Social Survey Revised

Current and Future Conditions in the Upper Las Vegas Wash:
A Survey of Nearby Residents
As you may already know, rapid growth occurring in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas is creating increased
demand for land where additional residential and commercial development can occur. As a result, some
public lands surrounding the Upper Las Vegas Wash that currently are managed by the Bureau of Land
Management are now being considered for possible auction to private investors and developers.
In making decisions about this situation, the BLM must consider the ecological condition and value of this
land area, as well as the ways in which various development options could affect social and economic
conditions for local residents and the broader community.
This survey is designed to help us, and BLM decision-makers, understand how social and economic
conditions in nearby neighborhoods are linked to the landscape and environment that surrounds the Upper
Las Vegas Wash. We are interested in how you and others living near the Wash think about and make use of
this area.

Who should complete this questionnaire?
This questionnaire is being delivered to a random sample of households in neighborhoods located near the
Upper Las Vegas Wash. To further randomize participation in the survey, we ask that this questionnaire be
completed by the adult (age 18 or older) member of your household whose birthday occurred most recently.
•
•
•
•

Please carefully read all directions and mark your responses clearly.
Feel free to write any comments or explanations directly on the questionnaire in the margins or in
available blank space.
As soon as you have finished, please seal the completed questionnaire in the provided business reply
envelope, and drop it in the mail. No postage is necessary.
To insure your privacy please do not write your name or address on the questionnaire.

As one of a limited number of local residents who are being asked to participate in this survey, your
responses are important! By completing and returning the questionnaire, you can help to insure that all
residents whose opinions are similar to yours are adequately represented in the results of this study.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Richard Krannich at Utah State University either by email
([email protected]) or by telephone (435-797-1241). Thank you very much for your help!

NOTICES:
The Privacy Act of 1974 and the regulations at 43 CFR 2.48 (d) provide that we furnish you with the
following information:
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. There are no penalties for not answering some or all of the
questions. Your cooperation is extremely important since each person surveyed will represent many
others who will not be surveyed.
An identification number written on the cover of the questionnaire is for mailing purpose only, and is
used so that your name can be removed from the mailing list once we receive your completed
questionnaire. The mailing list used for this survey and other information that could be used to identify
individual respondents will be destroyed as soon as data collection is complete.
The results of answers that you and other survey participants provide will be summarized across groups
of survey participants, and no individuals’ answers will be reported separately. We will not use the
information beyond the purposes of this study.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to inform you that:
The Bureau of Land Management will use the comments to improve the management decisions that
govern a highly sensitive area called the Upper Las Vegas Wash.
Your response is voluntary, and there is no effect to you for not providing the requested information.
You do not have to respond to this or any other Federal agency sponsored information collection which
does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Public reporting burden for this survey is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the
time for reviewing the instructions, gathering and maintaining the data, and completing and reviewing
the survey. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspects of this survey to: U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Office (@O630) (1004-XXXX), 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop 401LS, Washington, DC 20240.
.

PLEASE TURN THE PAGE AND BEGIN THE SURVEY

Living Near the Upper Las Vegas Wash
We are interested in learning about your familiarity with and opinions about the Upper Las Vegas Wash
environment. Questions in this section focus on your familiarity with the Wash, your participation in various
activities within the natural areas surrounding the Wash, and your views about current and future conditions
of those areas. For each question please check the appropriate answer or fill in the requested information.

1. Please take a moment to look at the enclosed map of the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area.
Is any portion of this analysis area visible from your home or yard?
□ NO
□ YES

2. Overall, how familiar would you say you are with the land areas and environmental features of the
Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area?
□ Not at all familiar with the area
□ Only slightly familiar with the area
□ Moderately familiar with the area
□ Very familiar with the area

3. Have you spent any time at all walking, riding, driving, or pursuing other activities within any part
of the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area during the past 12 months?
□ NO Æ please SKIP AHEAD to question #6 on the next page
□ YES Æ please answer questions #4 and #5 below

4. Please indicate whether you have participated in any of the following outdoor activities anywhere
within the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area during the past 12 months, by checking either YES
or NO for each activity.

YES NO
Walking or hiking?
Running or jogging?
Exercising your dog or other pet?
ATV or dirt bike riding?
4-wheel driving/jeeping?
Bicycling?
Seeking fossils, rocks or minerals?
Horseback riding?

□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

YES NO
Bird watching/wildlife viewing?
Nature photography?
Paint ball shooting?
Archery shooting?
Firearms shooting?

□
□
□
□
□

□
□
□
□
□

Other recreation activities?
(please list): _____________

□

□

5. From the list of activities presented above, please write in below the ONE activity that is MOST
IMPORTANT to you, and indicate approximately how many times you have engaged in that
activity within any portion of the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area during the past 12 months.
MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY?

