2018 HOT SPOTS REPORT L E AV E N O T R A C E C E N T E R F O R O U T D O O R E T H I C S
HOT SPOTS REPORT
2018 2
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
The Hot Spots program identifies areas suffering from the severe impacts of outdoor activities that can thrive again with Leave No Trace solutions. Each location receives a unique blend of educational programs, service projects, followup visits and more. The result is areas that are placed on the road to healthy, sustainable recoveries with sitespecific Leave No Trace tools in place.
With more than 12 billion visits to public lands in the United State each year, many outdoor areas across the nation are negatively impacted by recreational use. People generally do not intend to negatively impact the environment, rather, they are simply uninformed about how to protect wildlife and the natural world. This can often result in significant damage, including polluted water sources, litter and dog waste left behind, wildlife that develop dangerous relationships with humans, trail erosion and more.
3
LOCATIONS Feb. 8-11 | Fort Pierce, FL
Jul. 23-30 | Mineral, CA
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AQUATIC PRESERVES
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
Mar. 5-12 | Escalante, UT
Aug. 4-7 | Aspen, CO
ESCALANTE INTERAGENCY VISITOR CENTER
CONUNDRUM HOT SPRINGS Aug. 6-13 | Salida, CO
June 2-9 | Ouray, CO
BLUE LAKES; MT. SNEFFELS WILDERNESS Jun. 11-18 | Lansing, MI
CITY OF LANSING PARKS
MONARCH CREST TRAIL Aug. 20-27 | Williamsport, MD
C & O CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK Aug 27-Sept. 3 | Cochiti, NM
MT. BIERSTADT
KASHA-KATUWE TENT ROCKS NATIONAL MONUMENT
June 25-Jul. 2 | Duncan, CO
Sept. 10-17 | Duluth, MN
SOUTH COLONY LAKES; SANGRE DE CRISTO WILDERNESS
SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL
June 14-17 | Georgetown, CO
NOMINATIONS In April of 2017, the Center opened nominations for 2018 Hot Spots. The nominations were left open for six weeks from April 1, 2017 to May 15, 2017. The Center received 133 nominations from land managers, friends groups, partner organizations and concerned citizens. In selecting the areas for the 2018 visits, Center staff considered the following:
• The types and severity of impacts an area is facing • On the ground staffing resources • T he presence of a collaborative community of • • • • 4
stakeholders A bility for work to be continued beyond the Leave No Trace team’s seven days on site Potential media engagement Geographic location S ites from a diverse range of agencies ranging from city parks to large national parks
In addition to new Hot Spots, the Center also chooses existing locations that could benefit from a follow-up effort. In selecting the 2018 revisit locations, Center staff looked for Hot Spots that had opportunities for continued growth in the on-site and local Leave No Trace programs. Several factors play a role in a park or protected area having this type of opportunity. Selected sites generally have stakeholders that were enthusiastic about the initial Hot Spot efforts and are looking to further the progress they have made. Often Hot Spot revisit sites will have had some staff turnover creating opportunities for more staff training. Additionally, sites may be selected if the Leave No Trace staff were only able to engage a limited number of stakeholders and visitor groups during their time on-site.
2017 Hot Spots Report
Sept. 17-24 | Lloyd Harbor, NY
JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE
TARGET ROCK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Jul. 9-16 | Winona, MN
Sept. 24-Oct. 1 | Wickes, AR
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE & FISH REFUGE
COSSATOT RIVER STATE PARK – NATURAL AREA
Jun. 25-Jul. 2 | Queens, NY
Oct. 29-Nov. 5 | Bacon, NY July 10 – 17 | Baton Rouge, LA
BAYOU TECHE NATIONAL HISTORIC PADDLE TRAIL
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
BREAKNECK RIDGE & HUDSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK PRESERVE
5
OVERALL IMPACT
155
6,400
1,000+
Events
Land Managers, Key Volunteers, & Community Members Reached
Volunteer Hours
2,400+
359
135
Pounds of Trash Removed
Miles of Trails Protected or Restored
The 2018 Hot Spot initiative worked to lay the groundwork for strong Leave No Trace programs as well as strengthen the existing programs in 19 parks and protected areas threatened by severe impacts from outdoor recreation.
Leave No Trace staff hosted 155 training and actionoriented events tailored to the needs of each individual Hot Spot location. 6
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Miles of Waterways Protected
Through these 155 events, Leave No Trace reached over 6,400 land managers, key volunteers and local community members with Leave No Trace skills and ethics. These individuals now have an in-depth understanding of the ecological and social benefits of practicing Leave No Trace, and many are equipped with the tools to share that knowledge with park visitors, friends, family, colleagues and fellow recreationists. Additionally, 14 of the 19 Hot Spots incorporated service projects that totaled over 1,000 volunteer hours with more than 2,400 lbs of trash removed, nine trails worked on and two beaches restored.
