BWCAW Overnight and Daytime Surveys

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Visitor Study

BWCAW PICTURE

2007 Summer Season

Overnight Visits

SPONSOR/CONTACT INFORMATION

OMB #0596-NEW

This survey is voluntary. While you are not required to respond, your cooperation is needed to make the survey results comprehensive, accurate, and timely. You may be assured that in the analysis and reporting of the results your answers will not be connected with you.

Your visit to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

THAT BEGAN ON: ______/______, 2007

1. How did you travel in the wilderness on this visit? (Check all that apply, but if more than one, underline the way you traveled most.)

 PADDLED A PRIVATELY OWNED WATER CRAFT

 PADDLED A WATER CRAFT RENTED FROM A COMMERCIAL OUTFITTER

 MOTORED IN A PRIVATELY OWNED WATER CRAFT

 MOTORED IN A WATER CRAFT RENTED FROM A COMMERCIAL OUTFITTER

 OTHER (Describe) __________________________________________________________

2a. Did you fish on this trip? (Circle one response) 1. Yes 2. No

2b. Was fishing a major reason for going on this trip? (Circle one response)

1. Yes 2. No

3. During this visit to the Boundary Waters:

1. Did you use a gas stove for cooking? (Circle one response)

1. Yes 2. No

2. How many times on your trip did

you have a wood fire? __________TIMES

How many of these wood fires

were in the evening? __________FIRES

How many of these evening fires

were to sit around and

enjoy - - not for cooking? __________FIRES

3. Was the number of campfires you had influenced by fire restrictions? (Circle one response) 1. Yes 2. No

4. Please estimate the following for your wilderness visit: (Enter a number in all three columns for each item)

Least in a Most in a Total

Single Day Single Day For Trip

a. the number of nonmotorized

groups you saw _____ _____ _____

b. the number of motorized

groups you saw _____ _____ _____

c. the number of groups that camped within

sight or sound of your campsite _____ _____ _____

d. the number of groups that paddled or

motored within sight or sound of

your campsite _____ _____ _____

5. How did the following compare with what you expected to see in the Boundary Waters? (Circle one scale response for each statement)

About Had no

Far What I Far Expec-

Fewer Fewer Expected More More tation

a. the number of nonmotorized

groups you saw FF F E M FM X

b. the number of motorized

groups you saw FF F E M FM X

c. the number of groups that

camped within sight or sound

of your campsite FF F E M FM X

d. the number of groups that

paddled/motored within sight

or sound of your campsite FF F E M FM X

6. How did the following compare with what you preferred to see in the Boundary Waters? (Circle one scale response for each statement)

About

Far Fewer than What I More than Far Had no

Fewer Preferred Preferred Preferred More Preference

a. the number of nonmotorized

groups you saw FF F P M FM X

b. the number of motorized

groups you saw FF F P M FM X

c. the number of groups that

camped within sight or sound

of your campsite FF F P M FM X

d. the number of groups that

paddled/motored within sight

or sound of your campsite FF F P M FM X

e valuation of WILDERNESS CONDITIONS

7. This set of items concerns problems you may have run into on your visits to the Boundary Waters. Please indicate two things for each item. First, tell us whether you felt the item was a problem during the visit. Second, whether you currently feel the item is a problem or not, indicate whether you feel the situation has become better or worse over the years you have been coming to the Boundary Waters. If this was your first trip, or if you really don’t know the trend, indicate by circling the X for ‘Don’t Know.’

