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Recreation carrying capacity and Wild Rivers: a case study of the Middle Fork of the Salmon Item Info

One of the eight instant wild rivers designated by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork, the original ''river of no return'', is born at the confluence of Marsh and Bear Valley Creeks: some twenty miles northeast of Stanley, and flows northward for about 100 miles through one of America's deepest gorges to join the min stem of the Salmonbelow Shoup. It is a fast-flowing stream with numerous rapids and falls. Stretches of relative calm, however, can ''ease one to sleep'' before the next series of rapids greets the-unsuspecting floater. The lower 80 miles of the river is part of the Idaho Primitive Area. The fast-flowing, relatively pure and primitive characteristics of the river has nude it a national attraction for recreationists . River runners, hunters, f ishermen, sightseers, and backpackers commonly confront the rugged confines of the area during the short summer season when snow packs allow access. Until the mid 1940's, only a limited nmber of hunters, prospectors, trappers, and fishermen used the area. In 1959, the Forest Service constructed a road to the upper reaches of the river that opened the area up and allowed a substantial increase in recreational use. For example, between 1962 and 1971 the number of Middle Fork floaters increased more than five times. The large increase in recreational use on the Middle Fork has helped generate considerable concern on the part of the Forest Service regarding the inpact of this use on the environment of the area. Should use be limited? If so, when, how, and why? In an effort to provide some insight into these matters a study was initiated in 1970 to determine the recreational carrying capacity of the Middle Fork. This paper presents some of the preliminary results of that study.

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Title:
Recreation carrying capacity and Wild Rivers: a case study of the Middle Fork of the Salmon
Authors:
Godfrey, E. Bruce; Peckfelder, Robert L.
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1972-07-25
Description:
One of the eight instant wild rivers designated by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork, the original ''river of no return'', is born at the confluence of Marsh and Bear Valley Creeks: some twenty miles northeast of Stanley, and flows northward for about 100 miles through one of America's deepest gorges to join the min stem of the Salmonbelow Shoup. It is a fast-flowing stream with numerous rapids and falls. Stretches of relative calm, however, can ''ease one to sleep'' before the next series of rapids greets the-unsuspecting floater. The lower 80 miles of the river is part of the Idaho Primitive Area. The fast-flowing, relatively pure and primitive characteristics of the river has nude it a national attraction for recreationists . River runners, hunters, f ishermen, sightseers, and backpackers commonly confront the rugged confines of the area during the short summer season when snow packs allow access. Until the mid 1940's, only a limited nmber of hunters, prospectors, trappers, and fishermen used the area. In 1959, the Forest Service constructed a road to the upper reaches of the river that opened the area up and allowed a substantial increase in recreational use. For example, between 1962 and 1971 the number of Middle Fork floaters increased more than five times. The large increase in recreational use on the Middle Fork has helped generate considerable concern on the part of the Forest Service regarding the inpact of this use on the environment of the area. Should use be limited? If so, when, how, and why? In an effort to provide some insight into these matters a study was initiated in 1970 to determine the recreational carrying capacity of the Middle Fork. This paper presents some of the preliminary results of that study.
Subjects:
recreation wastes water pollution control
Location:
Salmon River Basin
Latitude:
45.77
Longitude:
-115.08
IWRRI number:
197207
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
wbv
Date Digitized:
2012

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"Recreation carrying capacity and Wild Rivers: a case study of the Middle Fork of the Salmon", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-197207.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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