The U.S. Forest Service is planning a visitor study this summer for the Blue Lakes and Ironton areas, after complaints about overuse, damage and other concerns.

Ouray District Ranger Dana Gardunio said her agency has collected plenty of anecdotal evidence – often in the form of human waste left along the trail – but there is a need for hard data to obtain funding for longterm solutions.

The student conducting the study will collect data on the types of visitors and whether they are using the t...