First, is it: ║ Second, is it:

Not a A ║ Getting Getting Don’t

Problem Problem ║ Better Worse Know

║

a. Portages poorly maintained N Y ║ + – X

║

║

b. Opportunities to see wildlife N Y ║ + – X

║

║

c. Destruction of vegetation ║

at or around campsites N Y ║ + – X

║

║

d. Lack of suitable campsites N Y ║ + – X

║

║

e. Not enough privacy in campsites N Y ║ + – X

║

║

f. Litter N Y ║ + – X

║

║

g. Inadequate disposal of human ║

body waste N Y ║ + – X

║

║

h. Large groups of people N Y ║ + – X

║

║

i. Too many people in area ║

you visited N Y ║ + – X

║

║

j. Area rules and regulations not ║

adequately publicized N Y ║ + – X

║

║

k. Not enough information on where ║

other users are likely to be N Y ║ + – X

║

║

l. The wilderness permit requirement ║

is not well advertised N Y ║ + – X

║

║

m. The process of obtaining avail- ║

able permits is too difficult N Y ║ + – X

║

║

n. Not enough parking spaces at ║

wilderness entry points N Y ║ + – X

║

║

o. Not enough firewood N Y ║ + – X

║

║

p. Campfire restrictions N Y ║ + – X

║

║

q. Areas closed due to fire N Y ║ + – X

║

║

r. Fire hazard from downed trees N Y ║ + – X

║

7. Continued…

First, is it: ║ Second, is it:

Not a A ║ Getting Getting Don’t

Problem Problem ║ Better Worse Know

║

s. Improper disposal of fish entrails N Y ║ + – X

║

║

t. Low flying aircraft N Y ║ + – X

║

║

u. Too many rules and regulations N Y ║ + – X

║

║

v. People making noise N Y ║ + – X

║

║

w. Natural condition of fish habitat N Y ║ + – X

║

║

x. Fire grates full of charcoal and ║

ashes N Y ║ + – X

║

║

y. Fire grates full of trash N Y ║ + – X

║

║

z. Nuisance bears N Y ║ + – X

║

║

aa. Smoke from wildland fires N Y ║ + – X

║

║

ab. Aircraft activity for ║

fire management N Y ║ + – X

║

║

ac. Amount of burned area N Y ║ + – X

║

║

ad. Finding an unoccupied campsite N Y ║ + – X

║

If it was a problem, why:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ae. Use of inappropriate technology N Y ║ + – X

If use of technology was a problem, please list examples: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Did you feel that the Boundary Waters was too crowded? (Circle one)

1. NO, IT DIDN’T APPEAR OVERCROWDED TO ME

2. YES, BUT ONLY IN A FEW AREAS

3. YES, IT WAS OVERCROWDED IN MOST PLACES

4. I DIDN’T NOTICE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER

9. If you felt that the Boundary Waters was overcrowded, did it bother you? (Circle one)

1. NO, NOT AT ALL

2. ONLY A LITTLE

3. A MODERATE AMOUNT

4. IT BOTHERED ME A LOT

10. If you felt that the Boundary Waters was crowded, did you in any way change the route of your trip or the length of your stay? (Circle one)

1. NO

2. LENGTH OF TRIP

3. ROUTE OF TRIP

4. BOTH

11. How did you feel about the condition of the Boundary Waters in terms of wear and tear from use (erosion and loss of vegetation) and in terms of littering? (Circle one response in each column)

WEAR AND

TEAR LITTERING

VERY GOOD VG VG

GOOD G G If you felt there were poor

FAIR F F conditions, where did you

POOR P P observe these? ___________

VERY POOR VP VP _______________________

DO NOT REMEMBER X X _______________________

_______________________

pREFERENCES FOR SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE bOUNDARY wATERS

12. Different people desire different things from wilderness and mangers need to know what things you find acceptable and what things you find unacceptable.

For each characteristic below, we ask that you make three types of judgments

1. Is there a range of values along the scale provided that is completely unacceptable? If so, please indicate the unacceptable range by drawing a line above it.

2. Is there a range of values that would be acceptable? If so, please indicate with a line below the scale.

3. Is there a point on this scale that is most preferred? If so, please indicate by placing an x on that point.

PLEASE REMEMBER: NOT DRAWING A LINE OR PLACING AN X IS OKAY, BUT THIS MEANS YOU ARE EITHER UNCERTAIN OR DON’T CARE ABOUT THAT ITEM.

Example: The percent of time other canoeists or boaters are in sight during my visit.

