Recreation related degradation in Kansas state parks: applying GIS models

Abstract

This paper presents a model which identifies areas in state parks most susceptible to recreation related degradation. Factors of soil capability class rankings, slope, native vegetation presence, rangeland productivity, visitation, and revenue are overlaid in a weighted raster model to extract those land parcels within Glen Elder State Park, Kansas, which have the highest susceptibility to environmental degradation and greatest potential to generate high revenue. Park user characteristics stored in an attribute table are related to vulnerable parcels so park managers can develop management or mitigation strategies reflecting the strength of environmental, social, or economic interactions in an area.