7
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON
AQUATIC PRESERVES, SPOIL ISLAND (REVISIT)
1,000+ 300 People Educated
Pounds of Trash Removed
8
Spoil Islands were initially selected as a Hot Spot in 2017. Since the initial Hot Spot visit the park has made great strides in integrating Leave No Trace education throughout the lagoon. However, some issues are still prevalent. Trash and litter are everlasting on the island shores and human waste is still a primary concern. 2017 Hot Spots Report
Volunteer Hours
FORT PIERCE, FL
SOLUTION Due to the unique ecosystem and high usage of the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves, it was imperative Leave No Trace revisit the site and help aid in the process of continuing the Leave No Trace efforts. During the revisit, the Leave No Trace team hosted eight events directly reaching over 1,000 people with Leave No Trace education. Many of these events
PROBLEM The Spoil Islands of the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves provide beautiful views, easy island access for kayakers and sights of stingrays, dolphins and other wildlife that call this unique ecosystem home. Many visitors use the various recreational islands for camping and picnicking, however resources on the islands are limited. The
101
focused on having the team interact with the local community and educate them about the impacts on the islands and how these issues could be avoided with Leave No Trace practices. The team also worked with Indian River Lagoon staff and volunteers on a cleanup and installation of educational signs on the Spoil Islands.
Photo: Jeff Holloway
“The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves are working hard with Leave No Trace to provide and promote more safe and sustainable ways to enjoy the lagoon and the Spoil Islands.” — Emily Dark, Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
9
ESCALANTE INTERAGENCY VISITOR CENTER PROBLEM The Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in southern Utah serves visitors to the lands within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NPS), Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (BLM) and the Dixie National Forest (USFS). The expanse of land managed by these three agencies offers ample opportunity for a true wilderness experience for the ever-increasing
100
Pounds of Trash Removed
3
Miles of Trail Restored
number of visitors. In 2017, nearly 150 million people visited the Escalante area. Much of this use is concentrated into several easily accessible, and therefore more popular, areas causing an increase in recreation-related impacts. These impacts include illegal campfires, graffiti, litter, human waste issues and groups exceeding size limits.
120
Volunteer Hours
ESCALANTE, UT
“Illegal campfires, graffiti, litter, human waste and parties exceeding group size limits are issues affecting both visitor experience and natural and cultural resources of the area. It is important for our visitors to understand that they are the most effective public land stewards.” — Michael “Steve” Henry, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, National Park Service.
SOLUTION During the Hot Spot week, the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers teamed up with staff from all three agencies to execute a week of targeted trainings, service projects and visitor outreach. One such training was for local guide and outfitter employees who are permitted to bring visitors into Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. This workshop was focused on how these guides could effectively communicate Leave No Trace practices that would enable their clients recreate 10
in the monument without negatively impacting the land. The team also led a roundtable with employees from the three agencies who are charged with making management decisions for all of the Escalante area. During this session, the group identified the most pressing impacts in the area, discussed ways of educating different user groups and decided on the best methods for promoting clear, consistent and relevant Leave No Trace messaging beyond the team’s time on site. 2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
11
MT. BIERSTADT REVISIT 353
Impressions
120
Volunteer Hours
PROBLEM Mt. Bierstadt is commonly considered the “easiest” 14er, thanks to its elevation, road access and proximity to Denver. This makes the mountain appealing for both Coloradans and vacationers alike, often seeing more than 1,000 hikers on a single day. The high levels of use have created significant impacts, most notably trail widening, human waste issues and dogs
off leash. Additionally, unprepared hikers have led to numerous search and rescue efforts by local volunteers. Three years after initially being selected to be a Hot Spot, the Leave No Trace team returned to the mountain to continue to help the US Forest Service (USFS) and Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) in strengthening the Leave No Trace education and reach on the mountain.
60
Feet of Trail Restored
C L E A R C R E E K C T Y, C O
SOLUTION While on site, the Leave No Trace team hosted a workshop for USFS staff including several district rangers and dispersed recreation rangers. The workshop focused on how these rangers and other staff could communicate Leave No Trace practices to hikers in a way that would curb the behaviors
having a negative impact on the mountain. The team also spent a morning educating visitors at the Mt. Bierstadt trailhead. Though many of these conversations were brief, they were able to share important Leave No Trace practices before these visitors set off on their hike.
“The Leave No Trace message helps forest visitors to learn and value the importance of being good owners and stewards of their public lands. Leave No Trace helps provide the public with a common conservation ethic that leads us all towards the desirable goal of enjoying our outdoors responsibly.” — Brian Banks, District Ranger, South Platte Ranger District USFS 12
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
13
CITY OF LANSING PARKS
PROBLEM The City of Lansing Parks in Michigan manages over 100 parks and 20 miles of riverside trails. The Grand and Red Cedar rivers and Sycamore creek flow through Lansing, and many of these parks and trails provide access to these waterways. The park system also protects many acres of floodplains and wetlands, which serve as a buffer for these waterways
and habitat for wildlife. The city’s parks and trails are frequently enjoyed by both Lansing residents and by visitors. The primary impacts include litter, which threaten wildlife and visitors’ experiences, and vegetation damage and erosion, resulting from visitors traveling off trail.
