Two NPS visitor surveys

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Social Science Program
Expedited Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys
1.

2.

Project Title ⎢ Assessing River Use Levels by User Groups at Ozark
Submission National Scenic Riverways
Date:

Abstract: Public input on the preliminary alternatives for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways
general management plan (GMP) have made it necessary to collect additional data to
support revisions and further analysis of the alternatives. Trend studies on use levels
and visitor perceptions were conducted at the park for three decades. In order to
better understand current use levels by the different river user groups, previously
established methods can be replicated. This study will provide the park with recent
data on use levels for activity types that can be compared to previous data to assess
changes. Park visitors will be sampled during the months of May-September 2010.
Two instruments will be used. Both instruments will share a core set of questions,
and one elaborates on the motor boat experience on the river. The results of this
study will support further consideration of visitor use management needs and
strategies for the purposes of the GMP.
(not to exceed 150 words)

3. Principal Investigator Contact Information
First Name: Logan

Last Park
Name:

Title: Assistant Professor
Affiliation: Department of Forestry,
College of Agricultural Sciences
Street Address: University of Southern Illinois
Carbondale
City: Carbondale
Phone: 618-453-7476

State: IL

Zip code: 62901

Fax: 618-453-2505

Email: [email protected]
4.

November 6, 2009

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information
First Name: Ryan

Title: Visitor Use Specialist

Last Sharp
Name:

Park: National Park Service
Park Denver Service Center – Planning
Office/Division:
Street Address: P.O. Box 25287
City: Denver
Phone: 303-969-2835
Email: [email protected]

State: CO
Fax: 303-969-2736

80225-0287

Project Information
5. Park(s) For Which
Research is to be
Conducted:
6. Survey Dates:

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

05/15/2010

(mm/dd/yyyy)

to

09/15/2010

(mm/dd/yyyy)

7. Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)

8.

‰

Mail-Back
Questionnaire

‰

Other (explain)

Survey Justification:
(Use as much space as
needed; if necessary
include additional
explanation on a
separate page.)

9 On-Site
Questionnaire

‰

Face-toFace
Interview

‰

Telephone
Survey

‰

Focus
Groups

Social science research in support of park planning and management is
mandated in the NPS Management Policies 2006 (Section 8.11.1, “Social
Science Studies”). The NPS pursues a policy that facilitates social science
studies in support of the NPS mission to protect resources and enhance the
enjoyment of present and future generations (National Park Service Act of
1916, 38 Stat 535, 16 USC 1, et seq.). NPS policy mandates that social
science research will be used to provide an understanding of park visitors, the
non-visiting public, gateway communities and regions, and human
interactions with park resources. Such studies are needed to provide a
scientific basis for park planning, development, operations, management,
education, and interpretive activities.
Public response to the preliminary alternatives presented by Ozark National
Scenic Riverways (ONSR) highlighted a need for more research to better
understand the use that is occurring within the park. Further, the 1989 River
Use Management Plan mandates that the park monitor visitor use and
recreational capacity on the Jacks Fork and Current rivers.
The GMP planning process will comply with the National Environmental
Policy Act and assess a range of alternative visitor use management
strategies. The information gathered in this project will inform those
alternatives by assessing the current amount and type of use in the park and
evaluating visitors’ perceptions of their park experience. Also, this study will
add to the long-term use monitoring data set at ONSR conducted between
1972 and 2002. The results of this study will be one of many sources of
information (e.g., public and stakeholder comments, staff recommendations,
other research, etc.) that management will use in evaluating alternatives.
The specific objectives include:
1. Document current uses and use patterns. This element of the study
will provide park managers with descriptions of the type of use and
the number of visitors currently using the rivers in ONSR.
2. Describe visitors’ perceptions of river use densities. This element of
the study will be used to assess if visitors encounter the amount of
people they expected and if they have conflicts with other river users.
3. Describe visitors’ perceptions of change on the rivers. This element