_____________________

HOW MANY TIMES DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS? ___________

6. Please indicate how appropriate or inappropriate you think it is for each of the following activities
to occur on the public lands that are included within the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area.
It depends on

Never
Usually Not the specific
Appropriate Appropriate circumstances

a. Dumping of organic waste
such as lawn clippings or
landscaping wastes?

Usually
Always
Appropriate Appropriate

Don’t
Know

1

2

3

4

5

DK

b. Dumping of solid waste such as
household trash, old appliances,
or construction debris?
1

2

3

4

5

DK

c. Unregulated target shooting?

1

2

3

4

5

DK

d. ATV or dirt bike riding?

1

2

3

4

5

DK

e. 4-wheel driving/jeeping?

1

2

3

4

5

DK

f. Off-road bicycle riding?

1

2

3

4

5

DK

g. Horseback riding?

1

2

3

4

5

DK

h. Hiking and walking?

1

2

3

4

5

DK

7. How concerned are you about potential ecological damage to the lands and resources contained
within the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area from each of the following activities and uses?
Not At All
Concerned

Slightly
Concerned

Moderately
Concerned

Highly
Concerned

Don’t
Know

a. ATV or dirt bike riding?

1

2

3

4

DK

b. 4-wheel driving/jeeping?

1

2

3

4

DK

c. Unregulated target shooting?

1

2

3

4

DK

d. Dumping of organic waste
such as lawn clippings or
landscaping waste?

1

2

3

4

DK

e. Dumping of solid waste such as
household trash, old appliances,
or construction waste?

1

2

3

4

DK

f.

1

2

3

4

DK

g. Horseback riding?

1

2

3

4

DK

h. Hiking or walking?

1

2

3

4

DK

Off-road bicycle riding?

8. Did the nearby location of the natural environments located within the Upper Las Vegas Wash
analysis area have any influence on your decision to purchase or rent a home in this neighborhood?
□ NO
□ YES

9. For each of the following hypothetical situations, please indicate how likely you would be to report
such activity to the appropriate authorities.
Definitely Probably Probably Definitely
Would
Would
Would
Would
Don’t
Not Report Not Report Report
Report
Know
a. You witnessed someone dumping organic
waste such as lawn clippings or landscaping
waste in the Upper Las Vegas Wash?
1
2
3
4
DK
b. You witnessed someone dumping solid waste
such as household trash, appliances, or construction
debris in the Upper Las Vegas Wash?
1

2

3

4

DK

c. You witnessed someone riding an ATV
or dirt bike in an area within the Upper Las
Vegas Wash where such use is prohibited?

1

2

3

4

DK

d. You witnessed someone driving a 4-wheel
drive vehicle or jeep off-road in an area
within the Upper Las Vegas Wash where
such use is prohibited?

1

2

3

4

DK

e. You observed someone involved in the
illegal collection of fossils from an area
within the Upper Las Vegas Wash?

1

2

3

4

DK

f. You witnessed someone involved in
unregulated target shooting in an area
where such use is prohibited?

1

2

3

4

DK

g. You witnessed someone damaging an area where
threatened or endangered plant species grow?

1

2

3

4

DK

10. Which of the following best represents your opinion about how the Upper Las Vegas Wash
analysis area should be utilized and managed in the future?
□ All or nearly all of the area that is not currently developed should be preserved in a
natural, undeveloped condition to protect natural resources and maintain open space

□

Residential and commercial development should be allowed to occur in some parts of the
area that are not currently developed, while other portions of the area that contain important
environmental features should be protected in a natural, undeveloped condition

□

All or nearly all of the area should be available for residential and commercial development
without worrying about protecting any significant portion of the area in a natural, undeveloped
natural, undeveloped condition

□

Don’t know/no opinion

11. For each of the following statements, please indicate the degree to which you either agree or
disagree by circling the one number that best represents your opinion.

Strongly
Disagee

Neither
Somewhat Agree or Somewhat Strongly
Disagree Disagree
Agree
Agree

a. Public access into the Upper Las Vegas
Wash should be controlled in order to protect
ecologically sensitive areas and resources

1

2

3

4

5

b. New designated and signed trail systems for
non-motorized recreation uses like hiking,
biking, and horseback riding should be
developed in and around the Wash

1

2

3

4

5

c. Management of the Upper Las Vegas Wash should
focus more on flood control than on protection of
of natural landscapes and the environment

1

2

3

4

5

d. Rules that restrict use of motorized vehicles in
the Upper Las Vegas Wash area should be
more strictly enforced

1

2

3

4

5

12. Suppose that in the future certain ecologically sensitive portions of the Upper Las Vegas Wash
analysis area were protected from residential or commercial development, while remaining open
for selected public uses and activities. If this did occur, how likely do you think it is that you
would participate in each of the following activities there?
Definitely
Probably Probably Definitely
Would Not Would Not Would
Would
Participate Participate Participate Participate

Don’t
Know

a. Walking or hiking on designated nature trails?

