Question Justifications - Supporting Statement A

Question Justifications
Primary Objectives in accordance with the Recreation Visitor Use Surveys:
(1) Recreation Preferences: The general recreation questions are intended to supply sufficient
data to determine:
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the overall existing recreation conditions,
current user demand,
user preference,
emerging trends,
changes in demographic profile of users,
changing values,
user expectations and needs, and
the quality of the recreation experience for a variety of activities within a particular
geographic area.

The information obtained in the surveys will allow Reclamation to adequately assess potential
impacts to recreation resources and determine the amount of funds necessary to meet pubic needs
and increase public satisfaction.
(2) Visitation Estimation: The visitation questions are intended to gather information from
current recreation users as to how their visitation by recreation activity might change under
different river flow and reservoir surface elevation conditions. Since the hydrologic
conditions vary throughout the recreation season, the intent is to gather sufficient reservoir
surface elevation, river flow, and visitation data for estimating visitation impacts using linear
interpolation. By gathering this type of information at various points (i.e., low and high
thresholds where visitation goes to zero), a total visitation curve can be created. Visitation
estimates based on alternative specific river flows and reservoir elevations can then be
developed by inserting the fluctuation pattern between data points. Knowing the visitation at
a particular area allows us to adequately plan for and meet public demand for water-based
recreation.
(3) Travel Cost Modeling: These types of questions allow us to gather recreation specific user
data for possible travel cost modeling that can be used to estimate recreation economic
values.
(4) Regional Economic Impacts: These types of questions are intended to gather data on per
trip expenditures by recreation activity for use in the regional economic impact analysis.
The expenditure per trip and economic sector would be applied to estimates of trips by
recreation activity and alternatively obtained from the interpolation analysis. The
expenditures by economic sector would then be used in conjunction with a regional
input/output model to estimate impacts of a proposed Federal action on regional income,
jobs, etc.

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(5) Ethnicity and Race: These types of questions are intended to gather statistical data to be
used to establish a visitor profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters.
(6) Questions That May Be Non-applicable: Certain aspects of questions within a specific
survey may not be applicable to the recreation site being surveyed. For example, questions 7
and 8 of the Recreation Management Survey and question 5 of the River Recreation Quality
Survey contain a list of issues and/or items that may or may not be present at a recreation
site. In order to avoid an unnecessary burden on the respondent, those issues and items that
are not applicable to the recreation site will be deleted from the question. Reclamation will
review each survey questionnaire when conducting an information collection and delete
items that are not applicable to the site being surveyed. Note: Reclamation will, under no
circumstances, add questions or items to a survey or question that have not already been
approved by OMB.
Generally, all the collected information as described in this Question Justification section will be
used in a variety of planning reports, studies, and NEPA documents to address existing baseline
conditions. In addition, the information will be used to address and analyze potential impacts of
proposed Federal actions. Tabulated results will allow decisionmakers to make informed
decisions on supplying appropriate facilities and services to meet the needs of the public.

Justification of Questions by Survey Questionnaire:
Marina Survey
Q1 and 2: Questions are intended to determine if respondents are boaters and, if not, the
respondents will not be asked to participate in the survey.
Q3: Question is intended to determine the type and size of the boat that respondents are using on
the lake or river being surveyed and establish the boater user group(s) that most often frequents
the waterbody. Information is used to describe the existing condition.
Q4: Question is intended to solicit respondent past and current use of marina facilities for
mooring their boat. Information can help determine future use of marina facilities.
Q5, 6, and 7: Questions are intended to generate information that can help determine the existing
boating environment at the lake or river being studied and where respondents most often
participate in their boating activity.
Q8: Question is intended to help identify the number of visitors who participate in boating
activities at the lake or reservoir being studied. Information will help in determining total
visitation and the recreation boating economic value to the local area.
Q9 thru 16: Questions are intended to help in determining the boating opportunities
(moorings/slips), and the goods and services that could be provided by a concession operation at