of the study will measure visitor’s perceptions of how use and use
levels have changed over time at ONSR.
Literature Review
In 2008, OSNR received 1,243,507 visitors. This high use level, concentrated
along the relatively narrow river corridors, present park managers with the
challenge of providing a meaningful range of recreation experiences. Some
users who are seeking to float peacefully down the river in non-motorized
craft and experience a sense of solitude could experience conflict with other
users in motor boats who are transporting their families up and down the
river. This type of conflict is a strong contributor to some visitors’
perceptions of crowding and can decrease their level of satisfaction
(Manning, 1999). In order to continue to provide a range of quality
experiences, managers have used monitoring systems to inform decisionmaking. Monitoring is important because it indicates if management
objectives are being met; if changes are occurring in how resources are being
used; and may suggest ways to improve the recreation experience for visitors
(Brown and Chilman, 2002). This type of research also informs park planning
by suggesting which types of recreational uses should be separated through
zoning or other management strategies (Papageorgiou and Brotherton, 1999).
The park responded to this challenge by developing a River Use Management
Plan in 1989. This plan states that monitoring will be designed to “identify
degradation of the resource or quality of the visitor experience below
acceptable levels and to improve knowledge in areas where existing
information is considered inadequate” (NPS, 1989, p. 36).
The management plan’s approach was based on three decades of existing
monitoring efforts at the park, spurred by rapid growth in recreational use in
the early 1970s. Park staff and researchers cited water quality and crowding
concerns derived from this growth (Marnell et al. 1978). Early monitoring
efforts appeared to confirm the concern: the proportion of visitors who
perceived crowding as “more than desired” grew from 27.4% to 51.4%
between 1972 to 1977 (Habermehl, 1973; Andrews, 1978). These and
subsequent results were used by the NPS to successfully defend itself in court
for decisions later that decade and into the 1980s to limit the number of
canoes permitted on the rivers in the park (Sullivan, 1985; Chilman et al.,
1996).
Monitoring activities ceased in 2001, creating a gap in available data needed
for contemporary management decision-making. Consequently, this study
will contribute to park managers’ knowledge of current conditions to assist in
the general management planning process now underway. This study
replicates the historical survey and count instrumentation used to understand
visitor experience conditions. However, in some cases wording of some
questions has been updated to reflect current NPS standards and conditions
on the Riverways.
References
Andrews, M. (1978). Perceptions of crowding by canoe floaters in relation to
the floating baseline concept. Technical Report, Ozark National
Scenic Riverways. National Park Service, Van Buren, Missouri.

Brown, G. and Chilman, K. (2001). 2001 River use monitoring report for
lower Current River. Ozark National Scenic Riverways. USDI
National Park Service, Van Buren, MO.
Chilman, K.,, Foster, D. & Aley, T. (1996). River Management at Ozark
National Scenic Riverways. In: W. L. Halvorson and G.E. Davis, eds.
Science and ecosustem management in the national parks. Tucson:
University of Arizona Press. 27 pp.
Habermehl, J. (1973). Determining visitor perceptions of crowding on the
Ozark Naional Scenic Riverways, M.S. thesis, University of
Missouri, Columbia. 53 pp.
Manning, R. (1999). Studies in outdoor recreation: search and research for
satisfaction. Corvalis, OR: Oregon State University Press.
Marnell, L., Foster, D., & Chilman, K. (1978). River recreation research
conducted at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 1970-1977: a
summary of research projects and findings. National Park Service,
Van Buren, Missouri. 139 pp.
NPS, National Park Service (1989). River use management plan, Ozark
National Scenic Riverways. Van Buren, MO.
Papageorgiou, K., & Brotherton, I. (1999). A management planning
framework based on ecological, perceptual and economic carrying
capacity: The case study of Vikos-Aoos National Park, Greece.
Journal of Environmental Management, 56(4), 271-284.
Sullivan, A. (1985). Untitled paper prepared for River Use Management Plan
meeting, Kansas City, Missouri. National Park Service. 16 pp.
9.

