Forest Service McKenzie River and Trail Visitor Survey – Surveys completed

McKenzie River Trail Visitor Survey

Privacy and Paperwork Reduction Act statements: 16 U.S.C. 1a-7 authorized collection of this information. This information will be used by the U.S. Forest Service to better serve the public. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. When analysis of the questionnaires is completed, all name and address files will be destroyed. Thus, the permanent data will be anonymous. Please do not put your name or that of any member of your group on the questionnaire.

Public burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 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 the burden, to Department of Agriculture, Clearance Officer, OIRM, Room 404-W, Washington, D.C. 20250; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (OMB#0596-NEW), Washington, D.C. 20503.

Survey Number: ___________

Date: _____________

Location: ___________

McKenzie River Trail Visitor Survey

These questions ask about your recreational visit to the McKenzie River area today.

1. How long is this visit to the McKenzie River area? [approved NPS]

____ Number of hours if less than 24 hours (go to question 4)

OR

____ Number of days if 24 hours or more (go to question 2)

2. If your trip is more than one day, where are you staying while visiting the McKenzie River? [new question]

 developed Forest Service campground

 private residence

 motel

 Other (please specify: __________________________________)

3. How many days will you spend during this trip within 50 miles of here? [new question]

_________ days

4. On this visit, how many people (adults and children) are in your group, including yourself? [approved NPS]

_____ Number of people in your personal group.

5. Where did you start your trail trip today? [new question]

___________________________________________

6. On this visit to the McKenzie River Trail, were you and your personal group with any of the following types of groups? [approved NPS]

Outfitted and/or guided group O Yes O No

School/educational group O Yes O No

Other organized group O Yes O No

(such as business or Scout group, etc.)

7. On this visit to the McKenzie River, what activities did you and/or your group participate in? (Check all that apply.) .) [approved NPS]

 fishing from the river bank

 hiking on trails

 mountain biking

 trail running

 Swimming/water play

 Wildlife viewing/birdwatching

 Self-reflection/meditation

 Other (please specify): ______________________________________

8. Please indicate how your recreation experience in the McKenzie River area today affected you. [approved NPS format; items specific to this study]

To what extent did this experience…	Not at all					Very much
Lead you to feel relaxed and refreshed	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Help you connect with family and friends	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Help you connect with new people	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Help you escape your daily life and its demands	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Reduce the stress you feel	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Increase your happiness	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Increase your self-confidence	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Enhance your sense of yourself and who you are	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Provide inspiration through the area’s natural beauty	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Enhance your outdoor skills	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Provide adventure, thrill, and excitement	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Enhance your sense of freedom and independence	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Improve your overall quality of life	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Improve you physical health	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Bring back good memories by visiting places you’ve been to before	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Help you feel connected to the natural world	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Strengthen your desire to take care of this forest area	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Motivate you to do volunteer work in your community	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

These questions ask how different things you may have encountered affected the quality of your recreational visit to the McKenzie River area today.

9. About how many groups of hikers did you see today while you were hiking/biking? [approved NPS]

# of hiking groups:______ OR O Did not see any hiking groups

10. About how many groups of mountain bikers did you see today while you were hiking/biking? [approved NPS]

# of biking groups:______ OR O Did not see any biking groups

11. Please indicate how crowded you felt in the following locations during this visit to the McKenzie River. If an item does not apply to your trip, please circle “NA.” [approved NPS]

	Not at all Crowded		Slightly Crowded			Moderately Crowded		Extremely Crowded		NA
While traveling on trails	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	NA
At destinations (such as viewpoints)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	NA
At campsites	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	NA

12. Please indicate whether (and if so, how often) you have ever done each of the following in reference to the McKenzie River. [approved NPS]

Ever Done? If so, how often?

No Yes Rarely Occasionally Often Usually Always

Visit earlier or later in the season

to avoid seeing other people No Yes 1 2 3 4 5

Visit on weekdays to avoid

weekend crowds No Yes 1 2 3 4 5

Go to trails that are less crowded No Yes 1 2 3 4 5

Avoid places that have limits on

the amount of use No Yes 1 2 3 4 5

Go to other areas where you are

less likely to see other people No Yes 1 2 3 4 5

13. The following characteristics of recreational areas can influence the quality of a trip. For each item you noticed, please indicate (1 to 7) how they affected your wilderness experience on this trip. If you did not notice an item, circle “nn.” [1996; approved NPS format, with site-specific items]

Not How much of a problem was it?

