Evaluation of alternative approaches for recreational use allocation in the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex

Table 'The BMWC managers' group includes USFS representatives from each of the five Forest Service ranger districts (from four National Forests) that share responsibility for management of the BMWC. DefinitionsDefinitions of technical terminology relevant to this study are included in the literature review.However, to clearly establish the particular application of a few key words to this study, the following terms are defined based on the information provided later in the literature review. Alternative Allocation ApproachesAlternative allocation approaches are alternative contexts for making recreational use decisions between commercially outfitted, institutionally outfitted, and nonoutfitted sectors of the public.More specifically, alternative allocation approaches focus on how managers should make allocation decisions.A wide variety of approaches are reviewed and evaluated that include varying levels of complexity.Some of the approaches can be m ore accurately referred to as methods, procedures, processes, or even paradigms.However, due to the variability in their design and in their means of implementation, they are collectively referred to as alternative allocation approaches -or most commonly, alternatives. AllocationWilderness recreational use allocation is the deliberate distribution of recreational use opportunities, or "shares" of use, between the commercially outfitted, institutionally outfitted, and nonoutfitted sectors of the public.This project seeks to determine the suitability of alternative approaches for use distribution. RationingRationing is the process of assigning limited use opportunities to individual users within a specific sector (such as the commercially and institutionally outfitted and nonoutfitted sectors).Therefore, this project addresses methods for allocating or distributing use between the outfitted and nonoutfitted sectors of the public, but does not address the rationing of use between the individual outfitters within the outfitted sectors, or the individual recreationists within the nonoutfitted sector. Carrying CapacityThe maximum desirable level of use for an area or its "carrying capacity" is closely related to its allocation for recreational use.This term combines two concepts: (1) the recreational capacity of the area (the maximum number of recreationists that can utilize the area) and ( 2) the preservation of desirable social and resource conditions.An assessment of carrying capacity determines how many use opportunities are available for allocation, in terms of these dual concepts.This study does not provide a methodology for assessing carrying capacity nor for determining the BMWC's carrying capacity.However, this research has been conducted in close coordination with a simultaneous Forest Service study that addresses the BMWC's m axim um desirable use level (or "carrying capacity").The results of this evaluation will be integrated with the corresponding Forest Service study.Published theoretical & proposed for discussion B, N, D, O none identified Test cases' Develop a test case resource area and determine relative demand between groups for use in an unregulated situation, then use those shares to determine use allocation in other areas Published theoretical D none identified Public Opinion' Allot shares to groups according to public opinion process that would determine public preferences Published theoretical B ,D none identified Spatial Zoning' Assign use to groups in specific areas rather than by shares of use over the entire area Published theoretical B, C ,D none identified Temporal Zoning' Assign use to groups for specific times of year, rather than by shares of use over the entire area Published theoretical B, C D none identified L egislative Direction' Assign use according to legislative mandate of shares for each group Published theoretical B, D none identified