Survey Methodology: (a) Respondent universe:
All adults, 18 years of age or older, visiting ONSR from 5/15/2001 to
(Use as much space as
9/15/2010
needed; if necessary
include additional
explanation on a (b) Sampling plan/procedures:
Surveys will be administered along the Jacks Fork and Current rivers at
separate page.)
10 boater access sites. The sampling schedule will be targeting canoeists,
rafters, tubers, and motor boaters. Sampling days will be stratified by
weekdays vs. weekend days and holidays, months, and into geographic
location based on ranger district (Upper Current, Lower Current, and
Jack’s Fork). The sampling schedule will be composed of the twelve
weeks from May 17th to August 20th, and will be repeated after each of
the three sets of four weeks are completed. Surveys will be administered
onsite to visitor groups as they exit the riverways, from 12:00 p.m. to
7:00 p.m. The survey staff will wear NPS volunteer uniforms or Southern
Illinois University logo clothing, to promote easy identification of staff
by visitor groups.
Once the sampling period has begun for the day, the surveyors will
approach the first group of visitors to exit the river at the intercept
location. The group will be asked if they are willing to participate in the

survey. Refusals will be logged along with group size, craft type, the
number of children under 18 in the group, the apparent language spoken,
and field staff comments on the reason for refusal. These data will be
used to assist in non-response bias analyses. If the visitors are willing to
participate, the surveyors will ask the adult group member with the most
recent birthday to serve as the individual respondent. The survey will be
conducted as a face-to-face interview, with all responses recorded on the
questionnaires by survey staff. At the conclusion of the interview, the
group will be thanked for their participation and staff will approach the
next group for participation, to complete a census of river users debarking
at survey sites. Experience from past iterations of this monitoring effort
suggests that the arrival rate of groups is infrequent enough that all
groups arriving at study locations can be contacted for participation This
procedure is a replication of previous monitoring efforts to help ensure
meaningful comparisons. This process will continue throughout the day,
and a series of short rest breaks for survey staff will be included in the
schedule.
(c) Instrument administration:
The questionnaires used in this study are comparable to ones used four
times previously at ONSR, but incorporate updated, standardized
language. Trained survey staff will be stationed at boater take-out sites
such that they can conduct continuous counts of visitor use levels at the
sites. Where take-out sites are not conducive to accurate counts of river
use, nearby locations providing better count vantage points have been
determined (e.g., a bridge crossing overlooking a take-out). Where this
approach is necessary, “count-only days” have been developed using the
same stratification approach as survey sampling, described earlier. One of
two surveys will be administered in this study: a motor boater river use
survey and a non-motorized river use survey (for canoeists, rafters and
tubers), according to the activity type of the participating group. The
questionnaires are virtually identical, with only minor changes in wording
between the two versions (e.g., “float” vs. “boat”). Groups will be read
the following script:
Hello, I am ________________ and am working for the University of
Southern Illinois in cooperation with Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
We are doing a survey of visitors to the park this year. It takes about 10
minutes to complete and your answers are completely voluntary and
anonymous. Would you be willing to answer some questions?
If YES: We would like to talk to the person in your group 18 years or older
who had the most recent birthday.
If NO: I understand. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Participants will be thanked for their time. Groups that do not consent to
participate will be thanked for their time and told, “I understand. I hope
you enjoy your visit.”
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
Previous iterations of this monitoring effort achieved over 90% response
rate. However, response rates have been declining broadly in recent
years. Thus, 60% of visitor groups are expected to participate in the

