Dr. Robert Keller, Assistant Professor, has received $15,000 from
the National Park Service for the second year of a two-year Climbing
Management Research Project. This project investigates the impact of
recreational activities on soil and plant life in local parks.

This project forms a partnership between UTC and the Chickamauga and
Chattanooga National Military Parks to determine the level of degradation
caused by climbing and hiking activities along the bluffs of Lookout
Mountain,
TN/GA.  Dr. Keller monitors 10 unmarked plots along the bluff areas that are
affected by hiking and climbing activities. These monitored plots will
provide
data about the damage done to biological communities around the bluffs and
will be used by the Park to determine whether recreational use limits and
fees need
to be established in these areas. Since there is no existing base of
scientific information for this study, this project provides critical
information to the Park about the impacts of use by recreational visitors.

Congratulations to Dr. Keller on being funded to conduct this research.  We
wish you luck with the continued success of this project.



Diane Miller
Director
Office of Grants and Program Review/Dept 4905
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN  37403
TELEPHONE:  423-755-4431
FAX:  423-755-4052
EMAIL:  [log in to unmask]
WEBSITE:  http://www.utc.edu/Grants-and-Research/