Past Participant Survey

OMB Control No. 1040-0001

National Riparian Service Team &

State Riparian Teams

Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) Riparian Assessment Training, Grazing Management for Riparian Areas Training, and Site-Specific Riparian Assistance

Past Participant Survey

National Riparian Service Team

US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management • US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

In partnership with

US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Privacy Act of 1974 and the regulation in 43 CFR 2.48(d) provide that you be furnished the following information:

AUTHORITY: Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.)

PRINCIPAL PURPOSE: The information is to be used to gauge customer satisfaction regarding the delivery, quality, and value of the products, information and services provided by BLM personnel, contractors and partners in the Creeks and Communities Strategy.

ROUTINE USES: DOI will use the comments provided to identify opportunities for Strategy improvement.

EFFECT OF NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION: None.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to inform you that:

• BLM collects this information to properly implement the Creeks and Communities Strategy.

• Information will be used to determine opportunities for improvement.

• Response to this request is voluntary, and there is no effect for not providing the information.

• BLM would like you to know that you do not have to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

BURDEN HOURS STATEMENT: Public reporting burden for this survey is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the survey. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this survey to: U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (1040-0001), Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer (WO-630), 1849 C Street, N.W., Mail Stop 401LS, Washington, D.C. 20240.

OMB CONTROL # 1040-0001 Expiration Date March 31, 2012

1. EXPERIENCE WITH THE NATIONAL RIPARIAN SERVICE TEAM & STATE RIPARIAN TEAMS

In this section, we are interested in learning about how you participated in the National Riparian Service Team or State Riparian Team trainings or assistance between 2003 and 2010, as well as how you felt about the process and program.

The National Riparian Service Team (NRST) and State Riparian Teams facilitate a number of trainings and services in communities. In particular, the team offers:

• Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) Riparian Assessment Training

• Grazing Management for Riparian Areas Training

• NRST Assistance in communities focused on addressing issues specific to a particular riparian area, often with some components of PFC training, Grazing Management training, and/or conflict resolution incorporated

1. How many times have you participated in a Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) training offered by the National Riparian Service Team (NRST) or a State Riparian Team? ________________

2. How many times have you participated in a Grazing Management training offered by the NRST or a State Riparian Team? ________________

3. How many times have you participated in NRST Assistance facilitated by the NRST or a State Riparian Team? ______________

4. Did participating in one NRST or State Riparian Team training or assistance inspire you to attend another?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable – if you have only participated in one offering

5. Did you participate in the trainings or assistance as part of your business or work?

• Y es

• No (GO to #6)

1. F or whom did you work at that time? (Name of business, agency, Tribe, or organization): _____________________________________________­­__________________________

2. What kind of work did you do or what discipline did you affiliate yourself with? (e.g., hydrology, ranching, conservation) _______________________________________________________________________

3. Were you the only member of your business, agency, Tribe, or organization to participate in the trainings or assistance?

• Yes (GO to #8)

• No (GO to #8)

6. Did you participate in the trainings or assistance as part of your volunteer work?

• Y es

• No (GO to #7)

1. F or whom did you volunteer at the time? (Name of organization): _______________________________________________________________________

2. What kind of volunteer work did you do? ________________________________________

3. Were you the only member of this organization to participate in the trainings or assistance?

• Yes (GO to #8)

• No (GO to #8)

7. Did you participate in the trainings or assistance as a community member just generally interested in wetland-riparian areas?

• Y es

• No (GO to #8)

1. W hat interested you about riparian management or Proper Functioning Condition methods and concepts at the time? ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2. Were you the only member of your community to participate in the trainings or assistance?

• Yes (GO to #8)

• No (GO to #8)

8. Which of these categories best described your relationship to wetland-riparian areas at the time of the trainings or assistance? (Select all that apply)

• Public land manager - tribal, state, federal, county

• Private land owner

• Public land recreationist (e.g. for hiking, hunting, fishing)

• Public land grazing permittee

• Other: _____________________________________

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about ALL of the National Riparian Service Team or State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in? (Circle only one response per item)
	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
Instructors communicated equally well with specialists and lay people.	1	2	3	4	5
Interacting with specialists and stakeholders at field sites was useful.	1	2	3	4	5
The reference materials were helpful.	1	2	3	4	5
Relationships among participants were strengthened as a result of the trainings or assistance.	1	2	3	4	5
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about ALL of the National Riparian Service Team or State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in? (Circle only one response per item)
	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
Instructors/facilitators created a respectful environment for dialogue.	1	2	3	4	5
Instructors/facilitators handled conflict respectfully.	1	2	3	4	5
Follow-up activities or information were provided in a timely manner.	1	2	3	4	5

