Spring 2014

The Living Room

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THE LIVING ROOM
ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT OF
WILD LANDS SPRING 2014
BY: CHASE ANDERSON

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Table of Contents
Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Project Overview: ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Key findings: ............................................................................................................................................. 4
General findings: ................................................................................................................................... 4
Conditions and quality of Experience: .................................................................................................. 4
Key Recommendations: ............................................................................................................................ 4
Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Physical Location and Size: ...................................................................................................................... 6
Management Agency and Ownership: ...................................................................................................... 6
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS): ................................................................................................ 6
General Population, Frequency, and Use: ................................................................................................. 7
Key Stakeholders: ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Site Infrastructure: .................................................................................................................................... 7
Access to Site: ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Fees: .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
History: ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Selection Justification: .............................................................................................................................. 8
Special Considerations: ............................................................................................................................. 8
Inventory of Resources and Impacts ........................................................................................... 9
Soil Inventory- .......................................................................................................................................... 9
Vegetation Inventory- ............................................................................................................................. 10
Wild life Inventory- ................................................................................................................................ 12
Water Inventory- ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Night Sky Inventory- .............................................................................................................................. 13
Soundscape Inventory- ............................................................................................................................ 14
Crowding Inventory- ............................................................................................................................... 15
Facilities Inventory- ................................................................................................................................ 15
Specific Impacts- .................................................................................................................................... 17
Summary of Conditions- ......................................................................................................................... 17
Recommended Management Actions ........................................................................................ 17
Misalignment Between Goals, Indicators, and Conditions: .................................................................... 17
Prioritized List of Impacts: ..................................................................................................................... 17
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Recommended Management Strategies and Techniques: ....................................................................... 18
Extensive Network of Social trails ..................................................................................................... 18
Frequency of Dog Use....................................................................................................................... 18
Depreciative Behavior ........................................................................................................................ 19
Work Cited .................................................................................................................................. 20





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Summary
Project Overview:
This research project was conducted to observe the conditions for the main route that lead
up to the popular hiking trail called The Living Room. Reviewing the overall environmental
impacts in the area, and recommending management strategies that may better facilitate
recreational experiences. This study was conducted from March through April 2014. During this
time I observed, surveyed and studied the area. From this research I gathered information
specific to the hike that lead to these findings.
Key Findings:
General Findings:
An abundance of social trails that make the main trail hard to find. No signs are available
to point to where the living room is located. This confusion creates bigger impact zones
increasing damage to the environment.
Being owned by the University there are some signs of management but most of these
signs are broken or have graffiti.
Frequently visited by white adults ageing 20-50 years old
Popularity and ease of access leads to 22 visitors a day.
The three most prominent activities in the area, hiking, biking, and trail running.
Conditions and Quality of Experience:
Majority of the people never make it to the Living Room because the trail is confusing
and hard to find.
Dogs are contributing directly to water contamination, erosion, wildlife displacement,
and trampling of natural surfaces.
Depreciative behavior such as leaving behind plastic bags, and dog waste. Also taking
away from the experience is graffiti, broken signs, and window glass in the parking area
create an uneasy experience and displacement for recreationalists.
Key Recommendations:
Increase the number of signs stating intersections of specific trails making them easier to
find.
Harden some surfaces of the trail where water gets trapped making muddy trails. This
will decrease the number of social trails.
Have information available to reduce the direct impact dogs have on the area. Clearly
stating rules and regulations. Also creating spatial zoning for the area by designating off
leash, on leash, and no dog areas.

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Figure 1: Red line indicates the main trail for the living room hike.
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Overview
Physical Location and Size:
The Living Room is located in the foothills along the Wasatch front, sitting next to the
Utah Natural History Museum at the geographical location of N.40.45.556-W.111.49.281. This
short two mile hike has become a popular destination for local hikers in the Salt Lake City area.
This trail has a round trip estimated about two hours and an elevation gain close to 1,010 feet.
Along the trail are amazing fall leaf displays of maple and scrub oaks and many kinds of wild
flowers in the summer. At the destination, erosion has created piles of smooth, flat sandstone
rocks that people have arranged into chairs, love seats, sofas and coffee tables all having a great
overlook of the Salt Lake valley.

Management Agency and Ownership:
The University of Utah has the most say in the management of the area, but with the
assistance of Utah Open Lands helped preserved over 436 acres. This undeveloped land
bordering the eastern edge of the University of Utah and Research Park area. These acres created
a diffusion of responsibility with the Utah Natural History Museum and the Red Butte Gardens.
Under the agreement with Utah Open Lands, the University of Utah and the general public will
have access to the Heritage Preserve for hiking, non-motorized biking, photography, and nature
study.

