VIRGINIA
TECH PROFESSOR ASSISTS
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
MANAGERS
BLACKSBURG,
Oct. 7, 2003 -- Jeffrey
Marion, Virginia Tech
professor and a recreational
resources management
expert with the U.S.
Geological Survey,
has carved out some
recommendations to
prevent destruction
of overused campsites
on the Appalachian
Trail. The study,
recently cited in
a Washington Times
article regarding
the conservation efforts
of the popular Maryland
campsite of Annapolis
Rocks, evaluated problems
facing the campground
as well as offered
solutions and ways
to implement them
and evaluate their
effectiveness.
The
influx of campers,
reaching numbers as
high as 280 campers
a night, wreaked havoc
on the campsite's
fragile environment.
After years of campers
pitching tents, building
bonfires and washing
dishes in the nearby
spring, the area suffered
from trampled vegetation,
exposed and eroded
soil and polluted
spring water.
In collaboration with
the Appalachian Trail
Conference (ATC),
Marion developed several
solutions. Campsites
were carved into hillsides
in order to limit
erosion and prevent
campers from wandering
too close to the edge
of the potentially
fatal cliffs. The
sites were also placed
well apart from each
other to provide privacy.
The
creation of these
new sites brought
with it restrictions
placed on campers
to help preserve the
land. One such regulation
limited the number
of people permitted
to spend the night.
In the past, hundreds
of campers lodged
at Annapolis Rocks
but on-site caretakers
now restrict that
number to 75 campers
a night. Other visitors
are directed to campsites
less than two miles
away. Another regulation
is the prohibition
of alcohol on the
campgrounds in order
to reduce the number
of partiers who visit
the cliffs. Virginia
Tech graduate student
Melissa Daniels will
work with Marion and
the ATC to conduct
research gauging visitors'
perceptions of the
new policies.
"Under
normal circumstances,
recovering from such
extensive damage is
a long and arduous
process but Annapolis
Rocks is doing remarkably
well," Marion said.
He attributes the
vast amounts of rain
this summer for helping
the ground vegetation
recover so quickly.
Marion believes Annapolis
Rocks will heal within
approximately three
years.
"Adaptive management
is a learning by doing
process," Marion explained.
"If our strategy for
Annapolis Rocks doesn't
work then we'll adapt
and change until it
does."
Map depicting old
campsites close to
the cliffs and design
of the constructed
well-spaced new campsites.
AR
Closed site/sign --
Pre-existing campsites
in large flat areas
were permanently closed
to allow recovery.
Camping was moved
to constructed campsites
placed in sloping
terrain to limit future
expansion.
Marion
Annapolis Rock --
Campers on one of
the newly constructed
campsites.
