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Jeffrey Marion, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor
  • B.A., Wittenberg University, 1979 
  • M.S., University of Minnesota, 1982 
  • Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1984

Academic Interests - Recreation ecology:  research and monitoring to evaluate environmental impacts resulting from recreational activity in protected natural areas.  Research to: 1) identify, measure, and manage recreation resource impacts, 2) model and understand the influence of use-related, environmental, and managerial factors, 3) evaluate the efficacy of educational, site management and, regulatory actions designed to avoid or minimize recreation impacts, and 4) support and improve carrying capacity planning and decision-making.

Jeff's American Wilderness Anniversary

  • Misra, Shalini, Abdelgawad, Norhan, Wernstedt, Kris, Saaty, Morva, Patel, Jaitun, Marion, Jeffrey L., McCrickard, Scott. 2024. Toward a Management Framework for Smart and Sustainable Resource Management: The Case of the Appalachian Trail. J. of Environmental Management 372: 123422.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123422.
  • Marion, J.L., & E.J. Wilkins. 2024. Trail Sustainability Broadly Defined. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 47: 100805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2024.100805
  • Park, Logan O., Jeffrey L. Marion, & Jeremy Wimpey. 2023. Efficacy of Combining Education and Site Management in Reducing Off-Trail Travel in a Fragile Biotic Community, Acadia National Park. J. of Interpretation Research 28(1): 25-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/10925872221133774
  • Marion, J.L. 2023. Trail sustainability: A state-of-knowledge review of trail impacts, influential factors, sustainability ratings, and planning and management guidance. Journal of Environmental Management 340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117868.
  • Marion, J.L., Wimpey, J., Arredondo, J., and Meadema, F. 2023. Improving the Sustainability of Camping Management on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Final Report to the USDA Forest Service, Pacific SW Region, Vallejo, CA and the Pacific Crest Trail Association, Sacramento, CA. 
  • Marion, J.L., Wimpey, J., Arredondo, J., and Meadema, F. 2022. Assessing the Condition and Sustainability of the Trail System at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Final Report to the Nature Conservancy, Kansas Flint Hills Office, and DOI National Park Service, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Strong City, KS.
  • Dolman, Megan R., & Jeffrey L. Marion. 2022. Invasive Plant Hitchhikers: Appalachian Trail thru-hiker knowledge and attitudes of invasive plants and Leave No Trace practices. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 40: 100581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2022.100581.
  • Wimpey, Jeremy, Jeffrey L. Marion, Johanna Arredondo, Fletcher Meadema. 2022. Research to Monitor Backcountry Campsite Conditions at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Final Research Report. National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Page, AZ.
  • Saaty, M., J.V. Patel, N. Abdelgawad, D.S. McCrickard, J. Marion, S. Misra, & K. Wernstedt. 2022. Studying Sustainable Practices of Appalachian Trail Community based on Reddit Topic Modelling Analysis. Compasshttps://doi.org/10.1145/3530190.3534848
  • Arredondo, Johanna, Jeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy Wimpey, & Fletcher Meadema. 2021. Modeling areal measures of campsite impacts on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to enhance ecological sustainability. Journal of Environmental Management  279 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111693.  
  • Meadema, Fletcher, Jeffrey L. Marion, Johanna Arredondo & Jeremy Wimpey.  (2020). The Influence of Layout on Appalachian Trail Soil Loss, Widening, and Muddiness: Implications for Sustainable Trail Design and Management. Journal of Environmental Management 257 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109986
  • Settina, Nita, Jeffrey L. Marion, & Forrest Schwartz. 2020. Leave No Trace Communication: Effectiveness Based on Assessments of Resource Conditions. Journal of Interpretation Research 25(1): 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1092587220963523  
  • Eagleston, Holly, and Jeffrey L. Marion.  2020. Application of airborne LiDAR and GIS in modeling trail erosion along the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, USA. Landscape & Urban Planning 198 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103765  
  • Marion, J.L., Wimpey, J., Arredondo, J., and Meadema, F. 2020. Improving the Sustainability of the Appalachian Trail: Trail and Recreation Site Conditions and Management. Final Report to the DOI National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Park Office and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Harpers Ferry, WV. 137 p.  
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., Jeremy Wimpey, Johanna Arredondo, and Fletcher Meadema. 2020. Sustainable Camping “Best Management Practices.” Final Report to the DOI National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Park Office and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Harpers Ferry, WV. 59 p.  
