Let There Be Light in Great Smoky Mountains
Manning RE, Anderson LE, Pettengill PR. 2017. Let There Be Light in Great Smoky Mountains. Pages 62-65. In Managing Outdoor Recreation: Case Studies in the National Parks 2017
ABSTRACT: A wondrous display of synchronous fireflies at Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws many visitors to the park each spring. However, the small viewing area and limited number of days over which this natural event takes place challenges the National Park Service to prevent associated resource impacts caused by cars parking along the margins of the park road (Impacts to soil; Impacts to vegetation) and potential impacts to firefly habitat and behavior (Impacts to wildlife). Given the demand to see this natural event, there is also great potential for too many people at the event, diminishing the quality of the visitor experience (Crowding). The National Park Service has responded to these potential problems through two basic strategies: Limiting visitor use and Reducing the impact of use. For example, a required permit and associated lottery system have been initiated (Rationing/Allocation), visitors must ride a shuttle bus to the viewing area to reduce the impacts of parking (Rules/Regulations; Facility development/Site design/Maintenance), visitors may not catch fireflies (Rules/Regulations), and visitors have been asked to restrain their use of flashlights (Information/Education).
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Manning, Robert; Anderson, L; Pettengill, P
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, constraints, Elkmont, environmental impact, erosion, fireflies, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, mountain areas, national parks, regulations, SER, Southeast Region, vegetation, visitor behavior, visitor impact, wildlife management