Publications
I believe in open science and don't think research should be hidden behind paywalls. I've included links to journal PDFs if they are open access, and have provided postprint versions of papers if they are behind paywalls. Postprint versions are the final version after peer-review, but before journal formatting.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications
2024. Wilkins, E. J., Horne, L. Effects and perceptions of weather, climate, and climate change on outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism in the United States: A systematic review. PLOS Climate. Online here & Download PDF
2024. Wilkins, E. J., Dagan, D. T., & Smith, J. W. Quantifying and evaluating strategies to decrease carbon dioxide emissions generated from tourism to Yellowstone National Park. PLOS Climate. Online here & Download PDF
2024. Cole, N. W., Wilkins, E. J., Clements, K. R., Schuster, R. M., Dayer, A. A., Harshaw, H. W., Fulton, D. C., Duberstein, J. N., & Raedeke, A. H. Perceived constraints to participating in wildlife-based recreation. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. Online here | Download PDF | Data
2023. Beeco, J.A.*, Wilkins, E.J.*, Miller, A., Anderson, S., Lamborn, C., Miller, Z., & Smith, J.W. Support for management actions to protect night sky quality: Insights from visitors to state and national park units in the U.S. Journal of Environmental Management, 345. (* co-first authors). Online here | Download PDF
2023. Dagan, D.T. & Wilkins, E.J. What is “big data” and how should we use it? The role of large datasets, secondary data, and associated analysis techniques in outdoor recreation research. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. Online here | Postprint PDF
2023. Jenkins, J., Abatzoglou, J., Wilkins, E. J., & Perry, E. E. Visitation to national parks in California shows annual and seasonal change during extreme drought and wet years. PLOS Climate. Online here & Download PDF
2022. Wilkins, E. J., Van Berkel, D., Zhang, H., Dorning, M. A., Beck, S., & Smith, J. W. Promises and pitfalls of using computer vision to make inferences about landscape preferences: Evidence from an urban-proximate park system. Landscape and Urban Planning, 219. Online here | Postprint PDF | Data & Code | Supplementary Material
2021. Wilkins, E. J., Chikamoto, Y., Miller, A. B. & Smith, J. W. Climate change and the demand for recreational ecosystem services on public lands in the continental United States. Global Environmental Change. Online here | Postprint PDF | Data & Code | Supplementary Material
2021. Wilkins, E. J., Akbar, H., Saley, T. C., Hager, R., Elkin, C. M., Belmont, P., Flint, C. G., & Smith, J. W. Climate change and Utah ski resorts: Impacts, perceptions, and adaptation strategies. Mountain Research and Development. Online here | Download PDF | Data & Code | Supplementary Material
2021. Smith, J. W., Miller, A. B., Lamborn, C. C., Spernbauer, B. S., Creany, N., Richards, J. C., Meyer, C., Rempel, W., Nesbitt, J., Wilkins, E. J., Miller, Z. D., Freimund, W., & Monz, C. Motivations and spatial behavior of OHV recreationists: A case-study from central Utah. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 36. Online here | Postprint PDF
2021. Creany, N. E., Monz, C. A., D'Antonio, A., Sisneros-Kidd, A., Wilkins, E. J., Nesbitt, J., & Mitrovich, M. Estimating trail use and visitor spatial distribution using mobile device data: An example from the Nature Reserve of Orange County, California, USA. Environmental Challenges, 4. Online here | Download PDF
2021. Smith, J. W., Wilkins, E. J., & Miller, A. B. Bears Ears National Monument and outdoor recreation in San Juan County, Utah. Society and Natural Resources, 34(7). Online here | Postprint PDF | Data & Code
2021. Wilkins, E. J., Howe, P. D., & Smith, J. W. Social media reveal ecoregional variation in how weather influences visitor behavior within U.S. National Park Service units. Scientific Reports, 11, 2403. Online here | Download PDF | Data, Code, & Maps | Supplementary Material | Short video
2021. Wilkins, E. J., Wood, S. A., & Smith, J. W. Uses and limitations of social media data to inform visitor use management in parks and protected areas: A systematic review. Environmental Management, 67, 120-132. Online here | PDF here | Data & Code | Supplementary Material
2020. Dagan, D. T., Sharp, R. L., Brownlee, M. T. J., & Wilkins, E. J. Social media data in remote and low-use wilderness areas: Applications and limitations. International Journal of Wilderness, 26(1). Online here | Download PDF
2020. Wilkins, E. J., Smith, J. W., & Keane, R. Social media communication preferences of national park visitors. Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 19(1), 4-18. Online here | Postprint PDF| Data
