Title:

Salmon Wild and Scenic River: Visitor survey data collected between North Fork and Corn Creek in 2021 and 2022

Author(s):

Armatas, Christopher A.; Mudford, Taylor I.; Thomsen, Jennifer M.

Publication Year:

2025

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Armatas, Christopher A.; Mudford, Taylor I.; Thomsen, Jennifer M. 2025. Salmon Wild and Scenic River: Visitor survey data collected between North Fork and Corn Creek in 2021 and 2022. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2025-0044

Abstract:

The Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980 designated approximately 125 miles of the Salmon River in Idaho as Wild and Scenic; the upstream 46 miles from North Fork to Corn Creek is classified as recreational. On the recreational segment, a visitor survey was administered during the high-use season (summer and early fall) in 2021 and 2022. The data collection provided knowledge related to: (1) visitors’ primary activities and duration of visits; (2) visitors’ river values (e.g., solitude, a visitor experience free from rules and regulations, etc.); 3) visitors’ social perceptions (e.g., perceived impacts of seeing motor boats on the river, behavior of other visitors, etc.); (4) visitors’ environmental perceptions (e.g., perceived impacts of soil erosion, water pollution, etc.); (5) visitors’ perceptions of facilities, policies, and management issues; (6) visitors’ demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, race, etc.). There were 719 surveys distributed between 2021 (June 15 - October 24, 2021) and 2022 (June 1 - November 12, 2022) at various locations along the Salmon River. This data publication includes the data from the 332 surveys that were completed and returned (46% response rate). These data provide managers of the Salmon River with scientific support for the user capacity determination of the recreational section and future management decisions and actions.

Keywords:

boundaries; location; society; planningCadastre; Environment and People; Recreation; Quality of life; Social values, ethics; Wild and Scenic Rivers; user capacity; outstandingly remarkable values; Visitor preferences; social science; recreation survey; Idaho; Salmon-Challis National Forest; North Fork; Corn Creek; Salmon River; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

Related publications:

• Armatas, Christopher A; Mudford, Taylor I.; Thomsen, Jennifer M.; Baggett, L. Scott. 2025. Visitor survey on the recreation segment of the Salmon Wild and Scenic River System. Missoula, MT: USDA Forest Service, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. (included as \Supplements\Salmon_River_final_report.pdf).

Metrics:

Visit count : 61 0
Download count: 2
More details

Data Access:

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  • RDS-2025-0044_Metadata_Fileindex.zip (23.98 KB; Checksum)
  • RDS-2025-0044.zip (1.56 MB; Checksum)

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