Monitoring Trail Conditions: New Methodological Considerations

integral component of evaluating carrying capacity, which is defined under the NPS Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework (Manning et al. 1995; NPS 1997) as the type and level of visitor use a park can accommodate while sustaining resource and social conditions that complement the purposes of the park and its management objectives. The VERP framework specifies desired resource and social conditions and incorporates indicators and standards of quality that quantify impact acceptability and impairment. Visitor impact monitoring is an essential component for periodic evaluations of current conditions to compare against standards or to evaluate the success of management actions. Visitor impact monitoring is also a component of the NPS Vital Signs Monitoring Program, which seeks to monitor selected biophysical indicators that represent the health or condition of park natural resources. Visitor use is frequently a primary “agent of change” affecting park vegetation, soil, wildlife and water resources. This paper aims to highlight selected examples of current research on addressing