Community Wellbeing in High Natural Amenity Rural Places
To understand the many factors that impact community wellbeing in high natural amenity rural places, CANRI members have conducted a variety of community-engaged research studies and analyses of county, state, and national data. This research often focuses on the community level of impacts of population and environmental change, and discusses community perspectives on topics ranging from housing and economic development to local cultural cohesion.
We have included select publications, research reports, and media appearances intended to capture the essence of our work. Much of this research has been led by Alex Theophilus and Jessica Ulrich-Schad. If you have questions or would like to know more, please reach out to Alex via email.
Publications
- Amenity Migration and Community Wellbeing in Washington’s Kittitas County Post‐ COVID‐19 Pandemic. https://doi.org/10.1111/ruso.12590
- “Your neighbors are new every week”: short-term rentals, housing, and community wellbeing in high-amenity rural places. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-025-00508-4
Reports and Research Briefs
- The Perceived Community and Environmental Impacts of Development Around Bear Lake - https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/canri_publications/8/
- Short-Term Rentals: How are They Impacting the Bear Lake Community - https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/canri_publications/6/
- Wellbeing in Upper Kittitas County: A Report on Community Member Perspectives. https://tnatlas.erams.com/publications-datasets?id=72
- Theophilus, Alexander. 2026. "Guiding Transformation Towards Community Wellbeing in High Amenity Rural Places." The Intermountain West Transformation Network. https://transformimw.unm.edu/guiding-transformation-towards-community-wellbeing-in-high-amenity-rural-places-2/
Media Appearances
- The Salt Lake Tribune, A summer spot Utahns and Idahoans love is losing its charm, residents say. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/06/25/bear-lake-short-term-rentals/
- The Salt Lake Tribune, ‘They’re going to kill this beautiful lake’: Bear Lake residents raise alarm over lakeside developments. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/08/07/bear-lake-growth-development/
- KSL Newsradio. “Midday with Maria Shilaos.” June 30, 2025. (Beginning at 2h 38mins) https://www.youtube.com/live/nvMylhoHvbQ?si=oqmQF-iZgRdkOX2N&t=9474