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37 publications written by Wood, Spencer A.

Applying Novel Visitation Models using Diverse Social Media to Understand Recreation Change after Wildfire and Site Closure

2022 / Social media, Wildfires

Figure 1. Location of study sites in the Columbia River Gorge, USA. The area burned in the Eagle Creek Fire is shown in red. Sites are numbered from west to east. Names and closure and reopening dates are in Table S1. The purple star on the reference map shows the location of the study area in the USA. The Columbia River forms the border between Washington (to the north) and Oregon (to the south) in this region. Natural disturbances such as wildfires are increasing in severity and frequency. Although the ecological impacts of disturbance are well documented, we have limited understanding of how disturbances and associated management responses influence recreation use patterns. This reflects, in part, difficulty in quantifying recreation use across different land ownerships with inconsistent, or non-existent, recreation monitoring practices. In this study, we use visitation models based on social media to examine how recreation use changed after a wildfire and site closures in a large, mixed-ownership landscape. We find that wildfire and associated closures resulted in visitation loss to the recreation system as a whole and little site-to-site displacement within the system in the two years following the wildfire. Our study highlights the importance, when considering how wildfire and management may alter recreation use patterns, of considering the many factors that influence substitution behavior, including the relative locations of visitor origins, disturbances, and substitute sites.

Monitoring Recreation on Federally Managed Lands and Waters—Visitation Estimation

2025 / Public land

Federally managed public lands and waters attract millions of visitors each year, generating significant economic benefits for surrounding communities. Accurate visitation data are crucial for guiding policy decisions and managing resources effectively. This report explores the methods employed by agencies to collect and use data on recreational visitation to Federal lands and waters. Visitation estimation practices across seven agencies are reviewed, revealing similarities such as the use of automated counters for on-site data collection, alongside differences in reporting frequencies, visit definitions, and public access to data. Emerging technologies, including social media, mobile device activity, and community science, are also evaluated for their potential to improve visitation estimation. Although these technologies offer promising opportunities, they come with challenges such as data biases, the need for calibration, costs, and privacy concerns. The report concludes with opportunities to enhance data collection, coordination, and accessibility, ensuring more efficient resource management and informed decision making. Related Media How Busy are National Parks and other Public Lands? Researchers Hone Methods for Estimating Visitation (June 2025)