SOLUTION The Leave No Trace team spent the week working with City of Lansing Parks staff and local stakeholders to help spread Leave No Trace education and encourage visitors to understand and prevent the ecological and social impacts in the parks. During their week in Lasing, the team hosted a general Leave No Trace skills and ethics workshop for the public. Many of the participants represented local stakeholder groups and voiced wanting to share their new knowledge in
“Lansing provides many outdoor recreation activities and parks for our citizens, but some of our parks suffer from graffiti and misuse. While our staff works hard to correct these issues, our goal would be to have citizens take pride in our park system and move away from this destructive behavior.” — Chelsea Lewis, City of Lansing Parks and Recreation 14
2017 Hot Spots Report
20
Miles of Riverside Trails Protected
67
Volunteer Hours
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
their work and volunteer roles. As a part of this workshop, the team was able teach participants the Authority of the Resource technique. This technique will help the participants share these skills in a way that can prevent future impacts in City of Lansing parks. As a part of the week’s events, Leave No Trace also worked with local stakeholders and volunteers for a three-hour clean-up of Moores Park and the adjoining section of the Lansing River Trail.
200
Pounds of Trash Removed
LANSING, MI
15
JAMAICA BAY GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
140
People Educated
99
Volunteer Hours
18
Bags of Trash Removed
N E W YO R K
SOLUTION During Leave No Trace’s time on-site, the team hosted a workshop for National Park Service staff that focused on giving the staff members a better understanding of Leave No Trace skills and ethics as well as how they could communicate the importance of these practices to their visitors. They also teamed up with a local Hindu partner group called Sadhana, which works to promote progressive ideals within their religion, for a
beach clean-up. As part of the clean-up the Leave No Trace team was able to teach the volunteers about Leave No Trace and how they can share minimum impact practices as part of their efforts. Finally, the Leave No Trace staff was able to have many meaningful, educational conversations with the local community during a busy day a nearby park and at an evening campfire program on the beach at Jamaica Bay.
“The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is uniquely situated in close proximity to one of the largest urban areas in the country, New York City. This proximity makes it hard for visitors to distinguish many areas of the Refuge from local parks and other public spaces. Some areas of the Refuge are subject to overuse and competing visitor activities that cause negative impacts on the land.” — Tim Farrell, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
PROBLEM The Jamaica Bay unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area contains 18,000 acres of land in New York City. Jamaica Bay has a huge variety of recreational opportunities including fishing, hiking, swimming, archery, kayaking, cycling and camping. It is one of the only outdoor spaces in New York City to provide this level and type of recreation experience. Jamaica Bay is seeing an ever-increasing number of visitors which has created numerous impacts including excessive litter that is being left on 16
or washes up on the park’s beaches. Additionally, Jamaica Bay is used by the local Indo-Caribbean Hindu community to practice puja, a ritual that involves giving offerings to the Goddess Ganga in the form of fruits, flowers, sarees, statues known as murtis, and pottery. The offerings are often placed in the water and later wash up on the shore as litter. It is also common for other items such as coconuts, sarees and even animal sacrifices to be left on the beach after these rituals. 2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
17
SOUTH COLONY LAKES SANGRE DE CRISTO WILDERNESS PROBLEM The South Colony Lakes, perched high in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness in southern Colorado, see a variety of recreation-related impacts from a diverse array of user groups. However, the largest portion of these users is made up of mountaineers looking to conquer one of several 14ers, or peaks over 14,000 ft., found in the Sangre de Cristo range. As popularity of the 14ers continues to increase, so do the impacts.
The South Colony Basin, which gives easy access to three of the peaks, sees impacts from improper disposal of human waste and damage to vegetation from the proliferation of campsites and social trails. The Westcliff office of the San Carlos Ranger District has one full time ranger, and even with the addition of two seasonal rangers, is hugely understaffed, making addressing these impacts even harder.
SOLUTION Leave No Trace staff spent a week in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness and the surrounding community working with the San Carlos District rangers and local stakeholders to address the recreation-related impacts facing the area. The team led a three-hour workshop with participants from the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, a local
330
People Educated 18
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
volunteer group and several guiding companies from around the region. This workshop gave the participants an in-depth understanding of Leave No Trace and the skills to educate visitors about how they can use Leave No Trace techniques to help protect South Colony Lakes and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.
8.9
Miles of Trail Protected
DUNCAN, CO
19
BLUE LAKES
MT. SNEFFELS WILDERNESS
SOLUTION
467
People Educated
16,485 Acres Protected
O U R AY, C O
PROBLEM The Blue Lakes-Mt. Sneffels Wilderness is home to a spectacular set of cobalt blue lakes situated in a high alpine valley. The short 3.1-mile hike to the lakes attracts visitors looking for an easy backpacking trip or day hike. A majority of the area’s estimated 35,000 annual visitors come from the front range of Colorado, or the local communities of the Western Slope. The bulk of this visitation occurs in the short 20
summer season, resulting in opportunities for cumulative recreation-related impacts. Impacts in this area include human waste (unburied waste and toilet paper), vegetation loss from campsite expansion, illegal campfire rings, social impacts and a sense of overcrowding plus parking issues. These impacts have grown with increases in visitation and overnight use in the last decade. 2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace worked with staff from the US Forest Service to execute a week of training and educational outreach designed to address the severe recreation-related impacts occurring at Blue Lakes. The team hosted a workshop for Forest Service staff, youth conservation crew members, wilderness volunteers and other local stakeholders that focused on teaching these individuals how to communicate the importance of Leave No Trace practices with the visiting
public. These participants frequently have the opportunity to interact with visitors and influence their behavior before, after and during their time at Blue Lakes. Leave No Trace staff also spent two days on-site with US Forest Service staff assessing the magnitude of the local impacts and educating visitors in the area. This enabled them to exemplify and give the Forest Service staff the tools and techniques for improving their contacts with visitors.
