Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Understanding the Wicked Nature of “Unmanaged Recreation” in Colorado’s Front Range

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Unmanaged recreation presents a challenge to both researchers and managers of outdoor recreation in the United States because it is shrouded in uncertainty resulting from disagreement over the definition of the problem, the strategies for resolving the problem, and the outcomes of management. Incomplete knowledge about recreation visitors’ values and relationships with one another, other stakeholders, and the land further complicate the problem. Uncertainty and social complexity make the unmanaged recreation issue a wicked problem. We describe the wickedness inherent in unmanaged recreation and some of the implications of wickedness for addressing the problem for the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Conclusions about the nature of the problem are based on a problem appraisal that included a literature review and interviews of key informants. Addressing wickedness calls for institutional changes that allow for and reward the use of trust building, inclusive communication, and genuinely collaborative processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen G. M., E. M. Gould. 1986. Complexity, wickedness, and public forests. Journal of Forestry 84:20–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Amador D. 2004. Unmanaged recreation. Presentation given at the 2004 Annual Conference of Western Outdoor Writers, October 22, Reno, NV. Accessed online April 14, 2005: http://www.delalbright.com/Access/amador_unmanaged. htm

  • Baron J. S., D. M. Theobald, D. Fagre. 2000. Management of land use conflicts in the United States Rocky Mountains. Mountain Research and Development 20:24–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beebe J. 1995. Basic concepts and techniques of rapid appraisal. Human Organization 54:42–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Bengston D. N., Z. Xu. 1993. Impact of research and technical change in wildland recreation: Evaluation issues and approaches. Leisure Sciences 15:251–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernard H. R. 1994. Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sage, Thousand Oaks, California, 585 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosworth D. 2003. Managing the National Forest System: Great issues and great diversions. Speech. Accessed online May 20, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2003/speeches/04/issues.shtml

  • Bosworth, D. 2004. The Forest Service: A story of change. Speech. Accessed online May 11, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2004/speeches/11/university-wisconsin.shtml

  • Bosworth, D. 2005. Forging a sustainable system of routes and areas for motorized use. Speech. Accessed online May 11, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2005/speeches/04/motorized-use.shtml

  • Bricker K. S., D. J. Chavez, W. Hendricks, S. J. Millington. 2005. Recreation and fire management in urban National Forests: A study of manager perspectives. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, California, 69 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow R. S. 2004. Volunteer-based recreation land management: The eyes and ears for the Appalachian Trail. Pages 71–77 in Proceedings of the 9th international symposium on society and resource management, 10–13 October 2002, Sassari, Italy

  • Chavez D. J. 2001. Changes in demographics: Changes in recreation patterns. Pages 363–368 in Proceedings of the 5th outdoor recreation and tourism trends symposium, 17–20 September 2000, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Chavez D. J., J. F. Tynon. 2000. Triage law enforcement: Societal impacts on National Forests in the West. Environmental Management 26:403–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chavez D. J., M. A. Schuett. 2005. Profiling off-highway vehicle users: The case of the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, Inc. (NOHVCC). Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, California, 14 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Churchman C. W. 1967. Wicked problems. Management Science 14:B-141–B-142

    Google Scholar 

  • Colorado Mountain Club. 2004. More than 60 quiet recreation groups call for strong off-road vehicle rules: Outline necessary steps to achieve real reform. Press Release. Accessed online April 15, 2005: http://previous.cmc.org/cmc/conservation/press/pr_fsrecletter.htm

  • Conklin J. E. 2005. Wicked problems and social complexity. CogNexus Institute. Accessed online August 1, 2005: http://cognexus.org

  • Conklin J. E. 2006. Dialogue mapping: Building shared understanding of wicked problems. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, England, 242 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook A. 2004. The national public lands report: Unmanaged recreation? Not! Under funded? Yes! Blue Ribbon Magazine December. Accessed online May 12, 2005: http://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=42&magazine=30

  • Cordell H. K., M. A. Tarrant. 2002. Changing demographics, values, and attitudes. Journal of Forestry 100:28–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordell H. K., J. C. Bergstrom, C. J. Betz, and G. T. Green. 2004a. Dominant socioeconomic forces shaping the future of the United States. Pages 349–361 in Summary of knowledge prepared for the 10th international symposium on society and resource management, 2–6 June 2004, Keystone, Colorado

  • Cordell H. K., C. J. Betz, G. T. Green, S. Mou, V. R. Leeworthy, P. C. Wiley, J. J. Barry, D. Hellerstein. 2004b. Outdoor recreation for 21st century America: The national survey on recreation and the environment. Venture, State College, Pennsylvania, 293 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovers S. R., J. W. Handmer. 1993. Contradictions in sustainability. Environmental Conservation 20:217–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer J. F. 1995. Changing population demographics: Implications for recreation resources management. Pages 245–248 in Proceedings of the 4th outdoor recreation and tourism trends symposium, 14–17 May 1995, St. Paul, Minnesota.

