Headwaters Mail-Back Survey

OMB #xxxx-xxxx, Exp. 00/00/xxxx

Headwaters Forest Reserve Visitor Use Survey

1. How many people, including yourself, were in your group on this visit to Headwaters Forest Reserve? _____

How many people per vehicle? _____

How many adults? ____

How many children? _____

b. What time of day did your group arrive at Headwaters Forest Reserve? ____

c. About how long did your visit last?

( ) less than one hour

( ) between 1 and 2 hours

( ) from 2 to 4 hours

( ) more than 4 hours

d. How far did your party travel on the trail on your visit? Please describe the farthest point you reached. ________________________________________________________________________

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2. Was this your first trip to Headwaters Forest Reserve?

( ) Yes (if yes, skip to #3)

( ) No

a. If no, when (what year) was your first trip? _______

b. Including this trip, approximately how many times have you visited Headwaters Forest Reserve? _______

c. How often do you visit Headwaters Forest Reserve?

( ) 1 time per week or more

( ) 1-2 times per month

( ) once every few months

( ) 1-2 times per year or less

3. We are interested in knowing what activities you participated in during this visit to Headwaters Forest Reserve, and how important each activity was to your decision to make this trip. Please check one of three responses for activity.

This activity was Participated, Did not

a major reason for but not a major participate

this trip reason for this trip in this activity

Hiking on trails ( ) ( ) ( )

Spending time alone ( ) ( ) ( )

Socializing ( ) ( ) ( )

Nature study ( ) ( ) ( )

History or

Cultural study ( ) ( ) ( )

Wildlife viewing ( ) ( ) ( )

Photography ( ) ( ) ( )

Geocaching ( ) ( ) ( )

Questing ( ) ( ) ( )

Dog walking ( ) ( ) ( )

Wheelchair use ( ) ( ) ( )

Biking ( ) ( ) ( )

Other ( ) ( ) ( )

If “Other”, please describe: ________________________________________________________________________

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4. Area managers would like to know how people learn about Headwaters Forest Reserve so they can improve the quality of visitor information. From the following sources of information you may have used to plan your trip, please choose the three most used sources by circling their numbers.

1. Personal experience 10. BLM website

2. Friends or relatives 11. Website of other

3. Magazine articles state or federal land

4. Newspaper articles management agency

5. Maps 12. Outdoors Cool! website

6. Books or other website

7. Information from the BLM 13. PSAs or TV ads

8. Information from other state or 14. Other (please describe)

federal land management agencies ________________________

9. Local Chamber of Commerce ________________________

5. Please tell us which three types of information you would find most helpful in planning your trip to Headwaters Forest Reserve. Check up to three types.

Information on:

( ) Safety

( ) Specific trail descriptions

( ) Natural resource values of the area

( ) Cultural/historical resource values of the area

( ) Directions to trailheads

( ) Available facilities

( ) Maps

( ) Recommended items to pack along

( ) Low-impact backcountry use guidelines

( ) Rules/regulations

( ) Recreation opportunities

( ) General weather conditions of the area

( ) Other______________________________________________________________

6. Please estimate the number of other visitors you saw on this visit to Headwaters Forest Reserve: ______

7. How did you feel about the number of other visitors you saw during your visit to Headwaters Forest Reserve?

( ) Saw too many

( ) Saw neither too many nor too few

( ) Saw too few

( ) Does not matter to me

8. Did you notice any resource impacts to the Headwaters Forest Reserve environment that you believe were caused by other recreationists?

( ) No

( ) Yes. If yes, please describe the resource impact(s) to the Headwaters Forest Reserve environment that you noticed:

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9. Did the behavior of any other group or individual interfere with your enjoyment of Headwaters Forest Reserve on this visit?

( ) No

( ) Yes. If yes, please describe what type of behavior interfered with your enjoyment of Headwaters Forest Reserve:

________________________________________________________________________

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10. The following items are problems you may have encountered on your visit to Headwaters Forest Reserve. Please indicate how much of a problem each item was for you.

Major Moderate Minor Not a Don’t

Problem Problem Problem Problem Know

Possible Resource Problems

1. Trails poorly

maintained ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

2. Trails poorly

marked ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

3. Trail erosion ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

4. Polluted streams ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Possible Management Problems

1. Not enough trails

through the area ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

2. Not enough parking

spaces at entry points ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

3. Not enough information

available on the area’s

natural and cultural

history ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Major Moderate Minor Not a Don’t

Problem Problem Problem Problem Know

4. Too many rules and

regulations ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

5. Area rules and regulations

not well publicized ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

6. Not enough information

on trails ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

7. Not enough information

on number of other

users ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

8. Not enough information

on when the area is

heavily used ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Possible People Problems

1. Litter ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

2. Human waste ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

3. Vandalism ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

4. Pets off leash ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

5. Rowdy or noisy

people ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

6. Too many large

groups ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

7. Too many people in

the area at the same

time ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

8. Bicyclist issues ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

11. Please indicate how important each of the following services was to you when you planned for and visited Headwaters Forest Reserve. Then, using a school report card format, please grade the BLM with an A (excellent), B (above average or very good), C (average), D (below average or not very good), F (failing), or DK (Don’t Know) to let us know how well you think the BLM is managing the area with regard to each of these services.

