Visitor Use Study

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The Flagstaff Area National Monuments (FLAG) include Walnut Canyon National Monument (WACA), Sunset Crater National Monument (SUCR), and Wupatki National Monument (WUPA). Collectively, these National Monuments protect over 40,000 acres of high deserts, canyons, mountains, mesas, and volcanic features. In addition, units within FLAG protect over 3,000 archaeological sites such as pueblos and cliff homes. Visitation at all monuments during 2015 increased over 2014 including a 13.4% increase from 135,230 to 153,322 recreation visits at Walnut Canyon NM. Flagstaff National Monuments (FLAG) is interested in conducting visitor use studies (VUS) to provide real world experience in conducting VUS for undergraduate and graduate students while assessing current park visitor needs to better inform and guide anticipated park planning projects and management strategies. Very little social science work has been conducted at FLAG units and little is known about visitor use and characteristics. The purpose of this research opportunity is to understand the myriad of visitor uses at two of the three units at FLAG, specifically SUCR and WUPA. These surveys will target responses from representative user groups to generalize to visitors at SUCR and WUPA within the sampling selected window. Through these studies FLAG ASU students will gain an in-depth understanding of visitor demographics, experience, expectations, needs, and use patterns.

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