  • Taff, Derrick, Wimpey, Jeremy, Marion, Jeffrey L., Arredondo, Johanna, Meadema, Fletcher, Schwartz, Forrest,  Lawhon, Ben, and Dems, Cody. 2019. Informing planning and management through visitor experiences in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. International Journal of Wilderness 25(2): 44-56. 
  • Marion, Jeffrey L. 2019. Recreational Impacts to Wildlife:  Managing Visitors and Resources to Protect Wildlife.  Interagency Visitor Use Management Council Contributing Paper, Edition One. https://visitorusemanagement.nps.gov/Content/documents/Contributing%20Paper_Impacts%20to%20Wildlife_Visitor%20Capacity_Edition%201.pdf  
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., Johanna Arredondo, Jeremy Wimpey, & Fletcher Meadema. 2018. Applying Recreation Ecology Science to Sustainably Manage Camping Impacts: A Classification of Camping Management Strategies. International Journal of Wilderness 24(2): 84-100.
  • Peterson, Brian A., Matthew T.J. Brownlee, & Jeffrey L. Marion. 2018. Mapping the relationships between trail conditions and experiential elements of long-distance hiking.  Landscape and Urban Planning 180: 60-75.
  • Hockett, Karen, Jeffrey L. Marion, & Yu-Fai Leung. 2017. The Efficacy of Combined Educational and Site Management Actions in Reducing Off-trail Hiking in an Urban-Proximate Protected Area.  J. of Environmental Mgmt. 203: 17-28. 
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., & Jeremy Wimpey. 2017. Assessing the influence of sustainable trail design and maintenance on soil loss.  J. of Environmental Mgmt. 189: 46-57.
  • Eagleston, Holly, and Jeffrey L. Marion.  2017. Sustainable campsite management in protected areas: A study of long-term ecological changes on campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota, USA.  J. for Nature Conservation 37: 73-82.
  • Marion, Jeffrey L. 2016. A Review and synthesis of recreation ecology research supporting carrying capacity and visitor use management decision-making. J. of Forestry 114(3): 339-351.
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., Yu-Fai Leung, Holly Eagleston, & Kaitlin Burroughs. 2016. A review and synthesis of recreation ecology research findings on visitor impacts to wilderness and protected natural areas. J. of Forestry 114(3): 352-362.
  • Marion, Jeffrey.  2014. Leave No Trace in the Outdoors.  Stackpole Books.  

  • Misra, Shalini, Abdelgawad, Norhan, Wernstedt, Kris, Saaty, Morva, Patel, Jaitun, Marion, Jeffrey L., McCrickard, Scott. 2024. Toward a Management Framework for Smart and Sustainable Resource Management: The Case of the Appalachian Trail. J. of Environmental Management 372: 123422.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123422.
  • Marion, J.L., & E.J. Wilkins. 2024. Trail Sustainability Broadly Defined. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 47: 100805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2024.100805
  • Park, Logan O., Jeffrey L. Marion, & Jeremy Wimpey. 2023. Efficacy of Combining Education and Site Management in Reducing Off-Trail Travel in a Fragile Biotic Community, Acadia National Park. J. of Interpretation Research 28(1): 25-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/10925872221133774
  • Marion, J.L. 2023. Trail sustainability: A state-of-knowledge review of trail impacts, influential factors, sustainability ratings, and planning and management guidance. Journal of Environmental Management 340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117868.
  • Marion, J.L., Wimpey, J., Arredondo, J., and Meadema, F. 2023. Improving the Sustainability of Camping Management on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Final Report to the USDA Forest Service, Pacific SW Region, Vallejo, CA and the Pacific Crest Trail Association, Sacramento, CA. 
  • Marion, J.L., Wimpey, J., Arredondo, J., and Meadema, F. 2022. Assessing the Condition and Sustainability of the Trail System at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Final Report to the Nature Conservancy, Kansas Flint Hills Office, and DOI National Park Service, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Strong City, KS.
  • Dolman, Megan R., & Jeffrey L. Marion. 2022. Invasive Plant Hitchhikers: Appalachian Trail thru-hiker knowledge and attitudes of invasive plants and Leave No Trace practices. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 40: 100581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2022.100581.
