National river recreation study data: a nationwide survey of river recreation use from 1977-1984

This data publication contains data collected as part of the National River Recreation Study (NRRS), which was a program of long-term research on river recreationists nationwide. The North Central Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, St. Paul, Minnesota (NCFES) conducted the overall study between 1977 and 1984. Both onsite interviews and mail back surveys were used to collect data, which included recreationist responses from over 69 surveys that took place in 23 states across the United States on 57 different river segments. Participants were asked questions about river usage (how often visited, type of watercraft used, etc.), opinions of location (erosion of stream banks, litter on banks, too many homes along river, etc.), changes people might like to see (more parking at access points, post signs warning of hazard, etc.), why they visit the location, and potential damage found or conflicts with other visitors.
The primary goal of the National River Recreation Study was to describe characteristics and preferences of recreational users for a variety of rivers using standardized measurement instruments. A secondary goal was to describe the nation's spectrum of river recreation opportunities, and then to identify a set of rivers representative of that spectrum. The data set could then be used in future research to monitor change in the character of national river recreation use. The target population of the overall NRRS was people who traveled on rivers or streams by raft, canoe, kayak, motorboat, inner tube, or some other conveyance. Stationary river recreationists such as fishermen, swimmers, shore users, and riparian landowners were not the focus of the study.
This national river recreation study has been cited in many articles in the time since its initiation. The articles listed in the Cross-Reference section below are just a few examples of the many articles referencing this work. Original metadata date was 05/08/2014. Minor metadata updates on 12/12/2016.