1981. Managing ecological impacts at wilderness campsites: An evaluation of techniques.J. For. 79:86–89.
Dolan, R., A. Howard, and A. Gallenson. 1974. Man's impact on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon.Am. Sci. 62:392–401.
Dolan, R., B. Hayden, A. Howard, and R. R. Johnson. 1974. Environmental management of the Colorado River within the Grand Canyon.Environ. Manage. 1:391–400.
Johnson, R. A., A. M. Phillips III, B. G. Phillips, and N. J. Brian. 1983. Digitization and resource monitoring of Colorado River beaches in Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. Final research report, Grand Canyon National Park.
Johnson, R. R., and S. P. Martin. 1976. The Colorado River research project: a National Park Service multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary research project. Pages 29–42in Proceedings of the 3rd resources management conference, Southwestern Region. National Park Service, Ft. Worth, TX, Santa Fe, NM.
Lime, D. W., and G. H. Stankey. 1971. Carrying capacity: maintaining outdoor recreation quality. Pages 174–184in Recreation symposium proceedings. Northeastern Forest Experimental Station, Syracuse, NY.
National Park Service. 1979. Colorado River management plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. 56 pp.
Wager, A. J. 1964. The carrying capacity of wild lands for recreation.For. Sci. Monogr. 7. 24 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carothers, S.W., Johnson, R.A. & Dolan, R. Recreational impacts on Colorado River beaches in Glen Canyon, Arizona. Environmental Management 8, 353–357 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01868034
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01868034