UNACCEPTABLE

_____________________

│----│----│---- X ----│----│----│----│----│----│----│

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

__________________

ACCEPTABLE

This person prefers other visitors in sight about 30% of the time, but 0 – 40% is acceptable; more than 60% of the time is unacceptable; this person is uncertain about the acceptability of values between 40 and 60%.

a. The number of nonmotorized groups I see each day while traveling in the area.

│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│

0 10 20 30 40 50

b. The number of motorized groups I see each day while traveling in the area.

│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│

0 10 20 30 40 50

c. The number of groups camped within sight or sound of my campsite each night.

│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│

0 10 20 30 40 50

d. The number of groups who paddle or motor within sight or sound of my campsite each day.

│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│

0 10 20 30 40 50

13. Please tell us how you feel about the following aspects of the permit system at the Boundary Waters.

RESERVING A PERMIT:

1. How did you reserve your permit: (Circle one response)

1. Phone

2. Internet

3. Mail / FAX

4. I didn’t reserve a permit, someone else in my group did [Skip to Q. 13e.]

5. Our group didn’t reserve a permit [Skip to Q. 13e.]

2. Did you apply to the lottery (before January 15) to reserve your permit? (Circle one response)

1. No

2. Yes

If Yes, how difficult was this: (Mark an X on the scale)

Difficult │----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│ Easy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Suggestions for improving the lottery?

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

3. Did you reserve your permit (after January 20) via the online National Recreation Reservation Service (ReserveUSA)? (Circle one response)

1. No

2. Yes

If Yes, how difficult was this: (Mark an X on the scale)

Difficult │----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│----│ Easy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Suggestions for improving the online service?

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

4. Did you receive a confirmation of your reservation? (Circle one response)

1. No

2. Yes

Suggestions for improving the confirmation?

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

PICKING UP YOUR PERMIT:

5. Did you pick up your permit at: (Circle on response)

1. Forest Service Station

2. Cooperator Permit Station

(eg. Lodge or outfitter)

Strongly Strongly

Disagree Disagree Agree Agree No Opinion

f. The location you picked up

your permit was convenient

(Circle one response) SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, do you have suggestions for improving the location?

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Strongly Strongly

Disagree Disagree Agree Agree No Opinion

g. The hours of operation at

the permit station were

convenient (Circle one

response) SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, do you have suggestions for improving the hours of operation?

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

14. Please tell us how you feel about these aspects of the fee program at the Boundary Waters: (Circle one scale response each for questions a through h)

Strongly Strongly

Disagree Disagree Agree Agree No Opinion

a. The use fee deposit

(refundable up to two days

before the trip) ($20) was

an appropriate amount. SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, what do you suggest? ________________________________

b. The reservation fee

(nonrefundable) ($12) was

an appropriate amount. SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, what do you suggest? ________________________________

c. The overnight use fee

(per person per trip) was

an appropriate amount. SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, what do you suggest? ________________________________

d. The issuing fee (paid to

non-Forest Service vendors)

of $2 per overnight permit

was an appropriate amount. SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, what do you suggest? ________________________________

e. The information about the

fees was adequate. SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, how could the information be improved? ____________________________________________________

f. The process of paying the

fees was easy. SD D A SA NO

If you disagree, how could the process be improved? ____________________________________________________

g. You are better off due to

these fees? SD D A SA NO

h. The Boundary Waters is

better off due to these fees. SD D A SA NO

r ecent events in the boundary waters

15. Are you aware of the extensive storm blowdown that occurred in the Boundary Waters in 1999? (Circle one response)

1. Yes

2. No → Go to question 18

16. Did the blowdown affect your plans to visit the Boundary Waters in past years (1999-2006)? (Circle one response)

1. No → Go to question 17

2. Yes → If Yes, then how did the blowdown affect your plans?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

17. Did the blowdown affect your plans to visit the Boundary Waters this year (2007)? (Circle one response)

1. No → Go to question 18

2. Yes → If Yes, then how did the blowdown affect your plans?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

18. Are you aware of the management-ignited fires (planned burns) that have been occurring in the Boundary Waters? (Circle one response)

