An Adaptation of Visitor-Employed Photography to Natural Resources Management

Abstract. The visitor-employed photography [VEP] method was modified to help determine the social value of water and riparian resources in Rocky Mountain National Park [RMNP]. Water was shown to contribute significantly to the visitors ' Park experience, ranking second only to mountain vistas in importance, and favou ably in comparison with management features, wildlife, and vegetation. Wa er resources were photographed more often by hikers and backpackers (p <.001) than by campers or drive-through visitors. Riparian resource results were less clear, although visitors reported a serious negative response to potential losses of water, riparian vegetation, or riparian-dependent wildlife, and a willingness to pay 70 % more in entrance fees to protect these resources. The modification of the VEP method to adapt it to this resource valuation question shows potential as a resource tool in terms of reducing experience intrusion and especially in the use of respondent-generated photographs and photo logs as keys to memory of the Park experience