Mapping Visitor Perspectives

The results of the study, Mapping Sociocultural Values of Visitors on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, are available for download from PDX Scholar.

METHODOLOGY

The surveys that we administered to visitors consisted of a map and accompanying questions regarding values, activities, and demographics. The map includes geographic and administrative features to orient the visitor being surveyed such as major roads, lakes, and rivers, the National Park, the National Forest, wilderness areas, major cities, major peaks, and notable geographic features. Visitors were instructed to mark on the map up to five places of significance using their choice of points, lines, or areas.

In an accompanying questionnaire that complements the mapping portion of the survey, respondents were asked to assign values to places they mark on the map. These values are derived from standard values mapping research, and each value is provided with a description: aesthetic, biodiversity, economic, entertainment, future, heritage, home, learning, recreation, social, spiritual, subsistence, therapeutic, and wilderness. The respondent was also asked to assign activities to these places if appropriate; however, the respondent could identify significant places regardless of whether they have been there or not.

The questionnaire was also used to collect additional attributes that can be used in spatial analysis. Respondents were asked to provide their zip code or country, age, gender, and level of education. They were also asked three questions about visiting the Olympic Peninsula:

• How often do you visit the Olympic Peninsula?

• What is the average length of your visit to the Olympic Peninsula?

• How often do you visit national parks and national forests?

We processed the collected data using a GIS for analysis. The maps were be scanned and the points, lines, and polygons digitized. The written portion of the survey was entered into a spreadsheet and coded so that each piece of data has a unique ID. This spreadsheet was joined to the digitized shapes in GIS so that the spreadsheet data became attributes. An overlay of a fishnet grid provided a platform to determine the density distribution of the data and identify areas of high value and intense use.

DATA COLLECTION LOCATIONS

By implementing the mapping survey at four types of locations (ranger stations/visitor information centers, campgrounds, trail access points, and ferries), with a focus on both National Park and National Forest land use, we attempted to capture a representative sample of people who visit the Olympic Peninsula.

RESULTS

Over the course of four separate trips to the Olympic Peninsula in July, August, and September, fourteen different locations were surveyed. We have collected data from four visitor centers (Port Angeles, Forks, Quinault, and Quilcene), four campgrounds (Kalaloch, Klahowya, Lake Wynoochee, and Seal Rock), and four trail access points (Sol Duc, Rialto Beach, Staircase, and Dosewallips). One location, the Hoh Rain Forest, is both a visitor center and a trail access point. We also collected data on the ferry between Seattle and Bainbridge Island.

Location Date No. Surveys Rate/hr Weather

Visitor Centers 122 5.2

Forks July 14 22 Partly Sunny

Quilcene July 15 23 Rain

Port Angeles Aug 3 31 Sunny

Lake Quinault Aug 7 20 Cloudy

Hoh Rain Forest Sept 10 26 Rain

Campgrounds 36 2.2

Coho July 13 8 Sunny

Klahowya July 17 2 Sunny

Kalaloch Aug 6 17 Cloudy

Seal Rock Sept 8 9 Sunny

Trail Access Points 89 4.6

Staircase Aug 4 26 Sunny

Dosewallips Aug 5 17 Sunny

Sol Duc Aug 8 24 Cloudy

Rialto Beach Sept 9 22 Rain

Ferry 98 10

Seattle-Bainbridge Island Aug 31 47 Sunny

Sept 1 51 Sunny

Total 345

Visitors from 31 different states and 8 countries contributed to the survey. 60% of the visitors were from the Pacific Northwest region (west of the Casdade Range) and an additional 10% were local to the Olympic Peninsula. Themajority of participants were male (57%), between the ages 46 and 65 (45%), and have at least a 4-year degree (75%). However, it is important to note that these demographics do not describe who visits the Olympic Peninsula, but rather who self-selects to participate in this research. While conducting the surveys, we observed a few types of visitors that were generally reluctant to participate: youth (between 18 and 25), families with young children, and first-time visitors.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS:

Alexa Todd, PSU MS Geography

David Banis, PSU Geography, Center for Spatial Analysis and Research

This project was funded by a Mazamas Research Grant and the PSU Department of Geography.