Document Type

Honors Project

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

In the 1980’s. DuPont of Waynesboro, VA, contaminated over 100 miles of river on the South Fork of the Shenandoah and the South River. As part of their settlement, creel surveys are completed routinely by the Department of Wildlife Resources to collect data on angler and recreational use of these rivers. This project uses the recreational data to determine; ‘where on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River is recreational access the heaviest?’ ‘what forms of recreational use are most popular, and is there a change from 2016 to 2023?’ and ‘are there differences in the demographics of recreational users between 2016 and 2023?’ Data was collected on these rivers in 2016 and 2023 by interns from May - September. Descriptive statistics were pulled, and inferential statistics (Chi-square and Pearson residuals), used to confirm statistical significance. This study helps determine trends and changes in recreational usage of these rivers to be used by the Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources.

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