Navigating the Rapids Toward Equitable Solutions: A Theoretical Framework for River Recreation Allocation Decision-making

River recreation in the U.S. increased dramatically in the 1970s as boating technology and recreational skill level improved. Thus, a number of federally- and state-managed rivers instituted use limits over the following decades to limit environmental and social impacts. River managers were then faced with the complicated task of allocating this limited use between private and commercial users (allotment) and within these groups (rationing). A lack of statutory language and frameworks for making recreation allocation-related decisions forces river managers to make these difficult choices using best judgment and limited available data. These allocation-related decisions have lasting consequences on the recreating public, thus managers require a framework for how to think about these complex decisions. This research explores the decision-making process that managers utilize when thinking about allocating river recreation use opportunities, as well as obstacles to including equity considerations in these processes. Applying a grounded theory approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 river managers and subsequent analysis highlight six important attributes that allocation systems must possess, and points to three main obstacles to incorporating equity considerations into the allocation decision-making process. A theoretical framework is presented for managers to utilize when thinking through complex river recreation use allocation decisions.