Dr. Dorothy Anderson,
Jerrilyn Thompson
Department of Forest Resources
University of Minnesota  

Abstract:  Voyageurs National Park (VOYA) needs to develop efficient and reliable methods for estimating summer visitor use in the park.  The staff of VOYA and the CPSP at the Univeristy of Minnesota will collaborate to develop and field test a model for estimating total summer visitor use.  Visitor counts will be taken on a select number of days during the 2002 and 2003 summer visitor use seasons.  These counts will be made using a combination of techniques:  aerial counts, video camera observation, on-the-ground counts of visitors at each of the main VOYA visitor centers, and on-the-ground counts of visitors at randomly selected access points associated with the park.  These counts will be supplemented with an exit survey, which will be administered to a random sample of visitors.  The purpose of the survey is to gather data related to visitor use patterns within the park, where use occurs, and the types of use that occur.  The investigators are working with the Public Use Statistics Office gathering use statistics related to park monitoring effects. 

Funding Agency:
National Park Service
Modification #:  H6000A100S ($25,000), mod/0001 ($17,000)
$42,000

Effective Dates:  May 20, 2002 through September 30, 2004