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Circle only one response per item)
	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) is a good tool for assessing riparian function.	1	2	3	4	5
PFC is a good tool for developing a common language among stakeholders.	1	2	3	4	5
PFC is a good tool for encouraging joint fact finding between agency experts and stakeholders.	1	2	3	4	5

19. Additional comments about your experience with the National Riparian Service Team or State Riparian Team trainings or assistance:

2. UNDERSTANDING

In this section, we are interested in learning about how all of the NRST and State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you participated in have affected your understanding of various topics.

Technical Topics and Skills
How much have ALL of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in improved your understanding about… ? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A little	A fair amount	A good deal	A great deal	Don’t Know
The relationship between riparian function and the attainment of specific values (i.e., wildlife habitat, forage, or water quality)	1	2	3	4	5	0
The connection between riparian areas and the larger watershed	1	2	3	4	5	0
Why an experienced, inter-disciplinary team is needed to determine a functionality rating for a riparian area	1	2	3	4	5	0
The importance of looking at existing records or information about the riparian area prior to PFC assessment	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to determine a functionality rating for a riparian area using the Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) checklist	1	2	3	4	5	0
Riparian attributes and processes (i.e., the interaction of water, vegetation, and soil/landform)	1	2	3	4	5	0
Riparian area potential and capability, as they relate to function	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to use PFC assessment data to set riparian objectives	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to use various management strategies to meet riparian objectives	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to use PFC assessment data to help design monitoring strategies	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to use monitoring data to adapt management strategies, as needed, to achieve riparian objectives	1	2	3	4	5	0

31. About how much training or experience have you had outside of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance in Proper Functioning Condition assessment, riparian area function, or riparian area monitoring?

None

A little

A fair amount

A good deal

A great deal

Working with Others
How much have ALL of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in improved your understanding about… ? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A little	A fair amount	A good deal	A great deal	Don’t Know
The importance of working with diverse stakeholders when dealing with riparian issues	1	2	3	4	5	0
How a focus on riparian function can be used to bring conflicting stakeholders together to address riparian issues	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to assess riparian resources	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to develop a common vision or plan for a riparian area with relevant stakeholders	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to manage riparian areas	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to monitor riparian areas	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to adapt management strategies	1	2	3	4	5	0

39. About how much training or experience have you had outside of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance in working with diverse or conflicting stakeholders on riparian area issues?

None

A little

A fair amount

A good deal

A great deal

Management Topics
How much have ALL of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in improved your understanding about… ? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A little	A fair amount	A good deal	A great deal	Don’t Know
How different management strategies affect riparian condition	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to develop a riparian management plan that is both economically feasible and beneficial to the riparian area	1	2	3	4	5	0
Techniques that attract livestock away from riparian areas	1	2	3	4	5	0
Herd management tools that encourage livestock distribution	1	2	3	4	5	0
How to use various grazing treatments to address timing, intensity, frequency, and duration	1	2	3	4	5	0

45. About how much training or experience have you had outside of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance in riparian area management or grazing management?

None

A little

A fair amount

A good deal

A great deal

3. INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS

In this section, we are interested in learning about the impact all of the NRST/State Team trainings or assistance you have participated in has had on your activities in several areas.

Riparian Assessment, Plan Development, Management, and Monitoring
How much have ALL of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in influenced you to do each of the following activities? Please circle N/A if you have not done an activity. (Circle one response per item)
	Not At All	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal	N/A
Conduct a Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessment to determine a functionality rating for a riparian area	1	2	3	4	5	0
Use an experienced, interdisciplinary team to determine a functionality rating	1	2	3	4	5	0
Gather existing records or information about the riparian area prior to a PFC assessment	1	2	3	4	5	0
Consider riparian attributes and processes of a particular riparian area	1	2	3	4	5	0
Consider riparian area potential and capability, as they relate to function	1	2	3	4	5	0
Use PFC assessment information to guide your understanding of the values a riparian system can produce, like wildlife habitat, forage, or water quality	1	2	3	4	5	0
Use PFC assessment results to help set objectives for riparian condition	1	2	3	4	5	0
Use PFC assessment results to help design management strategies	1	2	3	4	5	0
Use PFC assessment results to help design monitoring strategies	1	2	3	4	5	0
Use monitoring data to adapt management strategies, as needed, to achieve riparian objectives	1	2	3	4	5	0

