Mid-Atlantic Region Research/Resources Management Report

Marion, Jeffrey

Both legal and illegal camping caused similar types of resource impacts: trampled vegetation, large areas of exposed, eroded, and compacted soils, damage to trees, multiple fire rings and charcoal litter, and food remnants and trash. In the late 1970's and early 80's, Shenandoah National Park received more backcountry use on a per acre basis than any area within the National Park System. The resulting environmental impacts in popular camping areas were obvious even to the casual observer and detracted significantly from many visitors' backcountry/wilderness experience. Even though camping adjacent to or within sight of, trails, shelters or roads was prohibited by regulation, significant impact within these zones was prevalent. Campsites were typically chosen next to trails due to terrain suitability, outstanding views, proximity to water or simply because of convenience to the camper. Because of their high visibility, many campsites adjacent to trails drew repeatedillegal use. Other popular camping areas, although inaccordance with Park regulations, were severely impacted due tolong term repeated use. Both legal and illegal camping causedsimilar types of resource impacts: trampled vegetation, largeareas of exposed, eroded, and compacted soils, damage to trees,multiple fire rings and charcoal litter, and food remnants andtrash. The nature and extent of these environmental impacts along withmethods for rehabilitating such impacts were unknown. Therefore, beginning in 1981, Shenandoah Resource Manager David Haskell and District Rangers initiated a parkwide study. The of the study were to provide quantitative information