2019. Wilkins, E. J.,Cole, N., Miller, H. M., Schuster, R. M., Dayer, A. A., Duberstein, J. N., Fulton, D. C., Harshaw, H. W., Raedeke, A. H., Rural-urban differences in hunting and birdwatching intent. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 24(6), 530-547. Online here | Download PDF | Data
2019. Smith, J.W., Wilkins, E.J., & Leung, Y-F. Attendance trends threaten future operation's of America's state parks systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(26), 12775-12780. Online here | Download PDF | Data
2019. Clark, M., Wilkins, E. J., Dagan, D. T., Powell, R., Sharp, R. L., & Hillis, V. Bringing forecasting into the future: Using Google to model national park visitation. Journal of Environmental Management, 243, 88-94. Online here | Postprint PDF | App | Data & Code
2019. Wilkins, E. J., Sinclair, W., Miller, H., & Schuster, R. Does proximity to wetlands matter? A landscape-level analysis of the influence of local wetlands on the public’s concern for ecosystem services and conservation involvement. Wetlands, 39(6), 1271-1280. Online here | Download PDF | Data
2018. Wilkins, E. J., Miller, H. M., Tilak, E., & Schuster, R. M. Communicating information on nature-related topics: Preferred information channels and trust in sources. PlosOne, 13(12), e0209013. Online here | Download PDF | Data
2018. Smith, J. W., Wilkins, E. J., Gayle, R., & Lamborn, C. Climate and visitation to Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ national parks. Tourism Geographies, 20(2), 250-272. Online here | Postprint PDF
2018. Wilkins, E., De Urioste-Stone, S., Weiskittel, A., & Gabe, T. Effects of weather conditions on tourism spending: Implications for future trends under climate change. Journal of Travel Research. 57(8), 1042–1053. Online here | Postprint PDF
2018. Wilkins, E. J., & De Urioste-Stone, S. Place attachment, recreational activities, and travel intent under changing climate conditions. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(5), 798-811. Online here | Postprint PDF
2018. Wilkins, E. J., De Urioste-Stone, S., Weiskittel, A., & Gabe, T. Weather sensitivity and climate change perceptions of tourists: A segmentation analysis. Tourism Geographies, 20(2), 273-289. Online here | Postprint PDF
2016. De Urioste-Stone, S., Le, L., Scaccia, M., & Wilkins, E. Nature-based tourism and climate change risk: Visitors' perceptions in Mount Desert Island, Maine. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 13, 57-65. Online here | Postprint PDF
Technical Reports and Other Publications
2021. Smith, J. W., Wilkins, E. J.,& Miller, A. B. Bears Ears and outdoor recreation in San Juan County. Research report for Utah Outdoor Partners. Online here | Download PDF
2020. Johnson, D., Brune, S., Dagan, D. T., Meier, E., Wilkins, E. J., & Zhang, H. A holistic strategy for carbon reduction programs in parks and protected areas: Leveraging three “fixes.” Parks Stewardship Forum, 36(3). Online here | Download PDF
2018. Dorning, M. A., van Berkel, D., Beck, S. M., Wilkins, E. J., Zhang, H., Smith, J. W. Aesthetic characteristics of the front range: An analysis of viewsheds provided by Boulder OSMP lands. Research report to Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. Online here | Download PDF
2018. Wilkins, E. J., Zhang, H., van Berkel, D., Dorning, M. A., Beck, S. M., & Smith, J. W. Landscape values and aesthetic preferences across the front range. Research report to Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. Online here | Download PDF
2018. Dagan, D., Wheeler, I., Beck, L, Benedetti, A., Blacketer, M., Clark, M., McHugh, K., Noss, C., Sizek, J., Wilkins, E., Powell, R., & Sharp, R. 2018 Park break report: Developing a visitation forecasting tool and management recommendations for the Mojave Desert Region NPS Units. Research report to the National Park Service. Download PDF
2018. Wilkins, E.J. & Miller, H.M. Public views of wetlands and waterfowl conservation in the United States – Results of a survey to inform the 2018 revision of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1148. Online here | Download PDF | Data
2016. Wilkins, E. & Reagan, S. Implementing and maintaining recreational fees on federal lands: Lessons from Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Report for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Download PDF
2016. Wilkins, E. Morgan, A., & De Urioste-Stone, S. Visitor characteristics, travel behavior, and perceptions of tourism. Research report to the Maine Office of Tourism and Maine visitor’s centers. Download PDF.
2016. Wilkins, E. Morgan, A., & De Urioste-Stone, S. Acadia National Park 2015 research summary report: Visitor characteristics, travel behavior, and perceptions of tourism and climate change. Research report to Acadia National Park. Download PDF.