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS): Provides a framework for defining classes for outdoor
recreation environment, activities, and experience opportunities. This ranges in six different
classes; Primitive, Back Country, Middle Country, Front Country, Rural, and Urban.
Physical factors align in the ROS setting with a Rural Setting: This Includes being at the
east edge of Salt Lake City connecting it with many roads that lead to major highways. As a
natural preserve you see some modifications to the environments with both natural and manmade
structures. The amount of developed facilities puts the living room trail head in the middle
country class because of its lack of toilets, tables, campsites. Only at the trail head they have
garbage cans, bags for dog waste, and occasional signs along the trail.
Social factors align this ROS setting with Rural and Urban Classes. This includes having
high degree of contact with other people at the trail head, on the main trail, and at the view point
itself. At the peak times (weekends from 1pm-7pm) the trailhead can receive up to 22 people per
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hour, having high evidence of other users, you can see human alteration of the trail system like
many social trails which make finding the main trail more complicated to find. Lots of graffiti
and broken signs with occasional litter on the path can be seen. Most prominent type of litter is
the black plastic dog waste bags that people leave behind. Braded trails, trail erosion and
damaged vegetation can all be seen from the trail.
Managerial factors align this ROS setting with Backcountry and Middle country. This
includes a subtle visitor management control plan with limited to no information and facilities.
The land management practices fit into the middle country class which makes land management
subtle but still easy to see. Motorized vehicles are not permitted making the main trail access by
bike or by foot aligning it with the backcountry class. The trail head has information about the
importance about staying on the trail and cleaning up after your dog. A few steps into the trail
you can see a sign that say no camping and no fires. Later on by the Bonneville Shoreline Trail
are broken beams with cracked metal plaques saying to stay on the trail.
General Population, Frequency, and Use: This trail has a majority of the population being fairly
well educated, affluent, and in good physical shape. This area also lacks ethnic diversity and
surprisingly not many students, even
though the University of Utah has
management responsibilities for this
area. This trail also serves as a
destination trail for users who are
displaced due to the watershed rules
and regulations of Big and Little
Cottonwood Canyons. Not protected
by watershed regulations the living
room hike shows prominence in canine
activities. The peak times for the
frequency of use ranges from 12:00pm to 5:00pm having studies showing the trail head receiving
approximately 22 visitors in one hour. It is likely to have these visitors pass by the trail counter
and head north or south on the Bonneville Shore Line Trail.
Key Stakeholders: Key stake holders for this site are held by the University of Utah with land
management assistance for Utah Open Lands. Parts of the preserve also includes management by
the Utah Natural History Museum and the Red Butte Gardens.
Site Infrastructure: The infrastructure for this site is limited, but some of the more dominant
features are run off boards that can be found along the trail. At the trail head you can see signs
with dog bags boxes. As well the continual rebuilding of stone furniture at the viewpoint
Figure 2: Cool Siberian husky (his name was Tuff)
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Access to Site: The easiest way to get to the trail head is by taking foothill drive toward the
University of Utah. Turning right on Wakara way and then right onto Colorow drive. This is the
road right before the entrance to the Utah Natural History Museum and Red Butte Garden. On
this road you will see the trail head sign approximately .2 miles on the left side of Colorow drive.
Plenty of parking can be found on the side of the street.
Fees: No fees are required to access the
living room trail head which makes this
an ideal spot for access
History: In the most recent history The
University of Utah received a grant
funding $73,000 for Restoration and
management planning. This included
priorities on trial systems and ecological
restoration, monitoring and providing
education and research. The area
consists of 436 acres of undeveloped
land east of the University of Utah,
Research Park, and the Red Butte
Canyon Research Natural Area.

Selection Justification: Having hiked this trail many times to get out of the city to reflect and
relax I have seen the impact over the years. In selecting I focused on ease of access, popularity,
ecological impacts, its many social trails, and for having some management practices in already
in place. This site was also selected because of its multiple uses like hiking, trail running, biking,
and dog walking.
Special Considerations: This site is open all year around it is great for snowshoeing in the winter
and night hikes with flashlights are often used. This is also a popular spot for visitors on the 4
th

of July and the 24
th
where you can view fireworks from the whole valley.



