Access Issues within The Access Issues within The Grand Staircase Escalante Grand Staircase Escalante

National MonumentNational Monument

Caitie HutterCaitie HutterTrever WaageTrever Waage

What is the GSENM?What is the GSENM?

► Designated in September of 1996 by President Bill Designated in September of 1996 by President Bill Clinton under the Antiquities ActClinton under the Antiquities Act

► Nearly 1.9 million acres of land set aside in Nearly 1.9 million acres of land set aside in Southern UtahSouthern Utah

► Divided into three zones: Escalante Canyons, Divided into three zones: Escalante Canyons, Grand Staircase and Kaiparowits Plateau Grand Staircase and Kaiparowits Plateau

► 11stst National Monument to be administered by the National Monument to be administered by the BLM and not the NPSBLM and not the NPS

Where is the GSENM?Where is the GSENM?

Management objectives Management objectives

► First and foremost, the Monument remains a frontier. Safeguarding the remote and undeveloped frontier character of the Monument is essential to the protection of the scientific and historic resources as required by the Proclamation.

► Second, the Monument provides an unparalleled opportunity for the study of scientific and historic resources.

► Management plan found at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante/planning/monument_management.html

Available AccessAvailable Access

Where and how much?Where and how much?

►The currently maintained recreational The currently maintained recreational access is found within the Frontcountry access is found within the Frontcountry Zone (4% of the total acreage) shown Zone (4% of the total acreage) shown below.below.

Quality of AccessQuality of Access►Hiking opportunities are along Hiking opportunities are along

predominantly undeveloped trailspredominantly undeveloped trails►Lack of signage leads to heavily braided Lack of signage leads to heavily braided

social trails and litter near access pointssocial trails and litter near access points►Four visitor centers, each specializing in Four visitor centers, each specializing in

specific aspects of the monument, found in specific aspects of the monument, found in the gateway communities surrounding the the gateway communities surrounding the monument (177 miles of total driving)monument (177 miles of total driving)

Populations servedPopulations served

►Visitors with backcountry experienceVisitors with backcountry experience►Visitors with unlimited transportationVisitors with unlimited transportation►Visitors without impairments to mobilityVisitors without impairments to mobility

Who is left out?Who is left out?

►Little to no access for those with disabilitiesLittle to no access for those with disabilities►Few points of access for those with limited Few points of access for those with limited

timetime►Few points of access for those with limited Few points of access for those with limited

wilderness experiencewilderness experience►Few opportunities for those with limited Few opportunities for those with limited

transportationtransportation

Changing visitor populationsChanging visitor populations

►With increased publicity there is a steep rise With increased publicity there is a steep rise in visitation and the type of access that is in visitation and the type of access that is expectedexpected

Visitor TrendsVisitor Trends

►Visitors are looking for:Visitors are looking for: Improved on-site communication and Improved on-site communication and

information (Cordell, et al, 1999)information (Cordell, et al, 1999) Visitor facilities (Cordell, et al, 1999)Visitor facilities (Cordell, et al, 1999) Variety of recreation opportunitiesVariety of recreation opportunities

►““Planning that does not recognize this variation Planning that does not recognize this variation (diversity) and aims for a mythical ‘average’ visitor (diversity) and aims for a mythical ‘average’ visitor will lead to homogenized experiences and result in will lead to homogenized experiences and result in dissatisfaction on the part of most visitors.” (Eagles dissatisfaction on the part of most visitors.” (Eagles & McCool 2002)& McCool 2002)

Effects of Management Mandates on Effects of Management Mandates on AccessAccess

►4% of the monument is intended to be the 4% of the monument is intended to be the focal point for visitation without expansion focal point for visitation without expansion into any of the other management zonesinto any of the other management zones

►Very little available information regarding Very little available information regarding hiking or camping outside of Frontcountry hiking or camping outside of Frontcountry zonezone

►Management plan states that sites in Management plan states that sites in Outback and Primitive zones will not be Outback and Primitive zones will not be promoted in literaturepromoted in literature

Solutions?Solutions?

►Increase the quality of present front-country Increase the quality of present front-country recreation opportunities.recreation opportunities.

►Increase the quantity of recreation Increase the quantity of recreation opportunities for front country users opportunities for front country users

►Provide better information about present Provide better information about present recreation opportunities in the monument recreation opportunities in the monument and facilitate better understanding of the and facilitate better understanding of the unique nature of the monument’s unique nature of the monument’s management.management.

Increased Quality of present accessIncreased Quality of present access

►InterpretationInterpretation Signs at trailheadsSigns at trailheads Better information on routes (trail guides, etc.)Better information on routes (trail guides, etc.)

►Site hardeningSite hardening Maintain trails where use is concentrated- avoid Maintain trails where use is concentrated- avoid

braided social trails.braided social trails.

Quantity: Increased development Quantity: Increased development along major traffic routes along major traffic routes

► Roadside interpretive areas Roadside interpretive areas Develop wayside stops along Hwy 12 Develop wayside stops along Hwy 12 Include short ‘viewpoint trails’ at stopsInclude short ‘viewpoint trails’ at stops

► Increase number of short hikes; half day/ day Increase number of short hikes; half day/ day hikeshikes Maintain more easily accessible trails in the front Maintain more easily accessible trails in the front

country zone country zone ► Define trails at heavily used sites in the passage Define trails at heavily used sites in the passage

zones along Hole in the Rock Rd.zones along Hole in the Rock Rd.► Link to local communityLink to local community

Provide information on local guides, city trails, state Provide information on local guides, city trails, state park trails, and other venues for experiencing the area.park trails, and other venues for experiencing the area.

Passage WaysPassage Ways

Facilitate UnderstandingFacilitate Understanding

►Increase the quality of information available Increase the quality of information available to users regarding recreation opportunities to users regarding recreation opportunities within the monumentwithin the monument

►Facilitate better understanding of the unique Facilitate better understanding of the unique nature of the monument and its nature of the monument and its management.management.

►Present research to visitors- understanding Present research to visitors- understanding of reasons for restrictive access.of reasons for restrictive access.

Most feasible alternativeMost feasible alternative

► Combination of increasing quality of present Combination of increasing quality of present access and increasing understanding of the unique access and increasing understanding of the unique management mandates and nature of the GSENM.management mandates and nature of the GSENM. Facilitate better quality visitor experiences through Facilitate better quality visitor experiences through

clearer information and maintained trailsclearer information and maintained trails Provide better information regarding both the type and Provide better information regarding both the type and

accessibility of current trails accessibility of current trails Provide better information about and facilitate greater Provide better information about and facilitate greater

understanding of the monument and its management.understanding of the monument and its management.

Thank YouThank You

►Questions may be directed to Questions may be directed to thetxlorax@yahoo.comthetxlorax@yahoo.com treverwaage@gmail.comtreverwaage@gmail.com