Visitation to national parks in California shows annual and seasonal change during extreme drought and wet years

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000260
• Publication Date: 2023-08-09T17:21:00Z
• Authors: Jeffrey S. Jenkins; John T. Abatzoglou; Emily J. Wilkins; Elizabeth E. Perry
• Keywords: Snowpack; Sequoia; Extreme Weather

This study examines the influence of drought indicators on recreational visitation patterns to National Park Service units in California (USA) from 1980 2019. We considered mountain, arid, and coastal park types across a climate gradient where seasonal opportunities are directly or indirectly dependent water resources. Significant departures normal hydroclimate, reflected by unusually wet conditions, can lead visitors change their behavior, including recreating at different time place. Drought conditions facilitate earlier access higher elevation parks, but displace other seasons parks. Wetter-than-average due snowpack flooding, also activities. found decrease annual popular mountain parks Yosemite (-8.6%) Sequoia Kings Canyon (-8.2%) during extreme years lower-than-average attendance peak summer fall months. Extreme had significantly reduced (-8.5%) Lassen Volcanic (-13.9%) declines spring use as restricts road access. For arid status did not have statistically significant effect visitation, although led less hottest months Death Valley, Pinnacles throughout year (-16.6%), possibly impacts infrastructure associated with flooding. units, year-round levels Redwood (+27.7%), which is typically wet, Channel Islands (-23.6%), relatively dry, while (+29.4%). Collectively, these results indicate varies depending geography activities offered.