1. Yes

2. No → Go to question 21

19. Did the management-ignited fires affect your plans to visit the Boundary Waters in past years (2000-2006)? (Circle one response)

1. No → Go to question 20

2. Yes → If Yes, then how did the management-ignited fires affect your plans?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

20. Did the management-ignited fires affect your plans to visit the Boundary Waters this year (2007)? (Circle one response)

1. No → Go to question 21

2. Yes → If Yes, then how did the management-ignited fires affect your plans?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

21. Are you aware of the lightning-ignited fires (Turtle Lake Fire and Cavity Lake Fire) that occurred in the Boundary Waters last year? (Circle one response)

1. Yes

2. No → Go to question 24

22. Did the lightning-ignited fires affect your plans to visit the Bounday Waters last year (2006)? (Circle one response)

1. No → Go to question 23

2. Yes → If Yes, then how did the lightning-ignited fires affect your plans?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

23. Did the lightning-ignited fires affect your plans to visit the Boundary Waters this year (2007)? (Circle one response)

1. No → Go to question 24

2. Yes → If Yes, then how did the lightning-ignited fires affect your plans?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

24. During this visit to the Boundary Waters

a. Did you go into an area affected by the 1999 Blowdown?

1. Yes 2. No 3. Unsure

b. Did you go into an area affected by the management-ignited fires?

1. Yes 2. No 3. Unsure

c. Did you go into an area affected by the 2006 lightning-ignited fires?

1. Yes 2. No 3. Unsure

25. How important were each of the following factors in choosing a specific area to visit this year?

	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Very Important
Natural place, lack of human evidence	1	2	3
Remoteness, solitude	1	2	3
Scenic beauty	1	2	3
Quality hunting	1	2	3
Quality fishing	1	2	3
1999 Blowdown	1	2	3
Occurrence of management-ignited fires	1	2	3
Occurrence of lightning-ignited fires	1	2	3
Test outdoor skills	1	2	3
Familiarity, been there before	1	2	3
A new area, variety	1	2	3
A friend or family member suggested it	1	2	3

26. As you think about any wilderness, not just the Boundary Waters, how desirable or undesirable do you think each of the following things is? (Circle one scale response for each question)

Neutral, neither

Very Desirable nor Very

Undesirable Undesirable Undesirable Desirable Desirable

a. Absence of human-made

features, except trails

and portages VU U N D VD

b. Lakes behind small

man-made dams VU U N D VD

c. Leaving some areas

without easy access VU U N D VD

d. Bridges over creeks

where you would

otherwise get wet feet

when portaging or hiking VU U N D VD

e. Designated campsites

with permanent fire grates

and pit toilets VU U N D VD

f. Suppress fires that are

started by lightning VU U N D VD

g. Prohibiting wood fires

where dead wood is

scarce (requiring use

of gas stoves) VU U N D VD

h. Restricting the number

of visitors to an area

if it is being used

beyond capacity VU U N D VD

i. Accurate information on

how you can travel and

camp in the wilderness

to reduce your impacts VU U N D VD

j. Use of chain saws by

the administrators to

clear trails and

portages of trees VU U N D VD

k. Packing unburnable garbage

back out of the wilderness VU U N D VD

26. Continued….

Neutral, neither

Very Desirable nor Very

Undesirable Undesirable Undesirable Desirable Desirable

l. Evidence of natural

disturbance (e.g., fire,

blowdown, flooding, etc.) VU U N D VD

m. Visitors using electronic

GPS units for navigation VU U N D VD

n. Visitors carrying cell or

satellite phones VU U N D VD

o. Use of management ignited

fires to reduce the risk of

escaped wildfires VU U N D VD

p. Use of management ignited

fires to restore the natural

role of fire VU U N D VD

some information about you

27. Your previous wilderness use:

a. How many times have you visited _______ PREVIOUS VISITS

the Boundary Waters before this trip?

b. What year did you first visit _______ YEAR

the Boundary Waters?

c. How many other federal wilderness ___ THIS IS THE ONLY ONE

areas have you visited, besides ___ 1 – 2 OTHER AREAS

Boundary Waters? ___ 3 – 5 OTHER AREAS

___ 6 – 10 OTHER AREAS

___ 11 – 20 OTHER AREAS

___ OVER 20 OTHER AREAS

d. What year did you first visit another _______ YEAR

federal wilderness area, besides the

Boundary Waters?

e. Including this visit, how many times _______ VISITS

did you visit a wilderness in the

past 12 months? Is this number more or less than

for previous years?

