Crowding and visitor conflict on the Bois Brule River

摘要: Nearly three thousand canoers, tubers, and fishermen were interviewed as they left the upper Bois Brule river on 24 days in the late summer of 1975. Their perceptions of crowding, satisfaction, and reported contacts with other visitors were measured. In spite of daily use levels which ranged as high as 308 visitors on a ten mile stretch there was no relation between use level satisfaction (r = -.01). Use level is related to perceived crowding (r = .32, p < .001), and feeling crowded is one aspect of overall satisfaction, (r = .14, p < .001). This study replicates prior research by Shelby on Colorado River visitors, and casts further doubt on an econometric model of carrying capacity which is based on an assumed relationship between use level and satisfaction of river visitors. Canoers and fishermen were the most visible recreationists in terms of contacts, and tubers were the least encountered, largely due to a natural zoning …