  • Dwyer J. F., S. C. Barro. 2001. Outdoor recreation behaviors and preferences of urban racial/ethnic groups: An example from the Chicago area. Pages 159–164 in Proceedings of the northeastern recreation research symposium, 2–4 April 2000, Bolton Landing, New York

  • Dwyer J. F., G. M. Childs. 2004. Movement of people across the landscape: A blurring of distinctions between areas, interests, and issues affecting natural resource management. Landscape and Urban Planning 69:153–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egan A. F., A. E. Luloff. 2000. The exurbanization of America’s forests: Research in rural social science. Journal of Forestry 98:26–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes B. 2001. Federal lands: Agencies need to assess the impact of personal watercraft and snowmobile use. Pages 176–180 in Proceedings of the 11th George Wright Society conference on research and resource management in parks and on public lands of the, 16–20 April 2001, Denver, Colorado

  • Ewert A. W. 2001. Trends in adventure recreation: Programs, experiences, and issues. Pages 327–335 in Proceedings of the 5th outdoor recreation and tourism trends symposium, 17–20 September 2000, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Ewert A. W., J. Shultis. 1999. Technology and backcountry recreation: Boom to recreation or bust for management? Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance 70:23–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar, B. 2005. Under funded forests. Casper Star Tribune. Accessed online August 18, 2005: http://www.casperstartribune.net

  • Frawley J. 2005. Geocaching. Forest Magazine Spring 2005. Accessed online June 6, 2005: http://www.fseee.org/forestmag/0702fraw.shtml

  • Frentz I. C., F. L. Farmer, J. M. Guldin, K. G. Smith. 2004. Public lands and population growth. Society and Natural Resources 17:57–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt G. 2005. Can’t see the forest for the budget cuts: Shrinking U.S. funds may shut down some campgrounds, trails. Rocky Mountain News April 19, 2005. Accessed online June 7, 2005: http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_3710721,00.html

  • Glasgow N. 1995. Retirement migration and the use of services in nonmetropolitan counties. Rural Sociology 60:224–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Havlick D. G. 2002. No distant place: Roads and motorized recreation on America’s public lands. Island Press, Washington, DC, 297 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Helms J. A. 2005. Fiscal year 2006 agricultural appropriations testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and related agencies. Society of American Foresters, Bethesda, Maryland. Accessed online August 18, 2005: http://www.safnet.org

  • Hollenhorst, S. J. 1995. Risk, technology-driven, and other new activity trends. Pages 65–67 in Proceedings of the 4th outdoor recreation and tourism trends symposium, 14–17 May 1995, St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Hull R. B., D. P. Robertson, A. Kendra. 2001. Public understandings of nature: A case study of local knowledge about “natural” forest conditions. Society and Natural Resources 14:325–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kocis S. M., D. B. K. English, S. J. Zarnoch, R. Arnold, and L. Warren. 2002. National Visitor Use Monitoring results: Pike-San Isabel National Forest and Comanche and Cimaron National Grasslands. Accessed online May 31, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum

  • Lachapelle P. R., S. F. McCool, M. E. Patterson. 2003. Barriers to effective natural resource planning in a “messy” world. Society and Natural Resources 16:473–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laitos J. G., T. A. Carr. 1999. The transformation on public lands. Ecology Law Quarterly 26:140–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson J., J. Molzahn, T. Spencer. 1993. What is an urban National Forest? Urban National Forest Issue No. 1. Accessed online May 17, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/urban/urban02.htm

  • McBeth, B. 1995. Urban National Forest Issues April 24, 1995. Accessed online May 26, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/urban/urban04.htm

  • McCool S. F., K. Guthrie. 2001. Mapping the dimensions of successful public participation in messy natural resources management situations. Society and Natural Resources 14:309–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan N. K. 2005. A qualitative study of recreational shooting on the Pawnee National Grassland. Unpublished Masters thesis. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 97 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Mountaineers, The. 2004. April 13 letter to the Chief of the U. S. Forest Service. Accessed online August 23, 2005: http://www.mountaineers.org/conservation/poslet/letters/fs-consltr-final.pdf

  • Nie M. 2003. Drivers of natural resource-based political conflict. Policy Sciences 36:307–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellizzoni L. 2003. Uncertainty and participatory democracy. Environmental Values 12:195–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Pigram J. J., J. M. Jenkins. 1999. Outdoor recreation management. Routledge, London, 329 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Propst L. 2005. Place-based collaboration: A promising approach for managing off highway vehicle use. Pages 15–23 in L. Fisher (ed), Off-highway vehicle use and collaboration: Lessons learned from project implementation. Report prepared for the National OHV Implementation Team. USDA Forest Service. Accessed online November 15, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/CaseStudyReport.pdf