survey. Based on the previous Ozark surveys, we expect to contact
approximately 800 visitor groups across 10 survey stations located along
the riverways, stratified by weekend and weekday periods, and we expect
480 (or 60%), to agree to respond. With these anticipated sample sizes,
we will be 95% confident that the true proportion in each population,
motorized and non-motorized, is +/- 4 percentage points of the sample
statistic.
(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
An interview log (attached) will be filled out by each survey
administrator to record the disposition of each contact, including the
characteristics of respondent groups and non-respondents groups. Nonresponse bias will be tested by comparing groups on these characteristics
(e.g., group size, time of visit). Results of the analysis will be reported
and any implications for interpretation of the results will be discussed in
the final report.
(f) Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or
instrument (recommended):
The two instruments for this study have been used in the field four times,
and we will be using the same instrument to compare past results to
current results. The content of the surveys has been reviewed by the
principal investigator, additional faculty at Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, and NPS officials.
10.

Total Number of
Initial Contacts |
Expected
Respondents:

800

480

11.

Estimated Time to 1
Complete Initial min
Contact |
Instrument
(mins.):

10
min

12
.

Total 93
Burde
n
Hours:

13.

Reporting Plan: A technical report will be submitted to ONSR. We will also conduct a
workshop for park staff in the fall of 2010. A copy of the technical report
will be submitted to the NPS Social Science Program for inclusion in the
Social Science Studies Collection.
Frequencies means, modes, and standard deviations will be used to describe
visitor characteristics. Cross-tabulations, t-tests, or analyses of variance will
be used to compare perceptions between motorized and non-motorized river
users. In addition, repeated measures analyses will be used to test for trends
in visitor responses over time, to the extent that historical datasets are
available.

OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS SURVEY LOG
Date:
_____________________

Weather:

Sampling site:

Hello, I am ________________ and am
working for the University of Southern Illinois in
cooperation with Ozark National Scenic
Riverways. We are doing a survey of visitors to
the park this year. It takes about 10 minutes to
complete and your answers are completely
voluntary and anonymous. Would you be
willing to answer some questions?

Interviewer
initials,
start
& stop
times, Sampling
Interval
breaks

Already
interviewed Refuse
ID
Group
√
number size
√
Time

If YES: We would like to talk
to the person in your group
18 years or older who had
the most recent birthday.
If NO: I understand. I hope
you enjoy your visit.

Craft
type

#
children
< 18
Language

COMMENTS:
explain reason
for refusal

OMB 1024 0224 (NPS 010-XXX)
Expiration Date: XXXXX
Interviewer:

Name:___________________ Date:_____

Time:_____

Place:_____

Ozark River Use Visitor Survey
Introductory Script for Ozark Visitor Survey
Hello, I am ________________ and am working for the University of Southern Illinois in cooperation with
Ozark National Scenic Riverways. We are doing a survey of visitors to the park this year. It takes about 10 minute
to complete and your answers are completely voluntary and anonymous. Would you be willing to answer some
questions?
If YES: We would like to talk to the person in your group 18 years or older who had the most recent birthday.
If NO: I understand. I hope you enjoy your visit.
*(Additional information provided upon request: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires approval of all federal
government surveys by the Office of Management and Budget. This survey has been approved under this Act.
The Office of Management and Budget control number and expiration date is available at your request. Additional
information about this survey and its approval is available at your request.* The questions on this survey will take
about 10 minutes to complete. All of your answers are voluntary and anonymous.)
1. What is your age? _______ [1. AGE2]
2. How many people are in your group, including yourself? ______ [1. GRP3]
3, Are you ____Male

_____Female [ 1. GEND1]

Visitor’s Experience and Present Visit
4. How many times have you floated (boated) on the Ozark Riverways?________ [1. variation VISITHIS1]
5. Year of first visit________ (enter 2010 if this is their first visit) [1. variation VISITHIS4]
6. (non-motorized version) Where have you floated from today?___________________________________ [3.
variation ITIN3]
6. (motorized version). How many miles did you run UP RIVER?_____ DOWN RIVER?_____ [Topic Area 3 Individual Activities and Uses of Park Resources]
7. On this visit, how long did you and your group stay at Ozark National Scenic Riverways? [3. TRIPC11]
Number of hours, if less than 24 hours ________
OR
Number of days, if 24 hours or more _______
8. On this visit, what activities did you and your group participate in? (List) [3. variation ACT18]
__________________________________________________________________________________

