Effectiveness of a Confinement Strategy in Reducing Pack Stock Impacts at Campsites in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Idaho

Abstract

In 1993, a management program was initiated in the Seven Lakes Basin in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness to bring high levels of campsite impact into compliance with management standards. The core of the strategy involved confining use, particu- larly by stock groups, and restoring certain campsites and portions of campsites. In just five years, campsite impacts were reduced substantially. Disturbed and bare area decreased on campsites, as did tree scarring and mineral soil exposure. Vegetation cover in- creased. The only impact parameter that continued to get worse was tree root exposure. Continuation of this program would likely reduce the extent of disturbance to less than one-third of the disturbance that existed before implementation. Fiscal costs were substantial, but experiential costs were judged to be minimal. This program should provide a good model for other wildernesses with campsite problems in certain destination areas. One of the goals of wilderness recreation management is to avoid ecological impacts and provide opportunities for high-quality wilderness experiences. Another goal—which often conflicts with the former—is to provide access for these experiences and to avoid restriction and regulation, which can make experiences seem confined. Conflict between these two goals usually results in some compromise of both. Ecological impacts are most problematic in campsites in popular destination areas. Proliferation of new campsites, leading to unnecessarily high campsite densities, has been a common trend over the past few decades (Cole 1993). Specific impacts include damage to overstory trees, loss of vegetation, changes in species composition, soil compaction, loss of organic horizons and exposure of mineral soils (Cole 1983). The worst sites are almost as compacted as pavement, have been without groundcover vegetation for half a century or more and have numerous scarred trees with roots exposed in tree wells. Ecological impacts are particularly severe where pack stock use is common because, everything else being equal, groups traveling with horses and mules create more intense