Figure 3: Main sign at the trailhead
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Inventory of Resources and Impacts
Soil Inventory-
The classification of soil around the living room hike is loams, having a consistency of
sand, clay, and silt partials. Along the trail you can see very organic soil that has a high porosity.
This high porosity makes the soil retention for
both water and air very high. Also creating an
ideal spot for most types of plants and vegetation.
The bulk density in the area starts off as a high on
the lower parts of the trail and a lower bulk
density closer to the top. The view point being
rockier and having less vegetation, altogether
making very diverse soil conditions. At the
beginning of the trail on the side you can see a
good layer of leaf cover and digging down you
find the presence of worms and other types of
bugs, making the organic layer very healthy and active. The thickness and flexibility of the
plants make the soil less traveled also having a gradual slope makes this spot ideal for combating
erosion. The closer you get to the top the more erosion occurs due to increased slope and less
vegetation to hold the soil in place.
Table 1: Characteristics for the Trail head
Soil Property Characterization
Texture Medium
Stoniness Moderate
Organic Context Moderate
Soil Moisture High
Fertility High
Soil Depth Deep


Table 2: Characteristics for the view point
Soil Property Characterization
Texture Coarse
Stoniness High
Organic Context Low
Soil Moisture Moderate
Fertility Low
Soil Depth Shallow
Figure 4: Rock slide creating erosion for the steep slope
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Vegetation Inventory-
The three main vegetation species at the living room trail, are Gamble Oak, Brittle Cone
Pine, and Sagebrush. The Gamble Oak has a high resistance and resilience because of its long
woody, flexible branches, which keep people from walking through. The Brittle Cone Pine is
sparse along the trail but you can see a couple in the distance. These are very resistant but not
resilience taking a long time to grow back but its a tough tree because of the higher elevation it
has adapted to harsher environments. Sagebrush is most scattered throughout the trail. The
resistance and resilience is very high do to its high durability and fast growth rate.


Figure 5: Social trail created to avoid muddy main trail Figure 6: Tree root exposer from erosion
Figure 7: Sagebrush Figure 8: Gamble Oak
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Disturbance zones- Because of no camping in the area the trails are the main impact zone.
With so many social trails the impact zone is greatly increased also making the inter-site more
abundant then it sound be. The buffer zone is along the trail when you see patches of Gamble
Oak, running along the trail displacing people from making new trails. As you increase in
elevation you see less of a buffer zone. This makes it so its easy to traverse over the terrain with
less trouble not running into any obnoxious vegetation.






68%
9%
23%
Vegitation Strata Percentages
Shrubs
Mature Trees
Ground Cover
Table 3:
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Wild Life Inventory-
Presence: One of the main dangers of the living room hike is the presence of rattlesnakes.
The only warning of this is a little sticker that is easily unnoticed. Lizards can be seen scurrying
along the trail. Small birds are at the beginning of the trail where the vegetation is thicker. At the
view point you see larger scavenger birds like hawks or ravens. The occasional deer can be
spotted but because of the popularity of the area most animals tend to stay away.



Habitat Suitability: The heritage preserve offers a great habitat for and abundance of
wildlife including small birds, hawks, squirrels, mice and other rodents. Bigger animals are
known to be seen in the area such as deer, coyotes, raccoons, and cougars.

Figure 9: Small Sticker is the only warning for rattle snakes (easy to miss)
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Water Inventory-
The presence of water on the living room trail is mainly seen at the beginning with one
small stream. During the hot summer months the stream is dried up leaving the surrounding area
with no presence of water. Snow run-off and the rainy season can see a presence of water build
up on the trails.

This creates sections of muddy spots with social trails avoiding them. Spring time is when the
stream has the most abundant, creating stagnant pools along the trail. These pools are great for
dogs to jump in after a long day hike, indicating suspicion of high coliform bacteria levels. Even
though the majority of dog owners pick up there dogs waste there still remains reason to believe
that water is contaminated through snowmelt and other creatures in the area. The water clarity or,
turbidity, includes floating materials such as soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton,
microbes, and other substances. Turbidity tests concluded the water clean and clear because of
the gradual trickle not forceful enough to pick up particles. This stream, when running, is healthy
due to the presence of different insect life.