1

2

3

4

DK

b. Visiting sites designed to educate people about
fossil resources located in the Wash?

1

2

3

4

DK

c. Visiting sites that are designed to educate people
about plant and animal species that are part of the
Wash ecosystem?

1

2

3

4

DK

d. Running or jogging on a designated trail system?

1

2

3

4

DK

e. Off-road bicycling on a designated trail system?

1

2

3

4

DK

f. Horseback riding in designated areas in and
around the Wash?

1

2

3

4

DK

g. Exercising your dog or other pet?

1

2

3

4

DK

h. Bird watching or other wildlife viewing?

1

2

3

4

DK

Feelings About the Upper Las Vegas Wash
People often develop strong feelings about certain outdoor places and settings that have special meaning
and importance to them. Sometimes these are areas where a person has spent time doing enjoyable
activities. For others, such places have special meaning because of the scenery, historical or cultural
importance, economic importance, or any number of other personal reasons. The questions in this section
focus on the meanings and attachments that you may have with the Upper Las Vegas Wash area.
13. Please think for a moment about the natural environments and landscapes that characterize
the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area, and the ways in which the characteristics of that area
may affect your quality of life. Then, please indicate the extent to which you either agree or
disagree with each of the following statements.
Strongly
Disagee

Neither
Somewhat Agree or Somewhat Strongly
Disagree Disagree
Agree
Agree

a. The natural environment provided by the Upper Las
Vegas Wash area is an important part of my life

1

2

3

4

5

b. The natural environment provided by the Upper Las
Vegas Wash area is an excellent place for me to
do some of the things I like to do most

1

2

3

4

5

c. As far as I am concerned there is nothing particularly
special about the natural environments that are present
in the Upper Las Vegas Wash analysis area

1

2

3

4

5

d. I have a strong spiritual or emotional connection to one
or more natural areas located within the Upper Las
Vegas Wash analysis area
1

2

3

4

5

e. The natural environment provided by the Upper Las
Vegas Wash analysis area plays an important role in
defining who I am as a person

1

2

3

4

5

f. I could be just as happy in a neighborhood that is not close
to a natural environmental area such as that provided by
the Upper Las Vegas Wash
1

2

3

4

5

g. Living near the Upper Las Vegas Wash has an important
positive influence on my overall quality of life
1

2

3

4

5

h. Things like housing cost, the quality of the neighborhood,
or convenient access to work, school, or shopping were
far more important in my decision to live in this home
than is its location near to the Upper Las Vegas Wash 1

2

3

4

5

Background Information
To enable us to compare the responses of residents with similar or different characteristics, in this section
we ask you to provide us with some information about yourself and your household. Please check or circle
the appropriate answer or fill in the appropriate information for each question. As with all of your answers,
the information that you provide will be remain completely anonymous.
14. What is your sex?
□ Male
□ Female

15. In what year were you born?
________ (write in year)

16. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
□ Less than a high school degree
□ High school degree or GED
□ Some college
□ 2 year technical or associate degree
□ 4 year college degree (BA/BS)
□ Advanced degree (i.e. Master’s, JD, MD, Ph.D.)

17. Is the residence that this questionnaire was delivered to your permanent, year-around home, or do
you live there for just part of the year on a seasonal basis?
□ Live in this home year-around
□ Live in this home on a seasonal basis

18. How long have you lived in this neighborhood?
□ Less than one year
□ One to two years
□ For more than two years (please write in how long you have lived here): _____ years

19. Do you own your home where this questionnaire was delivered, or are you leasing or renting it?
□ Own or are buying the home
□ Leasing or renting the home

20. Which of the following best describes the type of home that you live in?
□ Single family house
□ Condominium unit or townhome
□ Unit within a multiple-unit apartment complex
□ Mobile home or trailer
□ Other type of housing unit (please describe): _________________________

21. Including yourself, how many people are living in your household at the present time?
___ (write in number of people in household)
21a) How many children under the age of 18 currently live in your household?
___ children

22. Which of the following best describes your current employment situation?
□ Employed for pay by a company, business or agency
□ Self employed
□ Unemployed but looking for work
□ Unemployed, not looking for work
□ Retired
□ Homemaker not working outside of the home
□ Other (please explain):___________________________________

23. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?
□ Yes
□ No

24. What is your race? Please select one or more of the following categories:
□ White
□ Black or African American
□ Asian
□ Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
□ American Indian or Alaska Native

25. Which of the following categories best describes your total pre-tax annual household income for
2007?
□ Less than $20,000
□ $50,000 to $74,999
□ $20,000 to $29,999
□ $75,000 to $99,999
□ $30,000 to $39,999
□ $100,000 to $149,000
□ $40,000 to $49,999
□ $150,000 or more

Thank you for your cooperation! Please feel free to use any available space in this questionnaire or in a
separate letter to tell us any additional information or share other comments.

Once you have completed the questionnaire please seal it in the business reply envelope provided,
and just drop it in the mail.