  • Wimpey, Jeremy, Jeffrey L. Marion, Johanna Arredondo, Fletcher Meadema. 2022. Research to Monitor Backcountry Campsite Conditions at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Final Research Report. National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Page, AZ.
  • Saaty, M., J.V. Patel, N. Abdelgawad, D.S. McCrickard, J. Marion, S. Misra, & K. Wernstedt. 2022. Studying Sustainable Practices of Appalachian Trail Community based on Reddit Topic Modelling Analysis. Compasshttps://doi.org/10.1145/3530190.3534848
  • Arredondo, Johanna, Jeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy Wimpey, & Fletcher Meadema. 2021. Modeling areal measures of campsite impacts on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to enhance ecological sustainability. Journal of Environmental Management  279 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111693.  
  • Meadema, Fletcher, Jeffrey L. Marion, Johanna Arredondo & Jeremy Wimpey.  (2020). The Influence of Layout on Appalachian Trail Soil Loss, Widening, and Muddiness: Implications for Sustainable Trail Design and Management. Journal of Environmental Management 257 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109986
  • Settina, Nita, Jeffrey L. Marion, & Forrest Schwartz. 2020. Leave No Trace Communication: Effectiveness Based on Assessments of Resource Conditions. Journal of Interpretation Research 25(1): 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1092587220963523  
  • Eagleston, Holly, and Jeffrey L. Marion.  2020. Application of airborne LiDAR and GIS in modeling trail erosion along the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, USA. Landscape & Urban Planning 198 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103765  
  • Marion, J.L., Wimpey, J., Arredondo, J., and Meadema, F. 2020. Improving the Sustainability of the Appalachian Trail: Trail and Recreation Site Conditions and Management. Final Report to the DOI National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Park Office and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Harpers Ferry, WV. 137 p.  
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., Jeremy Wimpey, Johanna Arredondo, and Fletcher Meadema. 2020. Sustainable Camping “Best Management Practices.” Final Report to the DOI National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Park Office and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Harpers Ferry, WV. 59 p.  
  • Taff, Derrick, Wimpey, Jeremy, Marion, Jeffrey L., Arredondo, Johanna, Meadema, Fletcher, Schwartz, Forrest,  Lawhon, Ben, and Dems, Cody. 2019. Informing planning and management through visitor experiences in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. International Journal of Wilderness 25(2): 44-56. 
  • Marion, Jeffrey L. 2019. Recreational Impacts to Wildlife:  Managing Visitors and Resources to Protect Wildlife.  Interagency Visitor Use Management Council Contributing Paper, Edition One. https://visitorusemanagement.nps.gov/Content/documents/Contributing%20Paper_Impacts%20to%20Wildlife_Visitor%20Capacity_Edition%201.pdf  
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., Johanna Arredondo, Jeremy Wimpey, & Fletcher Meadema. 2018. Applying Recreation Ecology Science to Sustainably Manage Camping Impacts: A Classification of Camping Management Strategies. International Journal of Wilderness 24(2): 84-100.
  • Peterson, Brian A., Matthew T.J. Brownlee, & Jeffrey L. Marion. 2018. Mapping the relationships between trail conditions and experiential elements of long-distance hiking.  Landscape and Urban Planning 180: 60-75.
  • Hockett, Karen, Jeffrey L. Marion, & Yu-Fai Leung. 2017. The Efficacy of Combined Educational and Site Management Actions in Reducing Off-trail Hiking in an Urban-Proximate Protected Area.  J. of Environmental Mgmt. 203: 17-28. 
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., & Jeremy Wimpey. 2017. Assessing the influence of sustainable trail design and maintenance on soil loss.  J. of Environmental Mgmt. 189: 46-57.
  • Eagleston, Holly, and Jeffrey L. Marion.  2017. Sustainable campsite management in protected areas: A study of long-term ecological changes on campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota, USA.  J. for Nature Conservation 37: 73-82.
  • Marion, Jeffrey L. 2016. A Review and synthesis of recreation ecology research supporting carrying capacity and visitor use management decision-making. J. of Forestry 114(3): 339-351.
  • Marion, Jeffrey L., Yu-Fai Leung, Holly Eagleston, & Kaitlin Burroughs. 2016. A review and synthesis of recreation ecology research findings on visitor impacts to wilderness and protected natural areas. J. of Forestry 114(3): 352-362.
  • Marion, Jeffrey.  2014. Leave No Trace in the Outdoors.  Stackpole Books.