Night Sky Inventory-
Presence and Conditions of Night Sky: The Living Room has a great view of Salt Lake
valley lights which makes this spot even less ideal for stargazers. On the Bortle Scale limits the
viewing experience to a 7 which is categorized as Suburban/Urban (See Figure 12). The effect on
the recreationalists in this area is low. If they wanted a pristine night sky experience they would
drive away from the city. Many peoples motivation for this location is to see the view of the
valley below not the stars in the sky. If they wanted to see the night sky the Living Room hike
might be one of the last places they would decide to go.
Figure 10: Water crossing the trail.
Figure 11: Dog bag left behind
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Soundscape Inventory-
Conditions and Presence: The soundscape of the living room is characterized by the quite
hum of the city. You can hear distant cars and sometime sirens, fire trucks, and other emergency
vehicles. The occasional helicopter or airplane peaks the anthropogenic noise. When you look
past these things you can pick out the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves.
Durability: The soundscape at the living room is very fragile; a loud group of
recreationalists or dog barking in the distance can disrupted the natural noise in the area. Since
its so close to the city, getting a good nature experience is not a high priority. The constant noise
takes away from the natural sounds but every now and then you do find the presence of nature.

Figure 12: Different levels on the Bortle Scale
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Crowding Inventory-
Unique to this area because of its continence and relatively easy hike. The chances for
running into lots of people are really high. Because of the social norms of the area people expect
to run into others and do not feel as crowded as they would in a wilderness area. The biggest
problem with crowding is at the view point. During peak hours you might have to wait for a seat
to open up. This causes displacement and people wander to find a good spot to sit, creating more
of an impact to the area. Because of the rocks in the area it has a high resistance making the area
great for lots of visitors and creating little impact to the area.

Facilities Inventory-
Not many facilities are located at this site but you do see some presence of management,
such as a single garbage can at trail head, bags for dog waste, signs, and the occasional water
bars across the trail.
Trail Head/Parking- This area has the presence of signs which designate the trails starting
point also displaying some rules and regulations. The parking area has been known to have cars
broken into seeing glass pieces scattered across the parking lot. Along the sign is a green garbage
can for disposal of dog waste and other trash if needed.



Figure 13: The only garbage can in the area Figure 14: One more trailhead sign after the main one
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Trail condition- At the beginning of the trail you can see heavy usage because of very
compacted soil compared to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail which has good mixture of large and
small rocks making it very durable. Once you reach the Shoreline Trail it starts to get confusion
because of all the social trail and the many damaged signs. Once you find the right trail to go up
you start to see water bars. This turns into a shaded area with thick brush on the side of the trail.
Trapped water in shaded areas gets pooled leaving the condition of the trail very muddy, creating
more social trail impacts. At the halfway point you get your first good view of the valley and the
trail condition improves greatly. You do see gully erosion here due to the steep slope and less
vegetation.
.



Figure 15: Water bar on the trail
Figure 16: Compacted Social trail at the beginning
Figure 17: Starting of a social trail.
Figure 18: Rock and gravel trail close to the view point
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Specific Impacts- These indicators tell us about the impacts that are abundant in the area by
observing how each of these works together we can put together management strategies and
techniques to solve the problems. Some of the major impacts from this list of indicators are, the
extensive use of social trails impacting directly to soil and vegetation. The impact from people
getting lost can relate to the inventory of facilities. The more accessible the facilities are means
that people will be more likely to be persuaded of their wrong behaviors. Inventory of water,
wildlife, soundscape can parallel with the dog usage in the area.

Summary of Conditions-
Prioritized list of impacts:
1. An abundance of social trail networks contribute to the confusion of where the actual
hiking trail should be.
2. No signs or any information to tell where the viewpoint is located
3. Depreciative behavior including graffiti, litter, broken signs.
4. Dogs increase bacteria to the water supply also harass the wildlife, increase social trail
use and erosion
Recommended Management Actions
Misalignment between Goals, Indicators, and Conditions-
The University of Utah Heritage Preserve proposed a plan that encompassed trails, acres
and open space above the University. The plan was put in place to ensure the longevity of the
area, and mitigate specific areas that are negatively impacted. Before a large amount of trail in
the area were unmaintained and had severe erosion issues. Using limited resources this
management plan proposed specific standards to improve the trail system making possible for
future enjoyment. Although this plan was put to use in 2004 you can see that the area needs to be
re-evaluated. Continual up keep is in misalignment with its goal for future preservation. You can
see that through the lack of management and diffusion of responsibility. This area needs to have
a more continual plan not just a one-time remodel.