“We’re picking up 50 piles of human waste each week, and we’re finding used toilet paper in what would otherwise be beautiful fields of wildflowers.” — Angie Abel, Recreation Staff Officer, Ouray Ranger District Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
21
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
PROBLEM The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge spans 261 river miles and 240,000 acres of wetlands, forest and river throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. This area provides vital habit for more than 300 bird species, as well as numerous fish, mammal and mussel species. There are also numerous recreational opportunities such as boating, paddling, fishing, camping, hunting, birding and spending time at
the river’s many sandy beaches. Many of the small, sandy islands at the refuge are used as “party sites” by large groups who often leave copious amounts of trash. Litter from fishing and hunting activities is also commonly found around the refuge. Other impacts include the introduction of both aquatic and land-based invasive species, improper disposal of human waste and damage to shoreline vegetation.
SOLUTION
600
People Educated 22
300
Pounds of Trash Removed
30
Volunteer Hours
WINONA, MN
2017 Hot Spots Report
During their week on site, Leave No Trace worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff and other stakeholders including land managers from the of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, volunteer friends groups and other community groups to identify and address the impacts in the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge. They engaged these stakeholders with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
techniques for effectively communicating to visitors how Leave No Trace practices can help protect the natural resources at the refuge. Though the participants came from various land management groups or other organizations, they were able to make connections between impacts at their agencies and develop education strategies that could be used across the agencies or organizations. 23
LASSEN VOLCANIC
PROBLEM Lassen Volcanic National Park in California is home to jagged peaks, high mountain lakes, meadows filled with wildflowers and numerous volcanoes. In the last couple of years, the park has seen a rise in both frontcountry day-use visitors and overnight visitors in the backcountry. The Twin Lakes area in particular has seen a rise in visitors and backcountry
impacts including campsite degradation, illegal campfires and a dramatic increase in human-bear interactions. The most pressing issue is the severe erosion to historic campsites that lay within 100 ft of the lakes. The degradation of these sites and their close proximity to the water create an increased risk for water quality issues.
NATIONAL PARK 177
Stakeholders Educated
106,000 Acres Protected
MINERAL, CA
SOLUTION During their time on-site, the Leave No Trace team ran two workshops for park staff. These workshops were focused on techniques for effectively communicating Leave No Trace practices to the visiting public. Education and Interpretation Department Staff reported the workshop to be one of the most valuable trainings of the year. The team was also able to educate numerous park visitors during a campground presentation and booth at the
Twin Lakes trailhead. At the trailhead booth, they were able to discuss the importance of using bear canisters with backpackers, as well as share advice for how to properly select campsites. The campfire program was the best attended event of the week and the team was able to use this interactive program to educate visitors on preventing the various impacts threatening the park.
“Lassen Volcanic National Park is working with Leave No Trace to promote wilderness stewardship using LNT principles so that visitors can enjoy an unspoiled experience while visiting the Lassen Volcanic Wilderness.” — Deirdre Hanners, Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Coordinator 24
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
25
CONUNDRUM HOT SPRINGS REVISIT
51
Volunteer Hours
250
People Educated
1
New Sign Installed
ASPEN, CO
SOLUTION As part of the Hot Spot, the Leave No Trace team accompanied rangers from the U.S. Forest Service on an overnight trip to the hot springs. This allowed Leave No Trace staff to make visitor contacts with the rangers, asses the changes from the previous Hot Spot visit and make recommendations for future Leave No Trace efforts. The team also hosted an all-day Leave No Trace and effective communication
workshop for the seasonal and intern rangers and local trail crew members who would be frequently interacting with the public. This workshop gave participants the skills necessary for communicating minimum impact practices in a way that would change visitor behavior and prevent negative impacts at Conundrum Hot Springs.
PROBLEM The Conundrum Hot Springs are among the highest elevation hot springs in North America. They are perched at 11,200 ft in a narrow alpine valley and the impacts from the area’s high visitation are concentrated to a relatively small area around the hot springs. Impacts include litter, trampled vegetation, campfire scars, human-bear conflicts, 26
visitor conflicts and damage to trees. Work done by the Forest Service as a result of the initial Hot Spot visit has helped to improve some of the resource conditions, but because of the continued prevalence of many of these impacts, more Leave No Trace education and outreach was needed.
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
27
MONARCH CREST
70
Volunteer Hours
“The Monarch Crest section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDNST) is a very popular section of trail open to a variety of uses (motorcycles, e-bikes, mountain bikes, hikers and equestrians) but the highest use comes from mountain bike users. Lack of understanding and respect from differing user groups has resulted in many negative interactions between these groups.” — Ben Lara, Pike and San Isabel National Forest, Salida Ranger District
28
2017 Hot Spots Report
660
Feet of Trail Restored
3
Trailhead Signs Installed
SALIDA, CO
PROBLEM Monarch Crest is an extremely busy section of the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail. In addition to thru-hikers, the Crest is a worldclass destination for mountain bikers, and is also open to motorbikes, horses and even llamas. The
combination of the high concentration of visitors and various types of recreation has created numerous social impacts on the trail. These impacts are created primarily from visitors not using proper trail etiquette, creating conflicts between the different user groups.
