INTRODUCTION 



The adverse ecological effects of people on recreation sites have been well docu- 

 mented (Meinecke 1928; Lutz 1945; Dotzenko, Papamichas, and Romine 1967; Magil and Nord 

 1963; and Ripley 1962J . Improved design of sites and intensified cultural treatment 

 can probably do much to minimize their impacts. A recent study (Beards ley and Wagar, 

 in preparation) in Utah indicates relatively little loss of vegetation in a new camp- 

 ground after 4 years of fairly heavy use. This campground was designed to minimize 

 visitor impact on vegetation. However, improved design and reconstruction of facilities 

 alone might not be sufficient to allow natural revegetation on existing campgrounds. 

 Therefore, it is important to develop techniques for protecting camping sites from 

 further deterioration and to improve them whenever possible because most older and 

 presently deteriorated campgrounds are at choice locations in scenic areas. 



Successful upkeep of millions of home lawns, city parks, and golf courses using 

 grass seed, water, and fertilizer indicate that vegetation can be maintained despite 

 heavy use. Yet there is almost no published information that indicates grass or other 

 vegetation can be successfully reestablished in old, badly deteriorated campgrounds. 

 In Georgia, for example, Cordell and Talhelm (1969) reported that attempts to establish 

 grass by seeding an old campground failed even after giving the planted areas the "best 

 possible treatment for growth and survival." Although the seed germinated and a fairly 

 dense stand of grass seedlings developed during early spring, virtually no grass re- 

 mained on the test plots at the end of one full season of use by campers. 



Establishing grass in public campgrounds is complicated by visitor use during the 

 growing season. It is possible to close a campground while the new grass becomes estab- 

 lished, and every few years thereafter to insure its continued survival. But total 

 available campground capacity is limited. Closing one campground may simply shift the 

 use load to adjacent campgrounds and worsen the ecological impacts. The heavy demand 

 for recreation areas generally makes such closures prohibitive. 



This paper reports the satisfactory results achieved at Point Campground on the 

 Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho using improved design in association with seeding, 

 water, and fertilizer. Although design alternatives were not studied, the apparent 

 superiority of the layout of this reconstructed campground afforded favorable conditions 

 for testing various vegetation treatments. 



CAMPGROUND ENVIRONMENT 



Located on scenic Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, Point Camp- 

 ground had been used for over 30 years so that by 1965, vegetation on the site was 

 badly deteriorated. 



This campground's popularity was established early because of nearby salmon and 

 trout fishing opportunities, but early use was light. In 1936, the camp was expanded 

 and improved under the Civilian Conservation Corps program. More or less typical for 

 campgrounds of that day, it contained water hydrants, a pit-toilet, six elaborate stone 

 fireplaces, and a varying number of movable wooden picnic tables. 



Lodgepole pine {Pinus oontorta) was and still is the predominant tree cover for the 

 area; Douglas-fir {Pseudotsuga menziesii') and aspen (Populus tremuloides) are found 

 occasionally. The lodgepole pine overstory trees are approximately 100 years old and 

 have rather thin, small crowns. Dwarfmistletoe apparently infected the stand during its 

 early years and now affects virtually every tree. 



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