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the river or lake being studied. The information helps in determining the feasibility of providing
these opportunities to the boating public.
Q17 thru 19: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor
profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.
Campground Survey
Section A: In this section, Reclamation is interested in learning about the camping activities of
respondents during the last 12 months along with factors that influence the location(s) of
campsites visited by respondents.
Q1, 2, and 3: Questions are intended to determine the total number of camping trips including
overnight trips taken in the last 12 months, and recreation activities participated in while
camping. The information establishes the current recreation camping environment/condition at
the area being surveyed and will be used for future planning efforts.
Q4: Question is intended to gather information pertaining to how important respondents feel
about a variety of facilities, services, amenities, and services relevant to their camping
experience. The information will be used to help determine future opportunities provided to
campers that will increase user satisfaction at various sites, and target funds to areas where
improvements are most beneficial.
Section B: In this section, Reclamation is interested in obtaining information about respondents’
camping trips to a specific area being surveyed. The information helps in determining use
patterns of respondents.
Q1 and 2: Questions are intended to determine if a respondent’s camping trip to the area being
surveyed is the primary purpose of the trip (i.e., destination spot) or part of a larger trip itinerary
and distance traveled to the site. The information helps to determine the current recreation
profile and existing environment/condition.
Q3 thru 7: Questions are intended to determine the make-up of respondents group, type of
facilities being used, type of primary recreational equipment being used (i.e., boat, bicycle,
fishing equipment, etc.), and type of activities respondents and members of their camping party
are participating in at the recreation site. The information helps to determine the user profile and
existing recreation environment/condition.
Q8 thru 11: Questions to determine the manner in which respondents rate the quality of existing
facilities, services, and amenities at the campground being visited and how the respondent
personally feels about the campground. The information will help assess the overall quality of
existing facilities and what needs to be accomplished to increase user satisfaction at the site.
Section C: In this section, Reclamation is concerned about how respondents feel about the fees
at the area being surveyed.

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Q1 and 2: Questions are intended to identify how important the site is to the respondent in
relationship to the fee(s) paid, personal views on fees under a variety of circumstances, and how
the allocation of fees should be applied. The information will be used to establish an appropriate
fee schedule that meets user expectations relevant to the services provided. Actions taken will
direct funds to the appropriate places to increase user satisfaction with the site being surveyed.
Section D – Q 1 thru 3: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a
visitor profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with
pertinent statistical information to make informed decisions.
River Instream Flow Survey and Reservoir Preferred Water Level Survey
Note: These two surveys are discussed together because the questions are the same except that
one is tailored for a river and the other is for a reservoir. The only difference is the types of
recreation activities discussed (i.e., activities differ depending on if you are visiting a lake or
river). These surveys have been used in a variety of studies and have been field tested and have
proven to be effective especially concerning the information related to describing different river
flows and reservoir elevations and the impact to users that may be caused by changing the
hydrological conditions of a body of water.
Q1, 2, and 3: Questions are intended to generate information that will allow Reclamation to
determine the user’s current perception of the river or reservoir they are visiting during their
trip(s) and their feelings about changing the available water supply. The information will assist
in documenting the current recreation condition at the site and analyze the impact it would have
on the recreation environment if water levels would change.
Q4 and 5: Questions are intended to get respondents to think about the different recreation
activities they are pursuing during their trips as well as to introduce the concept of a primary
recreation activity. The information would be used for future planning efforts.
Q6 and 7: Questions provide information for the current trip data point. The allocation of trips
by “season” helps identify which months the river flows or reservoir elevations would be most
important for each primary activity. The information allows Reclamation managers to anticipate
when peak visitation occurs for certain activities and enables them to manage the area
accordingly (i.e., plan for peak visitation periods and provide the appropriate number of
personnel to manage the situation).
Q8 and 9: Questions are intended to assist in describing the existing recreation condition in the
area by asking the respondent for the number of visits and days or hours spent participating in
their primary activity. Information allows Reclamation to concentrate planning efforts and
funding on facilities and services that best support certain recreation activities and that will
increase user satisfaction.

