Department of the Interior: Yosemite Visitor Trail Use Study Grant

OVERVIEW

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) will collaborate on a public health activity to reduce unintentional fatal and non fatal injuries at high risk areas in Yosemite National Park.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The objective of this project is to jointly participate in an effort to gather data at Yosemite National Park that will assist the NPS to improve efforts to manage risk to park visitors in high risk areas.

The aims of this effort are to:

1. Describe patterns of trail departure near hazards in Yosemite National Park. Specifically, will measure the number of people who leave the official hiking trail at the Vernal Falls footbridge as well as other high risk areas. Will explore variations in this risk behavior (i.e., times of days, days of week).
2. Identify reasons that hikers leave the trail at a location that Yosemite Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel have identified as potentially dangerous. Will also explore the timing of their decision (i.e., spontaneous versus premeditated), as will the identity of the person who most influenced the party’s point of departure.
3. Assess trail transgressors’ reactions to possible alternatives to leaving the trail at that location.
4. Develop a survey instrument that can be used to quantify trail transgressors’ reasons for leaving the trail at the hazardous location, and gauge the appeal of possible preventive countermeasures.

The principal purpose of this research is to increase basic knowledge and understanding of visitor behavior at a high risk area in Yosemite National Park to develop a survey that could be administered in a follow-on investigation that would ultimately lead to an intervention trial. The goal of this body of work is to reduce the number of people who experience an injury at Yosemite National Park, or require professional rescue to avoid injury or death. In addition, this project will stimulate and support research to inform the field of risk management and injury prevention in outdoor and extreme environments.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Henry M. Jackson Foundation will:
1. Design an exploratory investigation of trail users that will lead to the design and development of a survey tool to assess the effectiveness of interventions to reduce visitor fatal and non fatal injuries in high risk areas of Yosemite National Park.
2. Provide supervision of research assistance to ensure that the study methods are adhered to and to ensure the project is undertaken in a safe manner.
3. Ensure transportation of researchers to and from the park and all other support for HJF researchers.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

National Park Service will:
1. Work with HJF in designing and implementing a study to understand visitor behavior around a high risk area in Yosemite National Park in order develop a survey that could be administered in a follow-on investigation that would ultimately lead to an intervention trial.
2. Provide logistical and facility support to HJF personnel. Participate with HJF in overall project management and monitoring, provide materials, transportation, and equipment as available and necessary to perform projects on lands managed by the Park.
3. Assign an appropriate NPS employee to monitor the ongoing work, to respond to questions about the nature and goals of the project, and act as an on-site liaison among the parties.
4. In conjunction with HJF, review and approve each phase of projects prior to the commencement of subsequent phases.
5. Complete HJF project-related forms in conjunction with project.

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives.