Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Red River Gorge: The Existence Of "Recreational Niches" And Their Management Implications, Sara E. Alexander, Billie R. Dewalt, Eugenie Scott

KWRRI Research Reports

Until the late 1960's, the Red River Gorge was just one of the more beautiful parts of the Daniel Boone National Forest. At this time, the Army Corps of Engineers proposed to dam the river for flood control, water supply, and recreation purposes. Intense opposition to the project generated considerable publicity and the Gorge area experienced substantial increases in visitation. The result has been not only severe environmental degradation but extensive overcrowding as well. These trends are presently overtaxing management capabilities of the United States Forest Service. The most pressing issue has come to be how to effectively manage this …