BARRIERS
How much have the following issues limited your use of PFC process and concepts in riparian assessment, plan development, and monitoring; the activities listed in questions 46 – 55? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal
Lack of opportunity or reason to use PFC process or concepts	1	2	3	4	5
Economic issues (e.g. limited funding, costly process)	1	2	3	4	5
57 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of an economic issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Technical issues (e.g. scientific disagreements, conflicting protocol requirements, lack of information)	1	2	3	4	5
58 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a technical issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Staffing issues (e.g., lack of experienced personnel, lack of range of disciplines, limited staff time available for field work)	1	2	3	4	5
59 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a staffing issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Cultural/Social issues (e.g. agency culture/norms, trust, personality differences, inter-personal relationships)	1	2	3	4	5
60 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a cultural/social issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Other issues (e.g., personal constraints, limited time)	1	2	3	4	5
61 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of another type of issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:

Working with Others
How much have ALL of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in influenced you to do each of the following activities? Please circle N/A if you have not done an activity. (Circle one response per item)
	Not At All	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal	N/A
Use Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessment to bring conflicting stakeholders together to address riparian issues	1	2	3	4	5	0
Work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to assess riparian resources	1	2	3	4	5	0
Develop a common vision or plan for a riparian area with relevant stakeholders	1	2	3	4	5	0
Work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to manage riparian areas	1	2	3	4	5	0
Work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to monitor riparian areas	1	2	3	4	5	0
Work with diverse or conflicting stakeholders to adapt management strategies, as needed, to achieve riparian objectives	1	2	3	4	5	0

BARRIERS
How much have the following issues limited your use of the PFC process and concepts in your work with others on riparian issues; the activities listed in questions 62 – 67? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal
Lack of opportunity or reason to use PFC process or concepts	1	2	3	4	5
Economic Issues (e.g. limited funding, costly process)	1	2	3	4	5
69 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of an economic issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Technical Issues (e.g. scientific disagreements, conflicting protocol requirements, lack of information)	1	2	3	4	5
70 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a technical issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
BARRIERS (continued)
How much have the following issues limited your use of the PFC process and concepts in your work with others on riparian issues; the activities listed in questions 62 – 67? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal
Staffing Issues (e.g., lack of experienced personnel, lack of range of disciplines, limited staff time available for field work)	1	2	3	4	5
71 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a staffing issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Cultural/Social Issues (e.g. agency culture/norms, trust, personality differences, inter-personal relationships)	1	2	3	4	5
72 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a cultural/social issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Other Issues (e.g., personal constraints, limited time)	1	2	3	4	5
73 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of another type of issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:

Implementing Management Actions
How much have ALL of the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance you have participated in influenced you to do each of the following activities? Please circle N/A if you have not done an activity. (Circle one response per item)
	Not At All	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal	N/A
Identify management strategies that can affect riparian condition	1	2	3	4	5	0
Develop a riparian management plan that is both economically feasible and beneficial to the riparian area	1	2	3	4	5	0
Establish techniques to attract livestock away from riparian areas	1	2	3	4	5	0
Establish herd management practices that encourage livestock distribution	1	2	3	4	5	0
Implement grazing treatments that address timing, intensity, frequency, and duration	1	2	3	4	5	0

BARRIERS
How much have the following issues limited your use of the PFC process and concepts in the ways related to implementing management actions listed in questions 74 – 78? (Circle one response per item)
	Not at all	A Little	A Fair Amount	A Good Deal	A Great Deal
Lack of opportunity or reason to use PFC process or concepts	1	2	3	4	5
Economic Issues (e.g. limited funding, costly process)	1	2	3	4	5
80 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of an economic issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Technical Issues (e.g. scientific disagreements, conflicting protocol requirements, lack of information)	1	2	3	4	5
81 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a technical issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Staffing Issues (e.g., lack of experienced personnel, lack of range of disciplines, limited staff time available for field work)	1	2	3	4	5
82 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a staffing issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Cultural/Social Issues (e.g. agency culture/norms, trust, personality differences, inter-personal relationships)	1	2	3	4	5
83 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of a cultural/social issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:
Other Issues (e.g., personal constraints, limited time)	1	2	3	4	5
84 a. If a fair amount or greater, please provide a specific example of another type of issue that limited your use of PFC process and concepts:

4. GROUP ACTIONS

In this section, we are interested in learning about how useful the trainings or assistance may have been to businesses, agencies, organizations, and other groups working on riparian issues.

