Camping is considered to have the greatest impact of all river recreation activities and consequently, field research has focused on the biophysical ramifications of these impacts in riparian areas. Soil compaction, vegetation loss, and accelerated bank erosion are problems correlated with the amount of use. Proper campsite selection on beaches or established sites and avoidance of important sensitive riparian plant communities is recommended. Existing research does report the relative resistance of different sites to impact, but there is currently little work on the ecological implications of impacting various riparian communities. Use of these low impact camping techniques can help resolve the major resource management issues, but many basic ecological questions such as recreational use impact on water quality and wildlife remain.
More research is needed in order to develop specific management strategies.