SOLUTION The Leave No Trace team spent a week working with the U.S. Forest Service staff and local stakeholder groups to implement Leave No Trace education strategies for mitigating the user conflicts on the trail. Leave No Trace hosted a workshop for the guide companies and shuttle services who hold permits to take people on the Monarch Crest Trail. They worked with the participants to develop short Leave No
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Trace trail etiquette talks that could be given to their clients. The team also participated in the large Celebrate Our Trails event that took place in nearby Salida. This event allowed the staff to educate numerous people from the local community and visitors to the area about how practicing Leave No Trace could help protect the natural resources and visitor experiences on the trail.
29
C&O CANAL PROBLEM The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park (C&O Canal) Hot Spot focused on the extremely popular, 1.7-mile Billy Goat Trail. This point to point trail is located just 12 miles north of Washington D.C. on Bear Island, a rocky terrace that sits below Great Falls in the Potomac River Gorge. Co-owned by the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy, the island is only 96 acres but is home to more than
60 of Maryland’s rare, threatened or endangered plant and animal species. The trail attracts more than 50,000 hikers each year. This popularity is causing significant impacts to this unique ecosystem. Problems include over 155 visitor created trails, trailside erosion and wildlife disturbance. Additionally, many visitors underestimate the trail’s difficulties, leading to frequent boat and helicopter rescues.
SOLUTION During the week, Leave No Trace hosted seven workshops focused on teaching participants how to effectively communicate minimum impact practices in a way that would change visitor behavior and help to protect the delicate ecosystem on Bear Island. Participants in these workshops included C&O Canal park staff, NPS staff from other parks in the Maryland, Virginia and the DC area, and volunteers from various NPS volunteer organizations. Many of the participants work or volunteer in urban
562
People Educated 30
2017 Hot Spots Report
60
Rare Plant and Animal Species Protected
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
areas and were unfamiliar with Leave No Trace and the value minimum impact education can have in protecting urban parks. One of the key groups of participants in these workshops were the Billy Goat Trail Stewards who come in the most contact with hikers on the trail. The training provided this group with new tools for visitor contacts that will positively influence behavior and will be more effective than the enforcement strategies they had previously been using.
50
Volunteer Hours
W I L L I AMS P O R T, MD
31
PICTURED ROCKS
PROBLEM Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the nation’s first national lakeshore, is home to sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forest and wild shoreline. The diverse landscape offers opportunities for visitors to explore by both land and water. Recent media publications and access improvements have led to a huge spike in
visitation in a relatively short amount of time. The park’s visitation has increased from 450,000 in 2014 to over 775,000 in 2017. This rapid increase has led to numerous impacts including severe trail erosion, compaction and widening and human waste impacts. Many popular areas of the park are not built to sustain the ever-increasing number of visitors.
NATIONAL LAKESHORE 140
Feet of Dangerous Trails Re-routed
20
Pounds of Trash Removed
84
Volunteer Hours
157
Toilet Paper Flowers Removed
MUNISING, MI
SOLUTION While on-site, the Leave No Trace team spent time working with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore staff to implement minimum impact education strategies that will help Pictured Rocks on the road to recovery. They hosted a workshop for 27 staff members that focused on communicating Leave No Trace with the public and helping visitors understand why these practices are so important.
Leave No Trace staff, NPS staff and community volunteers also teamed up for a service event in which they re-rerouted a dangerous section of trail and cleaned up backcountry campsites. Finally, the Leave No Trace team and Pictured Rocks staff spent a day educating visitors at a popular trailhead about the impacts threatening the area and the Leave No Trace practices that could help prevent them.
“In Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Chapel/Mosquito Loop is so heavily used by day hikers and inexperienced backpackers it’s creating human waste problems, social trails, litter, illegal campfires and trailhead parking problems.” — Scott Berry, Supervisor Visitor Use Assistant 32
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
33
KASHAKATUWE TENT ROCKS
817
People Educated
90
Gallons of Invasive Weeds Removed
28
Volunteer Man Hours
COCHITI, NM
SOLUTION As a part of their time on-site, the Leave No Trace team worked to educate visitors at a popular trailhead during the Labor Day holiday weekend. They provided a significant number of visitors with Leave No Trace tips specific to protecting the natural and cultural resources at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. The team was also able to meet with two incredibly valuable stakeholders, the Cochiti Governor and the New Mexico Department of Tourism. The team went
over their recommendations with the Cochiti Governor and the Bureau of Land Management who manages the monument. Both sides seemed willing to work together to solve the visitation concerns at the monument. The meeting with the New Mexico Department of Tourism was also beneficial in helping them become more aware of the significant impacts at the monument and to discuss changing the dialogue around the monument at various New Mexico visitor centers.
“Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is an extraordinary geological destination for many tourists visiting New Mexico. Once a hidden gem, it’s now a tourist destination. The Monument strives to focus on education, outdoor ethics and the preservation of the unique tent features.” — Jamie Garcia, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
PROBLEM Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a unique geologic and cultural wonder formed by a series of volcanic eruptions approximately 6 to 7 million years ago. The canyons of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument also contain cultural resources important to the people of Cochiti Pueblo.
34
The national monument sees over 126,000 visitors on only 4.2 miles of trail. Its iconic landscape has been popularized through beautiful photos. The primary impacts in the monument include undesignated trail use, litter, removal of natural resources, vandalism to cultural sites and overcrowding.