85. Since you participated in the NRST/State Riparian Team trainings or assistance, have you been a member of any businesses, formal or informal groups, agencies, or organizations working on riparian area issues?

• Y es

• No (GO to #91)

86. A s a result of the trainings or assistance, has your agency’s, business’s, group’s, or organization’s approach to riparian assessment changed?

• Yes: How? _____________________________________________________________

• No: Why? _____________________________________________________________

87. As a result of the trainings or assistance, has your agency’s, business’s, group’s, or organization’s approach to designing and implementing management strategies in riparian areas changed?

• Yes: How? _____________________________________________________________

• No: Why? _____________________________________________________________

88. As a result of the trainings or assistance, has your agency’s, business’s, group’s, or organization’s approach to riparian area monitoring changed?

• Yes: How? _____________________________________________________________

• No: Why? _____________________________________________________________

89. As a result of the trainings or assistance, has your agency’s, business’s, group’s, or organization’s approach to engaging with diverse stakeholders when dealing with riparian issues improved?

• Yes: How? _____________________________________________________________

• No: Why? _____________________________________________________________

90. Any additional comments about how the National Riparian Service Team or State Riparian Team trainings or assistance may have affected groups in which you work:

5. RIPARIAN AREA CONDITIONS

In this section, we are interested in learning about how useful the trainings or assistance offered through the National Riparian Service Team and State Riparian Teams may have been to improving riparian area condition.

91. Have you implemented or helped implement a riparian management strategy that was covered in the trainings or assistance, with the intention of improving or maintaining riparian condition?

• Y es

• No (GO to #100)

92. B riefly describe one of the instances in which you implemented or helped implement a riparian management strategy that was covered in the trainings or assistance.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

93. About how long ago did you implement or help implement the riparian management strategy you described in #92?

• Less than 1 year ago

• 1 year - 3 years ago

• 3 years - 5 years ago

• More than 5 years ago

94. What were the 3 most significant challenges that you faced in implementing the management strategy you described in #92?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

95. Have you monitored the effects of the riparian management strategy you described in #92 on the riparian area using tools that were covered in the NRST trainings or assistance?

• Y es: Which? _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

• No: Why? _________________________________________________ (GO to #97)

96. H ave you used any of these monitoring methods in a cooperative way?

• Yes: Who was involved? ________________________________________________

• No: Why? ____________________________________________________________

97. Are there indications of improvement in riparian area condition toward the desired objectives? Please respond, even if you have not done formal monitoring of the area.

• Y es

• No (GO to #100)

• Don’t know (GO to #100)

98. B riefly describe the change in the condition of the riparian area.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

99. What were the 3 most significant factors that limited improvement in the condition of the riparian area after implementation of the management strategy you described in #92?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. ABOUT YOU

100. What is your age? _________ years

101. What is your sex?

• Male

• Female

102. What is your ethnicity?

• Hispanic or Latino

• Not Hispanic or Latino

103. What is your race? (Select one or more)

• Black or African American

• American Indian or Alaska Native

• Asian

• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

• White

104. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed? (Check one)

• Less than High School

• High School Graduate/GED

• Trade School

• Some College

• Associate’s degree (e.g., AA, AS)

• Bachelor’s degree (e.g., BA, BS)

• Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS)

• Graduate/Professional degree (e.g., PhD, MD, JD)

105. Which type of area best describes where you grew up? (Check one)

• Farm or ranch

• In the country, but not farm/ranch

• In a small town (2,500 or fewer people)

• In a town or small city (2,500 to 25,000 people)

• In a city (25,000 to 100,000 people)

• In a suburb of a large city

• In a large city (over 100,000 people)

106. Which type of area best describes where you live now? (Check one)

• Farm or ranch

• In the country, but not farm/ranch

• In a small town (2,500 or fewer people)

• In a town or small city (2,500 to 25,000 people)

• In a city (25,000 to 100,000 people)

• In a suburb of a large city

• In a large city (over 100,000 people)

107. Any additional comments about your experience with the National Riparian Service Team or State Riparian Team trainings or assistance:

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