C.B. Griffin, Natural Resources Management, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA, griffinc@gvsu.edu, Christina McGraw, Alexandria Rogers In 1992, a 26 mile section of Michigan’s Pine River designated as a National Scenic River. There are eight main access points to this fast-flowing river. Prior to this research project the permit data wasn’t being compiled which makes data-driven management nearly impossible. This research project looked at use patterns based on permits from commercial liveries as well as individual permits issued by the USFS (permits are only required during the peak summer season). An analysis of use data for over a decade shows a variety of trends which have significant management implications. For example, cheaper kayaks have made it easier for people to kayak by using their own equipment instead of using a commercial livery. This raises issues about the current allocation of more permits for commercial companies instead of private individuals.

1. Management Implications Based on
Permit Data from Michigan’s
Pine River
C.B. Griffin, C. McGraw, and A. Rogers

2. PINE RIVER NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER

3. PINE RIVER NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER
• 26 of the 49 miles designated in 1992 as a
National Scenic River (USFS manages)
• Permits required May - September
– 6 commercial liveries and private use permits

4. PINE RIVER NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER
Photo: http://www.thepineriver.com/pine-river/gallery/paddling
7% gradient (big for Michigan)

5. MANAGEMENT PLAN
Establish a program to monitor recreational use
patterns, impacts, and visitor preferences:
• use patterns (activity participation, timing and
frequency, location, etc.)
• visitor characteristics (origin, group type and size,
first-time visitor, etc.)
• visitor perceptions (desired experience, preference
for management actions, conflicts or problems,
motives for visiting the Pine River, etc.)

6. MANAGEMENT PLAN
Commercial Permits
• 186 boats/day on weekdays
• 516 boats/day on weekends and holidays
Private Permits
• 60 boats/day on
weekdays
• 100 boats/day on
weekends

7. Private Group: Entry and Exit
Edgetts
45%
Elm
Flats
28%
Low
Bridge
85%
Elm
Flats
10%

8. PRIVATE
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2003 2006 2008 2010 2013
People
Total Boats

9. PRIVATE
• LENGTH OF TRIP
– 71% of the trips = 1 day, 19%=2 days
– Canoes permits are for slightly longer than kayaks

10. PRIVATE

11. PRIVATE
Exceed the limit on Memorial Day weekend

12. PRIVATE
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Mean Median Mode
Watercraft Group Size

13. PRIVATE

14. PRIVATE
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Weekday Weekend Holiday
NumberofPeople/Group
Mean
Median

15. COMMERCIAL VS. PRIVATE
-61% commercial
Significant difference in the average number of commercial
watercrafts (t=4.179, p<0.0001)
No significant difference for private watercraft (t= -0.821, p=0.412)

16. COMMERCIAL

17. COMMERCIAL VS. PRIVATE

18. COMMERCIAL VS. PRIVATE
More daily variability in the commercial use than private

19. DISCUSSION
MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA
• The Mgt. Plan may require data collection
• Data should drive management decisions
o FS hasn’t entered the data – (moving to on-line)
o Recommendation: If you can’t automate it, find a
university to do it

20. DISCUSSION
PERMITTING SYSTEM
• Commercial and private don’t collect the same
data (boat type, group size, etc.)
o Recommendation: Collect consistent information (more
is better)
o Recommendation: If you have addresses, you can also
do follow-up user surveys

21. DISCUSSION
USE LEVELS
– Use levels
• Big decline in commercial, small increase in private use
• Majority of boats are now kayaks (half the cost of a
canoe). There may be fewer overall people may having
the river experience given the prevalence of one
person kayaks (permits are number of boats, not
people).
•

22. DISCUSSION
– Occasionally the permit limits are met/exceeded –
Memorial Day weekend and Saturdays in July/Aug.
• By the time the FS knows the commercial permits have
been exceeded for commercial it is months later
• Recommendation: Enforcement should follow use
patterns on the river or at least entry/exit points
• Recommendation: Consider revising the allocation
(more private on Memorial Day weekend, less private
on weekends)

23. DISCUSSION
“Make reservations early. Saturdays in July and August fill up
months in advance. Consider a weekday trip for less money
and river traffic.” Shomler Canoes and Kayaks

24. CONCLUSION
• Use levels should be collected…..and analyzed
• Data can help guide management
(enforcement, education, etc.)
• Shift from canoe to kayak, means fewer
people/boat
• Shift from commercial to private
• Permits should be reallocated – sometimes
more private, sometimes more commercial