Prioritized List of Impacts-
1. No signs depicting where the living room is creating extensive network of social trails.
2. The frequency of dogs use in the area.
3. Depreciative behavior including graffiti, litter and vandalism

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Recommended Management Strategies and Techniques-
This following section offers recommendation through management strategies and techniques for
the above prioritized list of impacts:
Extensive Network of Social Trails
Management Strategy: Increase Supply, Increase durability, Limit use
Management Technique: Enhance visitor knowledge, Rules and regulations, Law enforcement,

Information and education is key in the amount of social trials. By clearly designating
trails with signs and information about the sites protection can greatly influence the
recreationalists behavior. Signs can be placed at the trail head with a map of different
trails and specific preservation areas. At big intersections, like the Bonneville shoreline
trail it would be a good place signs that say living room this way. With this information
the rules and regulations can help visitors know of the impact they are creating.
Hardening the facilities and primary trail can also greatly influence behavior. Placing
rocks, thorny plants or directional markers at entry of social trails can disperse users. You
can also use natural resources to increase durability and resistance, like placing deadfall
and other items along the trail cutting off excessive paths. Developing the site
Along with the education you can create a more direct approach and have law
enforcement directing visitors on peak times. Giving warnings or tickets can greatly
influence peoples understand the importance of the area. Having signs and fliers stating
where areas should not have trails. This would only work if the trails are clearly marked
because you might have a problem with people who have bonded to the area and have
always used it.



Frequency of Dog Use
Management strategy: Increase supply, Increase durability, Limit use
Management technique: Information and education, Rules and regulations, Law enforcement,
Zoning, Develop facilities.
Information and education can help dog users decrease the amount of impact they have
on the area. Letting people know how their pets can cause impacts on social trails,
wildlife, and water. Many people dont know that they cause these impacts to this
specific area. Signs along the trailhead can give information about natural resource
restoration needs and the purposed management techniques that you are trying to put in
place. Education is an indirect way to persuade users to abide by the proposed rules and
regulations. Doing this will greatly influence the dog users behavior and create a healthy
recreational site.
Zoning can also have a great use in creating a healthy recreational site. You can create
area in the preservation where dogs are allowed to be off leash, on leash or no dogs
allowed. In doing this managers have more control in handling peoples perception of
limits of acceptable change. The off leash area you will see a continual degrade of trail
conditions whereas on leash areas and no dogs allowed will be able to have a more
pristine user experience. Also some areas of the trail are more sensitive than other areas.
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Choosing these sensitive areas can help in the goal of future enjoyment. Another aspect
of zoning could be having specific day that dogs are allowed on the trail. Just having
dogs on weekdays or every other day would greatly reduce the impacts they create
greatly.
Law enforcement could be a usable technique but should be a last resort. Taking the rules
and regulations a step further by putting fines for dogs that are not on leash. Making these
policies known at the trail head and also displaying the types of areas that are restricted.
Having different management take responsibility for handing out information and
regulating the trails giving citations if needed.

Depreciative behavior
Management strategy: Increase supply, Increase durability, Limit use
Management technique: Information and education, Rules and regulations, law enforcement,
develop facilities/site.
Increasing the facilities and developing designated areas would help with depreciative
behavior. One example would be to create nodes at crossroads with signs and trash
receptacles reducing the amount of litter on the trail.
Increasing the amount and frequency of law enforcement would displace people from
vandalizing signs and vehicles. This in turn would create a safe recreational experience
the sole presence of uniforms would chase out anyone thinking of breaking the law.
Establishing clear rules and regulations through the use of signs in multiple places along
the trail. These can notify of fines and certain behaviors that are specific to the area.
Making sure these signs are not contradiction each other is very important. Putting site
security numbers on the signs would make catching perpetrators easier.
Information and education would be a good way to let people know about the area. The
University of Utah could team up with the Utah National History Museum or Red Butte
Gardens to do guided hikes, or even historical tours from the view point along the trail.
Also developing a specific web site for the living room hike, telling those who are
interested about the right trails to use and telling what impacts are causing the damage in
the area.


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Work Cited

Utah Open lands. (2002, January 1). University of Utah heritage preserve. Retrieved
January 1, 2014, from
http://www.utahopenlands.org/Gallery/University%20of%20Utah.html
Hammitt, W., & Cole D. (1998). Wildland recreation: Ecology and Management. (2
nd
ed.,
p.57). New York City: John Wiley &sons, Inc.
Google Maps. (2014). Google Maps. Retrieved , from https://www.google.com/maps
Heritage preserve management plan. (2006.) Retrieved , from
http://vodaplan.com/2007/05/university-of-utah-heritage-preserve-master-plan-salt-lake-
city-ut/
Borwnlee, M., & Gochenaur, R. (2013). Management of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Section. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, University of Utah.
Red Butte Garden/University of Utahs Heritage Preserve. (2010.) Retrieved, from
http://planning.utah.gov/LRM%20one%20page/redRed Butte Garden/University of
Utahs Heritage Preserve. (2010)
All photos were taken by Chase Anderson with exception of cover page and the google
map.