Noticed Not at all Slight Moderate Big

Conflict between boaters and anglers* nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Large numbers of day users nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Trail wear and tear nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Rules that restrict where people can camp nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Trampled areas where people have camped

or walked nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Large groups nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Trails that are poorly marked nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Inconsiderate behavior by other visitors nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Large numbers of overnight users nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Area rules/regulations not adequately enforced nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Litter left behind by visitors nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Too many rules or regulations nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Human waste nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Contact with a wilderness ranger or volunteer nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Having to fill out a permit or registration form nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Commercially outfitted or guided parties nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Conflict between anglers* nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Erosion at popular stopping points nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Presence of human waste or toilet paper nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Lack of adequate parking at launches nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Special events, such as marathons, on the McKenzie

River Trail nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Unsafe or discourteous behavior by bikers along the

McKenzie River Trail nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Unsafe or discourteous behavior by hikers along the

McKenzie River Trail nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Encountering large groups of bikers along the McKenzie

River Trail nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Encountering large groups of hikers along the McKenzie

River Trail nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The number of shore anglers nn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

* 1996 items

These questions ask for your views about how recreational use should be managed on the McKenzie River Trail.

14. The following is a list of management actions that might be taken along the McKenzie River. Please indicate your support or opposition for each. [approved NPS format; 1996 items]

	Strongly Favor	Favor	Neutral	Oppose	Strongly Oppose
Provide more information to visitors about appropriate behavior	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Provide new permanent toilets	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Educate visitors about trespass on private land	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Add more river rangers for enforcement
Increase parking at existing trailheads	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Limit group size for hiking parties	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Limit group size for mountain biking parties*	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Begin charging user fees to offset management costs.	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Limit the number of hikers if most visitors feel crowded	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Limit the number of mountain bikers if most visitors feel crowded	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Implement a “one-way” travel policy for bikers on the McKenzie River Trail*	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
Prohibit ‘events’ like marathon runs along the McKenzie River Trail*	+2	+1	0	-1	-2

* New items

15. What is the maximum amount of time it is acceptable to be in sight of other trail users on this stretch of the McKenzie River Trail? [modified 1996]

0 – 10—20 – 30 - 40 – 50 – 60 – 70 – 80 – 90 – 100 Percent of the time

OR

__ time in sight of other visitors matters to me, but I can’t specify a number

__ time in sight of other visitors doesn’t matter to me.

16. If McKenzie River managers were to base their decisions about use limits on the opinions of users, what is your opinion about the maximum number of groups per day it is acceptable to see on this stretch of the McKenzie River Trail? (Mark one.) [Similar to approved NPS; used in USFS wilderness studies]

○ The number of other groups I see doesn’t matter to me.

○ The number of groups I see matters to me, but I can’t specify a number.

○ The maximum number of groups per day in this area should be:

0—2—4—6—8—10—12—14—16—18—20—22—24—26—28—30—32—34—36—38—40-->40

(Make a mark on the line)

17. Do you feel that a limit is needed on the number of people using this wilderness, recognizing that your own opportunity to visit this wilderness might be limited in the future? [used widely in USFS wilderness studies]

○ Yes, a limit is needed now to LOWER current use

○ Yes, a limit is needed now to HOLD at current use

○ No limit is needed now, but should be imposed in the future when overuse occurs

○ No limit needed now or in the future

Individual and Socio-Demographic Questions

The following questions ask for some information about you so we can describe the types of people who recreate on the McKenzie River.

18. How important is the McKenzie River to you as a place to recreate? (Mark one.) [1996]

19. What year were you born? ________ [approved NPS]

20. Are you  Male or  Female? [approved NPS]

21. What is your zipcode? _______________

22. How far do you live from this stretch of the McKenzie River? [new question]

_________ miles

23. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed? (Mark one.) [approved NPS]

O Less than high school O Two-year college degree

O Some high school O Four-year college degree

O High school graduate O Masters Degree

O Vocational/trade school certificate O Ph.D., M.D., J.D., or equivalent

O Some college

24. How many times have you visited this section of the McKenzie river for recreation before this trip? [1996 survey; modified from approved NPS]

○ Never. (First trip.) ○ 11-15 ○ 51-100

○ 1-5 ○ 16-20 ○ More than 100

○ 6-10 ○ 21-50

25. What year did you first visit this part of the McKenzie River for recreation? [1996]

________________

Economic Valuation

26. For the following categories, please estimate how much you personally will spend for your entire trip within 50 miles of here. Please include advance payments, such as for lodging or guides. [new question]

$___ Motel, lodge, cabin, B&B, etc.

$___ Camping

$___ Restaurants & Bars

$___ Groceries

$___ Gasoline & Oil

$___ Local Transportation (bus, shuttle, etc.)

$___ Recreation & Entertainment (include guide fees and tips, equipment rental)

$___ Equipment, souvenirs, clothing, & other miscellaneous purchases

27. In total how much did you personally spend on this entire trip, from the time you left home until you return home? [new question]

$_________