Desolation Wilderness: data from 1997-1998 visitor response to fees, fee demonstration project

This data publication contains responses to a 1997-1998 survey of 634 overnight visitors and 789 day-use visitors to Desolation Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada of northern California. This mailback survey addressed visitors' knowledge regarding level of fees, fee administration method, and potential uses of fees. It was a systematic sample of overnight and day-use permits. This study used an ‘alternate forms’ methodology (Form A/Form B) based on use of fees to maintain current conditions or to “improve” conditions.
The Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriation Act of 1996 (PL 104-134) established the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program. This legislation directs the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of land management and the Forest Service to implement a fee program to demonstrate feasibility of user-generated cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of recreation areas or sites, and habitat enhancement projects on federal lands. The Forest Service established the requirement that each participating unit develop a Fee Demonstration Business Plan before implementing a fee system. #10 of this plan was “customer/public feedback mechanisms.” In the business plan for the Desolation Wilderness Fee Demonstration Project, it was indicated that the Leopold Institute would contribute to item #10; the short-term significance of public response to fees, along with management’s request for involvement sufficiently raises the importance of this issue in allocating needed funds (during fiscal year 1997), and to provide scientific involvement in obtaining public response.