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
35
SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL
PROBLEM The Superior Hiking Trail extends 326 miles along Lake Superior from the Wisconsin/Minnesota stateline to the north terminus on the Canadian border. The trail is increasingly popular with both day-hikers and backpackers. In the last few years the trail has seen an increase in both day and overnight users and associated impacts from both groups. Dogs off leash and dog waste are the primary impacts from day users. Backpackers are required to camp
in designated sites or the area right around them. Additionally, the large number of backpackers limited to a small number of sites has caused the proliferation of undesignated campsites and fire rings. Backpackers are also required to store food in bear hangs or bear canisters, however the designated campsites and surrounding forest lack sufficient trees for bear hangs and this has led to an increase in bear activity in camping areas.
SOLUTION The Hot Spot week focused on the Bean and Bear Lake loop, a popular section of the trail located near Duluth, Minnesota. Leave No Trace held a training for Superior Hiking Trail staff and key volunteers. This training gave the participants an in-depth understanding of the Seven Principles, especially those that apply to the impacts threatening the Superior Hiking Trail. They also provided participants with tools
for effectively educating visitors about the importance of practicing Leave No Trace skills and ethics on the trail. As a part of the Hot Spot week, the team also worked to educate local community members at a local brewery. This event allowed them to educate a large number of people about the severity of the impacts on the trail and how Leave No Trace practices could help protect the trail.
“Nowhere on the Superior Hiking Trail has been as impacted by human use as the Bean and Bear Lakes Loop. Heavy traffic, overused campsites and hikers traveling off trail are all changes facing this section of trail.“ — Jo Swanson, Superior Hiking Trail Association
253
People Educated 36
326
Miles of Trail Protected
DULUTH, MN
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
37
TARGET ROCK
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
100
Volunteer Hours
200
100
Pounds of Trash Removed
People Educated
L LOY D H A R B O R , N Y
“Litter along the shoreline, including dangerous monofilament line, threatens refuge wildlife and degrades the experience for all visitors. Application of Leave No Trace skills and ethics will help restore Target Rock to the jewel it truly is!” — Ann Marie Chapman, Visitor Services Manager
PROBLEM The 80-acre Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge, located on the north shore of Long Island, helps support the ecological diversity of the New York City metropolitan area. It also gives locals and visitors alike a chance to enjoy trails through oak and hickory Forest, vernal and brackish ponds and a beach on Huntington Bay. The refuge is home to great horned owls, harbor seals, deer, red fox, turtles, spring peepers, great blue herons, monarch butterflies, ospreys and egrets. The greatest ecological threats to the refuge come from 38
visitors who enjoy the area for picnicking, hiking or fishing. The improper disposal of waste has caused major issues with wildlife ingesting or becoming entangled in trash. In addition to this, the litter attracts rats and ravens who prey on vulnerable wildlife at the refuge. Other impacts are created from visitors illegally bringing pets and bikes to the refuge. Dogs are natural predators of many of the species the refuge supports and bikes cause issues with other visitors and damage to the trails not built for their use. 2017 Hot Spots Report
SOLUTION Leave No Trace teamed up with Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge staff and local partner businesses and organizations to implement Leave No Trace strategies for mitigating the recreation-related impacts at the refuge. The Leave No Trace staff hosted two workshops focused on helping participants effectively communicate minimum impact practices with visitors to the refuge. The technique they Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
practiced during these workshops helps visitors understand why certain behaviors can have a negative impact on the social and ecological resources at the refuge. Not only did these workshops help share this invaluable technique with staff and volunteers who are interacting with the public, but it also helped showcase the Hot Spot efforts and the importance of Leave No Trace to refuge partner groups. 39
COSSATOT RIVER
PROBLEM Cossatot River State Park stretches along 12 miles of the Cossatot National Wild and Scenic River. The majority of the park’s 120,000 visits occur in summer and are concentrated at five access points on the river and more specifically at the park’s two campgrounds and two picnic areas. The nearby Army Corps sites have begun to charge a fee which
has driven more crowds to Cossatot. The primary impact that has accompanied the growing crowds at the park has been litter. Dirty diapers, food scraps, cans and other trash piles up at access points to the river and around parking areas posing a risk for wildlife, water quality and a decrease in overall visitor experience.
STATE PARK 55
Volunteer Hours
430
People Educated
24
Bags of Trash Removed
WICKES, AR
SOLUTION The Leave No Trace team spent a week working with Cossatot State Park staff to implement Leave No Trace solutions to the severe litter problem threatening park resources. The team held a workshop for park staff to help them better understand Leave No Trace skills and ethics and how to best communicate to visitors the importance of these practices in protecting park resources. Another major focus of Leave
No Trace’s time on site was connecting with the public, primarily through work with local youth. On two separate days, students from local schools visited the park for a full day of Leave No Trace programming. The team spent both days running the students through various activities that helped participants understand what it means to Leave No Trace and the importance of these practices.
