Outdoor Recreation Study: Counter Calibration and Visitor Assessment Report

Understanding the timing and location of visits to coastal and marine recreational areas is crucial for effective natural resource management and improving visitor experiences. To this end, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) deployed vehicle and pedestrian counters in specific parks and natural areas. These installations were strategically located around the York River in Virginia (Figure 1) and within the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in Mississippi (Figure 2), enabling the collection of comprehensive visitation data.