  • Radford K. J. 1977. Complex decision problems: An integrated strategy for resolution. Reston Publishing, Reston, Virginia, 208 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Rittel H. W. J., M. M. Webber. 1973. Dilemmas in a general theory of planning. Policy Sciences 4:155–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roper. 2004. Outdoor recreation in America 2003: Recreation’s benefits to society challenged by trends. Report prepared for The Recreation Roundtable. Accessed online June 1, 2005: http://www.funoutdoors.com/files/ROPER REPORT 2004_0.pdf

  • Shindler B., E. Toman. 2003. Fuel reduction strategies in forest communities: A longitudinal analysis of public support. Journal of Forestry 101:8–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Shumway J. M., S. M. Otterstrom. 2001. Spatial patterns of migration and income change in the Mountain West: The dominance of service-based, amenity-rich counties. Professional Geographer 53:492–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson L,. 2001. The West’s forest lands: Magnets for new migrants and part-time residents. Changing Landscape 2:16–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Swenson M. 2005. Petition for equal and shared vehicle access to our public lands. Utah Shared Access Alliance. Accessed online May 10, 2005: http://www.petitiononline.com/USAALL/petition.html

  • Taylor D. E. 2002. Race, class, gender, and American environmentalism. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-534. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, Oregon, 51 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Bureau of Census. 2002. The United States in international context: Census 2000 brief. U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington DC, 11 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • United States General Accounting Office. 1995. Federal lands: Information on the use and impact of off-highway vehicles. Report to the Honorable Bruce F. Vento, House of Representatives. GAO-95-209. Washington, DC, 77 pp

  • United States General Accounting Office. 1998. Managing for results: The statutory framework for performance-based management and accountability. Report to Congressional Requesters. GAO/GGD/AIMD-98-52. Washington, DC, 51 pp

  • United States General Accounting Office. 2003. Forest Service: Little progress on performance accountability likely unless management addresses key challenges. Report to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives. GAO-03-503. Washington, DC, 28 pp

  • United States Office of Management and Budget. 2005. Budget of the United States Government Fiscal Year 2006. Accessed online August 25, 2005: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy06/browse.html

  • USDA Forest Service. 1996. Urban National Forest Home Page. Accessed online May 17, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/urban/

  • USDA Forest Service. 2001. National Visitor Use Monitoring results: Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests. Accessed online May 31, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum

  • USDA Forest Service. 2004a. Unmanaged recreation. Four Threats—Key messages. Accessed online May 26, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/four-threats/key-messages/unmanaged-recreation.shtml

  • USDA Forest Service. 2004b. Unmanaged recreation. Accessed online May 26, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/four-threats/documents/unmanagedrec-fs.pdf

  • USDA Forest Service. 2004c. Travel management; designated routes and areas for motor vehicle use; proposed rule. RIN 0596-AC11. Accessed online June 15, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/OHVrule.pdf

  • USDA Forest Service. 2004d. Forest Service releases draft policy on off-highway vehicle use in National Forests and Grasslands. News release no. FS-0418. Accessed online April 11, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2004/releases/07/off-highway-vehicle.shtml

  • USDA Forest Service. 2004e. Recreation statistics update: Participation rates for outdoor activities in 2004. Update report no. 1. Accessed online May 24, 2005: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov

  • USDA Forest Service. 2005. Travel management; designated routes and areas for motor vehicle use; final rule. RIN 0596-AC11. Federal Register 70:68264–68291. Accessed online November 11, 2005: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/final.pdf

  • van Bueren E. M., E. H. Klijn, J. F. M. Koppenjan. 2003. Dealing with wicked problems in networks: Analyzing an environmental debate from a network perspective. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 13:193–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters W. H. 2002. Later-life migration in the United States: A review of recent literature. Journal of Planning Literature 17:37–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Warnick R. 1995. Trends in recreation and leisure equipment. Pages 307–315 in Proceedings of the 4th outdoor recreation and tourism trends symposium, 14–17 May 1995, St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Wilderness Society. 2005. Off-road vehicles and public lands: A national problem. Accessed online April 5, 2005: http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/ORV/index.cfm?TopLevel=Home

  • Williams B. A., A. R. Matheny. 1995. Democracy, dialogue, and environmental disputes: The contested languages of social regulation. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 256 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter G., C. A. Vogt, S. McCaffrey. 2004. Examining social trust in fuels management strategies. Journal of Forestry 102:8–15

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey J. Brooks.

About this article

Cite this article

Brooks, J.J., Champ, P.A. Understanding the Wicked Nature of “Unmanaged Recreation” in Colorado’s Front Range. Environmental Management 38, 784–798 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-005-0372-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-005-0372-2

Keywords

Navigation