“Cossatot River State Park Natural Area is a treasured resource providing both primitive recreation opportunities and protection for the wild and scenic Cossatot River and its riparian forest.” — Victoria Carson, Arkansas State Parks 40
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
41
BREAKNECK RIDGE HUDSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK
110
Volunteer Hours
450
People Educated
100
Pounds of Trash Removed
BEACON, NY
SOLUTION Leave No Trace partnered with New York State Parks and other stakeholders to implement a week of Leave No Trace training and outreach that will help Breakneck Ridge along the road to recovery. During the week the Leave No Trace team met with area stakeholders at a round table hosted by a local REI. They worked with the attendees to develop strategies for enhancing the efforts of the trail steward program that had been developed at this same meeting the previous year. During a
busy Sunday the Leave No Trace teams was able to connect with visitors on the Breakneck Ridge trail. While at the trailhead and on the trail the team watched the Trail Stewards’ interactions with visitors and give them pointers about how they could best incorporate Leave No Trace practices into these conversations. In addition to the hiker outreach, a Trail Love event took place in which 20 volunteers cleaned up trash and helped with trail work on the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
PROBLEM Breakneck Ridge is a rugged, extremely popular trail in the Hudson Highlands State Park and Preserve. The popularity of the Breakneck Ridge Trail has increased significantly in the past four years, with current visitation approaching 300,000 hikers per year. On busy weekends, there are regularly 1,200 to 1,500 hikers per day on the trail, with over 2,000 hikers counted on the busiest days. The trail’s popularity has been driven by social media
42
as well as the Metro-North Hudson River Train line that provides easy access for more than 500 hikers a day. In addition to providing easy access, the large number of visitors disembarking the train all at once creates congestion at the trailhead which exacerbates the impacts facing the area. These impacts include, but are not limited to, trail widening, soil loss, vegetation damage, trash, crowding and lost and injured hikers and dogs.
2017 Hot Spots Report
“Many visitors come to Breakneck unprepared for the challenging rock scramble ahead of them. For thousands of people, Breakneck Ridge is one of their very first hiking experiences. It is therefore understandable that so many people arrive without the proper footwear, water or knowledge of what’s in store for them on the trail.” — Hank Osborn, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
43
BAYOU TECHE RE-VISIT PROBLEM The Bayou Teche is 135-mile waterway located within southern Louisiana that has a unique cultural and historical significance and is full of recreational opportunities. Though you can see incredible stretches of Louisiana nature, the focus of the trail is on the immense amount of history present in the surrounding communities. There are numerous museums and historical plaques celebrating Acadian/Cajun and Creole culture to giving paddlers a one of a kind experience. In addition, those traveling the waterway are encouraged to stop in the communities along the trail to experience the music,
food, and people that make this place special. The Teche was initially selected to be a Hot Spot in 2015. Though the lessons and knowledge learned during this initial Hot Spot continue to be shared in the communities around the Teche, impacts still remain. These impacts are remnants of the community’s mistreatments of the waterway in previous decades and include illegal dumping and littering, sewage runoff from proximal systems that are vulnerable to floods, drainage from farm fields and processing plants nearby and the encroachment of invasive species from recreational activities.
135
Miles of Water Trail Protected
13
Communities Reached
254
People Educated
LO U I S I A N A
SOLUTION Leave No Trace teamed up with the TECHE Project for four days of Leave No Trace education and community outreach. The Center staff hosted a workshop in which they engaged participants with Leave No Trace skills and ethics and how they could be applied to the unique ecosystem of the Bayou Teche. They also shared techniques for disseminating this information to other members of their community. Leave No Trace was excited to be
44
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
a part of the Shake Your Trail Feather Festival. During the event trainers were directly able to work with hundreds of community members while kayaking down the bayou and at the festival grounds in Breaux Bridge. In addition, the discussion panel that took place during the festival between bayou stakeholders was instrumental in promoting future work and forging relationships between individuals who might not usually work together.
45
LOOKING FORWARD The Leave No Trace Hot Spot program is more than just a week of training and outreach. Each visit is designed to help land managers and other key stakeholders embed Leave No Trace education throughout park programming and management and continue the Hot Spot efforts long after the Leave No Trace team’s time on-site. The various trainings incorporated into each Hot Spot play a large role in helping these locations carry the efforts beyond the weeklong visit.
Many of these trainings help participants get a better understanding of Leave No Trace skills and ethics as well as how these practices can help mitigate or even prevent the recreation-related impacts facing these areas. These general Leave No Trace workshops also help raise awareness of the impacts facing these areas with the visiting public and partner groups. The Authority of the Resource Technique (A.R.T) workshop plays a key role in helping these sites along the road to recovery. This training teaches participants tools for communicating Leave No Trace practices in a way that will create an immediate change in negative recreation-related behaviors. This communication technique helps visitors understand how their behaviors can negatively affect the environment, rather than using harsh fines and citations to prevent these impacts. Studies show that when visitors understand the long-term implications of their actions, they are more likely to change their behavior. The A.R.T trainings are designed for the 46
2017 Hot Spots Report
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
land managers, key volunteers and partner groups who come in direct contact with recreating visitors. Participants in these trainings are equipped with the tools to best educate the over 168 million visitors visiting these 19 Hot Spots every year. The Hot Spot events also included the installation of new signage and the creation of fresh video content that can assist these areas in the spread of Leave No Trace skills and ethics beyond the team’s visit. During the 2018 initiative, teams helped install nine new signs. These signs included messaging that addresses the site-specific damages from recreation and the minimum impact practices that can prevent them. Additionally, Leave No Trace staff developed four site specific videos to inform visitors about Leave No Trace practices that will help protect these areas. The teams gathered the content and produced these videos while doing work on the ground as part of the Hot Spot week. Both signage and site-specific videos allow land managers to reach visitors with locally tailored information, without them having to directly interact with agency staff or volunteers. On the final day of each Hot Spot, Leave No Trace staff meets with all of the local stakeholders to discuss the week’s successes, challenges and opportunities. This final day serves largely as an action planning workshop. Leave No Trace personnel facilitates these sessions to create plans that assist land managers and other groups involved with the Hot Spots to implement Leave No Trace after the on-site visit. The Leave No Trace team also makes area-specific recommendations for how to best incorporate Leave No Trace messaging and education into agency and partner programming. After the conclusion of the 2018 program, 14 of the 19 Hot Spot locations have reported plans to either continue to integrate or to begin to incorporate minimum impact education into visitor outreach, management plans and educational training for their staff members.