Very Somewhat Not Very Grade

Important Important Important Important for BLM

a. Information signs at

trailheads have necessary

information ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

b. Helpful directional

signs to the

area ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

c. Clean

restrooms ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

d. Access roads in good

conditions ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

e. Adequate

parking ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

f. Telephone requests

handled without

delay ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

g. Prompt response

to written

requests ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

h. BLM people in the area

are friendly and

courteous ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

i. BLM people in the area

are professional and

competent ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

j. Your vehicle is safe

from the threat of

vandalism ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

Very Somewhat Not Very Grade

Important Important Important Important for BLM

k. Managers notify you

of natural hazards

in the area ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

l. BLM office open

during convenient

times ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

m. Able to leave a phone

message for managers

after hours ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

n. Opportunity for personal

freedom without too much

restriction by

managers ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

o. Able to find a BLM

person when

needed ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

p. Brochures/maps clearly

communicate information

about recreation

opportunities ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ______

12. There are many ways Headwaters Forest Reserve can be managed. Please indicate your support or opposition to each item listed below by checking the appropriate box.

Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly

Support Support Neutral Oppose Oppose

Possible Management Actions

a. Expand the

trail system ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

b. Charge a

small use fee ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

c. Have a donation box at

the trailhead ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

d. Expand trailhead

parking ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

e. Acquire additional land to add to

the reserve ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

f. Provide more educational signs about the plants

and animals ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

g. Provide more educational signs about the

area’s history ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

14. The BLM would like to know your opinion on the current dog policy and the number of people and their dogs that use the Headwaters Forest Reserve. Please answer the following questions as best as you can.

a. Do you know what the current dog policy is for Headwaters Forest Reserve?

___Yes No___ Not sure___

b. Do you believe the rules and regulations concerning dogs are adequately displayed by the BLM at the area? ___Yes No___ Don’t Know___

at the BLM office? ___Yes No___ Don’t Know___

on the BLM website? ___Yes No___ Don’t Know___

c. Do you believe the rules and regulations concerning dogs are adequately enforced by the BLM at the area? ___Yes No___ Don’t Know___

d. Have you ever brought a dog to the area? ___Yes No___

If Yes, do you bring a leash for your dog(s)?

___Always

___Sometimes

___Rarely

___Never

e. Has the primary reason for any of your previous visits to Headwaters Forest Reserve been for dog walking? ___Yes No___

If Yes, how often?

( ) 1 time per week or more

( ) 1-2 times per month

( ) once every few months

( ) 1-2 times per year or less

f. Do you ever visit the HFR specifically because no leash is required for your dog(s)?

___Yes No___

g. Do you believe that the rule requiring dogs be kept under voice control is working?

___Yes No___ Don’t Know___

h. On any of your visits to the HFR, have you ever been bothered by dogs, including any possible impacts from dogs?

___Yes No___

If Yes, please explain the nature of the disturbance or impact:

_______________________________________________________________________

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i. Do you believe that the BLM should implement a more restrictive dog policy?

___Yes No___

If Yes, please explain what you feel should be done:

________________________________________________________________________

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j. Please indicate the degree to which you would support or oppose each of the following:

Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly

Support Support Neutral Oppose Oppose

a. require all dogs

to be on leash ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

b. prohibit dogs

from the HFR ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

c. allow dogs only

on weekdays ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

k. If the policy on dogs were to be made more restrictive, would you be more likely or less likely to visit the area?

___More likely Less likely___ No change___

15. What did you like most about your trip to Headwaters Forest Reserve?

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16. What did you like least about your trip to Headwaters Forest Reserve?

________________________________________________________________________

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17. Did this trip to Headwaters Forest Reserve meet your expectations?

( ) Yes

( ) No

Please explain: ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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Finally, in order to make comparisons with visitors to other similar areas, we would like some general information about you. All information is anonymous and will not be identified with your name.

18. Do you belong to any of the following? (Check all that apply)

( ) Hiking clubs or organizations

( ) Sportsman clubs or organizations

( ) Conservation or environmental organizations

( ) Historical/cultural groups or organizations

19. What is your age? _________ years

20. Your gender? ( ) Male Female ( )

21. Are you Hispanic or Latino? (A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.)

( ) Yes ( ) No

22. Please select the racial category or categories with which you most closely identify. Check as many as apply.

( ) American Indian or Alaska Native

( ) Asian

( ) Black or African-American

( ) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

( ) White

23. What is the highest level of education you have attained? (circle one.)

Grade School High School College Graduate School

24. Are you currently a student?

( ) Yes ------ full time ( ) or part time ( )

( ) No

25. So that the BLM can know where most of their Headwaters visitors come from, please provide your postal zip code.

_____________

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Space is provided on the next page for any additional comments you would like to make.

Are there any other issues that Headwaters Forest Reserve managers need to address or any other comments you would like to make about the area and its management?

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Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (1004-XXXX), 1849 C Street, NW, Room 2134LM, Attention: Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer (WO-630), Washington, D.C. 20240.