Visitor’s Choice of Recreation Setting
9. Have you visited other rivers for similar float (boat) trips? [Topic Area 1 - Individual Characteristics]
_____Yes Æ Continue to Question 10
_____ No Æ Skip to Question 12
10. Could you name some? __________________________________________________________ [Topic
Area 3 - Individual Activities and Uses of Park Resources]
11. Why did you choose Ozark Riverways today rather than one of the rivers you indicated
above [Topic Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
_____________________________________________________________________________
12. Have you floated (boated) other sections of the Current or Jacks Fork? [Topic Area 3 - Individual Activities
and Uses of Park Resources]
_____ Yes Æ Please name some ___________________________________________
_____ No
13. Did you have a particular reason for choosing this section of the Ozark Riverways today? [Topic Area 6 Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
_____Yes Æ Reason(s) ___________________________________________________
_____No
Visitor’s Perceptions of Change Occurring
14. Since your first visit to Ozark Riverways, have you noticed any changes in conditions? [Topic Area 6 Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
____Yes Æ Continue to Question 15
____No Æ Skip to Question 18
OR
____This is my first visit to Ozark Riverways Æ Skip to Question 18
15. What changes have you noticed? [Topic Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
__________________________________________________________________________________
16. Have these changes affected your use of this river? [Topic Area 3 - Individual Activities and Uses of
Park Resources]
____Yes Æ How? __________________________________________________________________
____No
17. Do you have any ideas about what the National Park Service might be able to do about these changes?
[Topic Area 7 - Individual Opinions on Park Management] _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

Visitor’s Perceptions of River Use Densities
18. On your visit today, did you encounter about the number of people that you expected? [5. variation
CROWD3]
____ I didn’t know what to expect Æ Skip to Question 20
OR
____ Yes Æ Skip to Question 20
____ No Æ Continue to Question 19
19. If NO, was the number of people you encountered [5. variation CROWDATT12]
_____More than you expected
_____Less than you expected
20. In terms of an ideal trip, would you prefer (enter only one) [Topic Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their
Park Experiences]
_____The same number of people as you encountered today?
_____ More than you encountered today?
_____ Less than you encountered today?
_____ No preference
21. Were other river users a problem for you during your float (boat) trip? [Topic Area 6 - Individual
Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
_____Yes Æ How? ________________________________________________________________
_____No
Visitor’s Rating of Trip Conditions
22. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being “not at all important” and 10 being “extremely important”), how important
would it be to you to see less people during your float trip? [Topic Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their
Park Experiences] (non-motorized version only)
Not at all important
1
2
3

4

5

6

7

Extremely important
8
9
10

23. If you had information about other sections of the Ozark Riverways that had fewer canoe floaters, would you
plan to float these on your next visit? [Topic Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences] (nonmotorized version only)
____ Yes
____ No
____ It wouldn’t make any difference
24. Please rate the quality of each of the following from 1 – 4. [6. Variation EVALSERV21] (motorized version
only)
Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
NPS staff helpfulness

1

2

3

4

Overall quality of services and facilities

1

2

3

4

Weather on this trip

1

2

3

4

Your evaluation of this trip

1

2

3

4

25. Do you live in the United States? [1. RES3]
____ Yes Æ What is your Zip Code? ______________________
____ No Æ What country do you live in? __________________
Comments
26. Is there anything else you would like to pass on to the National Park Service? [6. variation OPMGMT7]
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
INTERVIEWER OBSERVE (motorized version only)
Equipment Motor Type:

Prop_____

Jet_____

HP_____

Boat Size: _____X_____