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Q10: Question identifies those facilities that are most often used by visitors to lakes and rivers.
Collected information will be used for planning purposes and to concentrate funding for
maintenance of those facilities that are most often used by visitors.
Q11 and 12: Questions gather data on per trip recreation expenditures for a regional economic
analysis. The percentage of the total expenditures associated with each category in Q11 is
applied to the estimate of total expenditures by primary activity (Q12), with some minor
adjustment, to estimate expenditures per trip by activity and expenditure category. These
expenditures are then multiplied by the estimated number of trips by activity and a variety of
alternatives from the interpolation analysis and then summed to estimate total expenditures by
category for use in the regional economic analysis. The regional economic analysis would
obviously focus on those expenditures which occur within the local area (Q11).
Q13 and 14: Questions gather information data on preferred flows and reservoir elevations by
primary activities and the associated changes in trips and days or hours per trip under preferred
conditions. This preferred flow or elevation data point represents the pinnacle of the total
visitation curve.
Q15: Question generates data on the upper and lower conditions where recreationists would stop
participating in each primary activity. This reflects the point where total visitation curve would
hit the horizontal axis. Visitation is assumed to be zero at these two points.
Q16 thru 21: Questions are intended to determine what types of user conflicts are occurring on
the rivers and reservoirs, with whom are involved in the conflict, and the actions undertaken by
the user(s) if conflicts were encountered. The information will assist in determining the existing
recreation condition and potential impacts under different alternatives, which may be considered
when implementing a management strategy that impacts changes in river flow and reservoir
elevation. The information allows Reclamation to make adjustments to its management
strategies in order to reduce user conflicts, increase the quality of the respondent’s recreation
experience, and increase user satisfaction with the site.
Q22 thru 24: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor
profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.
Lake/River Visit Expenditure Survey
Part I – Lake Trips Worksheet is intended to gather baseline information about respondent’s day
and overnight trips to a number of lakes or reservoirs in the area. The information helps
determine the existing user pattern of the visitor to the geographic area.
Part II – Q1, 2, and 3 are intended to gather information related to the amount of time spent at the
lakes identified in Part I and the activities respondents participated in at those lakes or rivers.
The information will be used for future planning purposes to help determine where funds can be
targeted at a particular site to meet the needs and expectations of visitors.

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Part III, Q 4 and 5: Questions are intended to collect information that will be used to determine
the recreation economic value that visiting the lakes/rivers listed will have to the local economy
and how the expenses in the worksheet compare with respondents typical trips. The information
will be used to compare trips to a lake or river to other trips taken by respondents.
Part IV – Q6 thru 8: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a
visitor profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with
pertinent statistical information to make informed decisions.
Recreation Activities Survey
Section A – Q1 and 2: Questions are considered screening questions that determine the activities
visitors are participating in and, in order of importance, which of the five activities are the most
important to respondents. Question 2 is also intended to generate the number of people
participating in the five major activities and the percentage of time spent engaging is such
activities. The information will be used to help assess the current recreation environment (i.e.,
visitation, activities participated in, etc.), evaluate existing programs, and implement actions that
can add value to the quality of the visitors experience at the area being surveyed. Since different
activities have different recreation economic values, the collected information can provide
Reclamation with the total value that recreation contributes to the local economy.
Section B – General Activity Characteristics, Q3 thru 7: Questions are intended to provide
Reclamation with basic information about the number of times the site was visited when a
respondent was participating in their primary activity. The information is to help determine
visitation to the area.
Section C – Activity Behavior (Boating, Fishing, Hunting, and Camping), Q8 thru 23: Questions
are intended to collect information about the activities respondents are participating in while
visiting the area being surveyed. The information is generally used to better understand the
existing situation or condition at the area being surveyed and assist with future planning efforts.
Q24 thru 30: Questions are intended to identify the barriers and constraints to participating in
primary activities and determine the quality of the recreation experience for respondents (i.e.,
user satisfaction). The information will be used to identify measures in order to improve the
quality of the recreation experience for visitors and assess the respondent’s satisfaction with the
area.
Q31 thru 33: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor
profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.
Recreation Management Survey
Note: The tables in questions Q7 and 8 will be adjusted to only include those items that are
relevant to the site where the surveys are being administered.