47
March 18-25, 2019 | Tamassee, SC
SUMTER NATIONAL FOREST
August 24-27, 2019 | Grahamsville, NY
PEEKAMOOSE BLUE HOLE August 26-Sept 3, 2019 | Mitchell, OR
June 17-24, 2019 | Alton, NH
MOUNT MAJOR RESERVATION & STATE FOREST
PAINTED HILLS (JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT) August 26-September 3, 2019 | Crested Butte, CO;
WEST MAROON COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE TRAILHEAD June 24-July 1, 2019 | Hood River, OR
On April 10, 2018, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics launched the nomination process for 2019 Hot Spots. The Center accepted nominations for six weeks and received 123 nominations from across
February 4-11, 2019 | Page, AZ
HORSESHOE BEND (GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA) February 26-March 5, 2019 | Jackson, WY
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
48
the country and from various agency representatives, friends groups, and concerned citizens. Leave No Trace staff selected 16 new Hot Spot locations and another four sites that the Center had previously visited.
March 1-4, 2019 | Dawsonville, GA
AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK & CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL FOREST March 18-25, 2019 | Death Valley, CA
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
2017 Hot Spots Report
July 15-22, 2019 | Leavenworth, WA
ENCHANTMENTS SPECIAL PERMIT AREA (ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS)
September 16-23, 2019 | Kooskia, ID
LOCHSA POWELL RANGER DISTRICT
September 23-30, 2019 | Lake Mojave, NV
SIX MILE COVE
July 22-29, 2019 | Littleton, CO
CHATFIELD STATE PARK
October 8-15, 2019 | Eugene, OR
AMAZON PARK
August 7-14, 2019 | North Elba, NY
EASTERN HIGH PEAKS WILDERNESS
October 15-18, 2019 & TBD Spring 2020 | Monticello, UT
INDIAN CREEK
August 19-26, 2019 | Greenfield, CA
ARROYO SECO GORGE
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
October 15-22, 2019 | Twentynine Palms, CA
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
49
2019
HOT SPOTS
50
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
2017 Hot Spots Report
51
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS! A very special thank you to KEEN and REI for their support of the Hot Spot program! The Center would also like to extend a thank you to the organizations listed below for their participation in and contributions to the 2018 Hot Spot visits. These programs would not have been a success without all your hard work. Absolute Bikes Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Arapahoe National Forest Arkansas Canoe Club Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Arkansas State Parks Army Corps of Engineers Aspen Times Bayou Teche Water Sentenials Billy Goat Trail Stewards Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Boy Scouts of America Brevard Zoo Bristlecone Mountain Sports Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Water of Light Catskill Center Central Colorado Mountain Riders City of Duluth Parks City of Lansing Fenner Nature Center City of Lansing Parks and Recreation Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Continental Divide Trail Coalition Cossatot River State Park 52
Dixie National Forest Forest Conservancy Friends of the Refuge Headwaters Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Great Old Broads for Wilderness Great Sand Dunes National Park Gunnison Ranger District, Gunnison National Forest Gunnison Trails High Valley Bike Shuttle Hudson Highlands Land Trust Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society Irwin Guides Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Kiwanis Club Lassen Volcanic National Park Leave No Trace Minnesota Chapter Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnewaska State Park Preserve 2017 Hot Spots Report
National Bayou Teche Wildlife Management National Park Service New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New Mexico Department of Tourism New York – New Jersey Trail Conference New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation North Country Trail Association Northern Waters Adventures Open Space Institute Ouray Tourism Office Oxbow Eco-Center Palisades Interstate Park Commission Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Pike National Forest Prairie Island Campground Ridgeway Chamber of Commerce Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus San Isabel National Forest, Salida Ranger District Savannas Preserve Florida State Parks SCA Excelsior Conservation Corps Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
St. Lucie County Environmental Resource Department Student Conservation Association Superior Hiking Trail Association Sustainable Ecotourism Organization for Alger County Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge TECHE Project Tettegouche State Park The Nature Conservancy The Sovereign Nation of the Chitimatcha The Waterfront Center Tour du Teche Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest, Ouray Ranger District University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Wisconsin LaCrosse Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USDA Forest Service US Fish and Wildlife Service LaCrosse Fish Health Center Vapor Trail 125 Endurance Bike Ride White River National Forest
53
1000 North Street Boulder, CO, 80304 800-332-4100 www.LNT.org
