JUNE 2002 Restoration Ecology Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 275–281 275 © 2002 Society for Ecological Restoration Restoration of Highly Impacted Subalpine Campsites in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon Catherine A. Zabinski 1,2 Thomas H. DeLuca 3 David N. Cole 4 October Seastone Moynahan 5 Abstract The effects of intensive recreation impacts and resto- ration amendments on soil parameters were assessed at four campsites in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, north- eastern Oregon. Sites (2,215- to 2,300-m elevation) are characterized by shallow granitic soils, an Abies lasio- carpa/Pinus albicaulis overstory, and a Vaccinium sco- parium understory. In fall 1995, plots were established at four campsites on three subalpine lakes in which soils were scarified, compost amended, and planted to native species. In summer 1998, we sampled sur- face soils (0–15 cm) on undisturbed sites (between and under vegetation) and unamended and compost- amended campsite soils. Samples were analyzed for total organic C, total N, potentially mineralizable N (PMN), NH 4 , soil moisture, microbial biomass, basal 5-day respiration rates, and microbial community car- bon utilization profiles. Unamended campsite soils had significantly lower levels of PMN, microbial biomass, basal respiration, and number of substrates metabo- lized in carbon utilization profiles. Compost addition elevated all these impacted parameters on campsite soils, although the increase in basal respiration rate was neither statistically significant nor sufficient to approach rates found underneath vegetation on un- disturbed soils. Only the number of substrates metab- olized in the carbon utilization profiles was signifi- cantly higher on compost-amended soils than on undisturbed soils. Levels of PMN indicate that camp- site soils may lack sufficient N for rapid plant regen- eration, whereas amended and undisturbed soils con- tained adequate quantities of available N. This work suggests that compost amendments can ameliorate impacts to soil chemistry and microbial populations caused by camping, without exceeding the N fertility found on undisturbed soils. Key words: subalpine campsite restoration, recreation impacts, compost, soil chemistry, microbial commu- nities. Introduction W ilderness areas are to be managed such that hu- man impact is minimal. In many wilderness ar- eas, however, recreation use causes substantial impact, particularly at popular campsites at accessible lakes in the subalpine zone. Impacts include loss of vegetation, reduction in depth of organic horizon, loss of surface organic matter, increased soil bulk density, and re- duced infiltration rates (Marion & Merriam 1985; Mar- ion & Cole 1996; Hammit & Cole 1998). These physical and chemical impacts directly and indirectly affect soil microbial communities and processes, nutrient status, and water-holding capacity (Lal & Stewart 1992; Zabin- ski & Gannon 1997). In many cases, highly impacted conditions on campsites are simply accepted; in other cases, managers seek to restore vegetation and soil on damaged campsites. Restoration of wilderness sites generally involves clo- sure of campsites. However, rates of recovery are slow, particularly at high elevation sites, where short growing seasons, shallow soils, and cool temperatures limit reveg- etation success (Cole & Ranz 1983; Cole & Hall 1992). Planting vegetation on disturbed subalpine campsites is often not highly successful (Moritsch & Muir 1993). Scari- fication and organic matter amendments of soil on closed campsites have enhanced the rate of vegetative recovery in some situations (Legg et al. 1980) but not in others (Zabinski & Cole 2000). Slow recovery rates on closed campsites are problematic because obvious impact invites continued use of sites that still are clearly campsites. To date, there has been limited research performed on the restoration of campsites in the subalpine zone. Campsite restoration has focused on vegetative recov- ery and the restoration of soil physical properties (e.g., Marion & Cole 1996) with little research on microbial process recovery after campsite restoration attempts. Microbial communities in soils develop in response to 1 Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, U.S.A. 2 Corresponding author: Tel.: 406-994-4227; Fax: 406-994-3933 3 College of Forestry, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, U.S.A. 4 Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Missoula, MT 59812, U.S.A. 5 Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, U.S.A.