Thesis and Dissertation
2020. Wilkins, E. J. Using Social Media to Assess the Impact of Weather and Climate on Visitation to Outdoor Recreation Settings. All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7986. Online here | Download PDF
2016. Wilkins, E. J. Tourism in Maine: Visitation and Economic Impacts of Weather. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2452. Online here | Download PDF | MS Defense Powerpoint slides
Datasets
2021. Wilkins, E. J., & Smith, J. W. Promises and pitfalls of using computer vision to make inferences about landscape preferences: Evidence from an urban-proximate park system (data and code). Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-10-31. https://doi.org/10.3886/E139681V1
2021. Wilkins, E. J., & Smith, J. W. Climate change and the demand for recreational ecosystem services on public lands in the continental United States (data and code). Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-09-08. https://doi.org/10.3886/E141222V1
2021. Akbar, H., Wilkins, E. J., Saley, T., & Hager, R. Climate change at Utah ski resorts: Impacts, perceptions, and adaptation strategies (dada and code). HydroShare. Dataset here.
2021. Smith, J. W., & Wilkins, E. J. Bears Ears National Monument and Outdoor Recreation in San Juan County, Utah. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-03-20. https://doi.org/10.3886/E135361V3
2021. Wilkins, E. J., & Smith, J. W. Weather & Summer Spatial Behavior of U.S. National Park Visitors (Flickr data 2006 - 2018). Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Reserach [distributor], 2021-01-26. https://doi.org/10.3886/E119191V2
2017. Wilkins, E. J., Miller, H. M., & Schuster, R. Results of a U.S. General Public Survey to Inform the 2018 North American Waterfowl Management Plan Update (2017): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7G15ZQ6
Research in the News
I was not necessarily interviewed for each story, but my research is featured in each one.
2022, April 8. Eveson, A.P. Climate change poses threat to winter recreation businesses in Utah. The Daily Universe.
2022, March 31. Scott, C. & Edelman, R. UnDisciplined: what will happen to Utah's "greatest snow" when there's no more snow? Utah Public Radio.
2022, January 27. YCC Team. Utah ski resorts see declining snow quality and shorter seasons. Yale Climate Communications.
2021, December 21. Feuz, E. National Parks can use social media to aid in park surveys. Utah Public Radio.
2021, December 10. Champagne, B. Ski resorts in Utah react to changing climate. Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
2021, November 23. Reimers, F. The complicated ethics of creating fake snow. Deseret News.
2021, November 10. Lohan, T. Say Goodbye to Your National Parks Road Trips? The Revelator.
2021, October 26. Levin, R. Can California Tourism Survive Climate Change? New York Times.
2021, October 18. McCall, P. USU researchers explore the impact of climate change on Utah's ski resorts. KUER.
2021, October 12. Bink, A. Climate change impacting Utah ski resorts, research finds how they're adapting. abc4.
2021, October 15. Starbuck, L., Glick, N., Orozco-Rodriguez, J., Johnson, B., & The Associated Press. KUNR Today: Climate change could mean shorter ski seasons, Nevada rural hospital ICUs at capacity. KUNR.
2021, October 6. Smith, E. Study: Climate change poses an existential threat to outdoor recreation. Outside Business Journal.
2021, October 1. Glick, R. Study: Climate change could reduce outdoor recreation on public lands. KUNR.
2021, September 23. Roth, S. Newsletter: Love the national parks? Get ready for them to heat up. Los Angeles Times.
2021, September 18. Weisbrod, K. Rising temps will increase recreation in winter, decrease it in summer. Inside Climate News.
2021, September 15. Gilbert, L. Rising temperatures reshape when and how much people get outdoors on public lands. Phys.org.
2021, August 4. Hager, R. & Hillyard, T. USU research: Climate change in Utah will require ski resort adaptations. The Herald Journal News.
2019, June 7. Chrobak, U. State parks could be 10 times more expensive to operate by 2050. Popular Science.
2019, June 4. Yirka, B. State park attendance trends suggest parks will be overburdened by mid-century. Phys.org.
2019, June 4. Renda, M. Nation’s system of state parks stressed by rising temperatures, more visitors. Missoula Current.
2019, June 4. Forgie, A. Costs to maintain state parks could skyrocket by billions. KUTV.
2019, June 3. Kahn, B. Maintaing state parks in a warming world could cost billions. Gizmodo.
2018, March 9. Richards, C. Some Utah national parks get fewer visitors when it gets too hot, USU study says. KSL.com
2018, March 8. Opsahl, K. USU study: Some Utah national parks see higher visitors despite increased heat. The Herald Journal News.