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Section A – Activity Participation, Q1 and 2: Questions are intended to identify all the activities
that respondents participate in at the area being surveyed and the number of times in a typical
year that respondents participate in the activities. The information will be used to describe and
understand the existing recreation environment and assist in future planning efforts.
Section B – Fees for use of Facilities, Q3 thru 5: Questions are intended to measure the attitude
of respondents to charging fees for participating in different activities and, if respondents paid a
fee, were they satisfied with the value of the fee paid. Specifically, Q5 is asked because
Reclamation is interested in determining if the respondent used one of the America the Beautiful
Passes, The National Parks, and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, to access the recreation site as
opposed to paying a general fee. The information will be used to help determine if the fee
schedule may need to be adjusted.
Section C – Park Ranger, Q6: Question is intended to simply find out what the respondent thinks
about the current presence of the Park Ranger(s) at the area. The information will be used to
adjust, if necessary, the Park Ranger activities.
Sections D and E – Management Issue Areas and Management Performance, Q7 and 8: The
questions ask the respondent to identify how serious they think a variety of potential issues are at
the area and whether respondents are satisfied with the management of multiple items. The
information will be used by decisionmakers in adjusting management strategies to better serve
the recreating public.
Section F – User Profile/Demographics, Q9 thru 11: Questions are intended to gather statistical
data to be used to establish a visitor profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters
and provide managers with pertinent statistical information to make informed decisions.
Fee Survey
Q1 thru 5: Questions are the same as Q1 thru 5 of the Recreation Management Survey
mentioned above and the collected information will be used for the same purposes (see the above
section).
Q6 thru 8: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor profile
of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.
Recreation Development Survey
Q1: This question is intended to introduce the respondent to a proposed development and
indicate whether or not the respondent would choose to use other recreation sites if the proposed
development was completed (i.e., identifying the net benefits in the regional or local area of
completing the proposed development).
Q2 and 3: Questions are intended to get respondents to indicate the extent of fees they would be
willing to pay to assist in maintaining the proposed development rather than do discard it and, if

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they are not willing to assist in paying for the development, why not? The information will be
used by decisionmakers to determine the value of completing the proposed development and
whether to proceed with development based on feedback from the respondent.
Q4 thru 6: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor profile
of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.
Water Level Impacts on Recreation Boating Use Survey
Q1: Question is intended to determine the number of trips respondents made to the
lake/reservoir being surveyed and the number of days or hours spent at the site for each trip. The
collected information will be used to understand respondents current boating use patterns which
can then be compared with respondent’s response to the other questions in the survey.
Q2: Question is intended to collect information from respondents about how their use patterns
might change given a scenario where the water level was altered by a specific number of feet.
The information will be used to compare the existing use pattern (i.e., number of trips and length
of stay) of respondents and what their use patterns might be with the change in water elevation.
Q3 thru 6: The questions are intended to determine what, if anything, the respondents would do
if they knew what the water elevation was before leaving on their trip. Depending on the
respondent’s responses for a variety of possibilities, information will be used to determine the
potential impacts on boat users resulting from the prescribed change in water elevation.
Q7 thru 11: Questions are the same as Q2 thru Q6 but address a different water level reduction
(i.e., scenario 2). The information obtained from all the questions will help in identifying
impacts (amount of trips and length of stay) under two different scenarios compared to the
existing condition.
Q12 thru 13: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor
profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.
River Recreation Quality Survey
Note: Question 5 will be adjusted to only include those items that are relevant to the site where
the surveys are being administered.
Q1 and 2: Questions are intended to collect information on how important the river is to
respondents overall and for different sections/stretches of the river being studied. The
information will be used to establish baseline information about the river and to describe the
existing condition in a variety of planning reports and studies.

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Q3: Question is intended to collect information from respondents concerning several factors
such as water quality, erosion, conflicts, economics, and use of the river by outfitters/guides.
Again, this information allows Reclamation to establish a baseline condition.
Q4: Question is intended to collect information about the availability and quality of a variety of
opportunities and facilities on or along the river. This information will be used to establish a
baseline condition to compare with potential changes to the river corridor.
Q5: Question is intended to solicit information from respondents concerning how they feel about
a variety of proposed management actions. Collected information will be used to compare with
information from the first four questions.
Q6 and 7: Questions are intended to collect information about how respondents compare the
river being studied to other rivers and how the river being studied provides specific personal and
area benefits. The information will be used to document how visitors to the area view the
importance of the river to the visitor as well as the local area and to assist in future planning
efforts.
Q8: Question is intended to collect information about potential problems along the river
corridor. The information will be used to change management strategies, which would correct
identified problems and increase user satisfaction with the opportunities, facilities, and services
along the river being studied.
Q9 thru 11: Questions are intended to gather statistical data to be used to establish a visitor
profile of recreation users to Reclamation lands and waters and provide managers with pertinent
statistical information to make informed decisions.

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