1. MORE 2. LESS

WHY? __________________________

________________________________

________________________________

f. How many total days did you spend in

wilderness on all visits in the past _______ DAYS

12 months

Is this number more or less than

for previous years?

1. MORE 2. LESS

WHY? __________________________

________________________________

________________________________

28. Since you first visited a wilderness area, about how often have you gone on

wilderness trips? (Circle one number)

1. THIS WAS MY FIRST TRIP

2. TYPICALLY GO INTO WILDERNESS LESS THAN ONCE EVERY 2 YEARS

3. ABOUT 1 TRIP EVERY 2 YEARS

4. ABOUT 1 TRIP PER YEAR

5. 2 TO 10 TRIPS PER YEAR

6. MORE THAN 10 TRIPS PER YEAR

29. How often did your parents take you on the following kinds of camping trips (overnight trips)? (Circle one response for each kind of trip)

Occa- Don’t

Never sionally Often know

a. On hiking or canoe trips 0 1 2 DK

b. In auto campgrounds 0 1 2 DK

30. Do you belong to any environmental or outdoor recreation organizations? (Circle one response) 1. Yes 2. No

If yes, please list them: _______________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

31. In what type of community did you mostly grow up in before age 18, and in what type of community do you now live? (Circle one number in each column that best represents your past and current residences)

Childhood Current

Residence Residence

• On an agricultural farm or ranch 1 1

• Rural nonagricultural 2 2

• Small town or village (under 1,000) 3 3

• Town, large village (1,000 to 5,000 population) 4 4

• Small city (5,000 to 50,000 people ) 5 5

• Medium city (50,000 to 1 million population) 6 6

• Major city or metropolitan area (over 1 million) 7 7

32. What best describes your current residence? (Circle one number)

1. Urban

2. Suburban

3. Rural

33. What is the highest level of education you have attained? (Circle one number that best represents your education)

1. Less than a high school diploma

2. High school graduate or GED

3. Trade or professional school

4. Some college

5. Undergraduate college degree (BS, BA, etc.)

6. Some graduate school

7. Graduate degree (MS, PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

34. Are you presently: (Check all that apply)

 Unemployed

 Retired

 Student

35. If you are a student, are you: (Circle one response)

1. Full Time

2. Part Time

36. If you are employed, what is your occupation? (If retired, show

occupation before retirement)

TITLE: ______________________________________________________________________

KIND OF WORK: _____________________________________________________________

KIND OF COMPANY OR BUSINESS: ____________________________________________

37. What was your annual household income in the year 2006, before taxes? (Circle one number that best represents your income)

1. Less than $20,000 7. $120,000 to $139,999

2. $20,000 to $39,999 8. $140,000 to $159,999

3. $40,000 to $59,999 9. $160,000 to $179,999

4. $60,000 to $79,999 10. $180,000 to $199,999

5. $80,000 to $99,999 11. $200,000 or more

6. $100,000 to $119,999

38. How many people were supported by this household income in the year 2006?

_____ PEOPLE

39. How many weeks of paid vacation do you receive each year? _______ WEEKS

40. How many weeks of paid vacation do you take each year? _______ WEEKS

41. Are you: (Circle one)

1. Female

2. Male

42. What was your age on your last birthday?

_____ YEARS

43. Are you of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino ethnic origin? (Circle one response)

1. Yes

2. No

44. Select one or more of the following categories that best describe your race. (Please mark one or more)

 White

 American Indian/Alaska Native

 Asian

 Black/ African American

 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

PLEASE USE THE REMAINING SPACE TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.

BURDEN AND NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENTS

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