Survey Respondents

The Future of the Chesapeake Bay
What’s Your Opinion?
Your opinions are needed to inform policy decisions that affect water quality.
All responses will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by the law.
Please mail this completed survey back in the postage-paid return envelope
provided. Thank you for your help!

OMB Control Number 2090-0028
Expires 6/30/2015

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed
This survey asks you about two types of water bodies in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed — the
Chesapeake Bay itself and Lakes in the Watershed. Each has different characteristics and
potential water quality concerns.

The Watershed
Is shaded in light grey on
this map.
It includes about 4,200
freshwater lakes.
Water draining from lands
in the Watershed enters
rivers and streams and
eventually the Chesapeake
Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay
Is an estuary where freshwater
mixes with saltwater from the ocean. It is
the largest estuary in North America and
the third largest in the world.

As shown in dark grey on this map, the
Bay includes portions of the 50 rivers that
flow into it, for example:
The James River up to Richmond, VA
The Potomac River up to
Washington, DC
Please use this definition of the
Chesapeake Bay when answering
questions on this survey.

1

1. Before receiving this survey, had you heard of the Chesapeake Bay?

□ Yes

□ No

□ Don’t know

2. On average, how often do you see the following water bodies? (Please check
ONLY ONE box in each row.)
Never

Less than
once a month

More than
once a month

Don’t Know

Chesapeake Bay:

□

□

□

□

Watershed Lakes:

□

□

□

□

3. In the last five years, have you participated in recreational activities
(including swimming, boating, fishing, or viewing nature) at the…
(Please check ONLY ONE box in each row.)
Chesapeake Bay:

□ Yes

□ No

□ Don’t know

Watershed Lakes:

□ Yes

□ No

□ Don’t know

4. Before taking this survey, were you aware that too much nutrients or sediment
can degrade water quality?

□ Yes

□ No

□ Don’t know

2

5. Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.
(Please circle one number for each statement.)
Strongly
Disagree

Strongly
Agree

Don’t
Know

It is important to improve waters in the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed, no matter
how high the costs.

1

2

3

4

5

DK

I am against any government program
that imposes more regulations and
spending.

1

2

3

4

5

DK

I should not have to pay any amount for
programs to improve Bay Waters and
Watershed Lakes.

1

2

3

4

5

DK

It is often difficult for me to find time to
take surveys.

1

2

3

4

5

DK

3

Questions about you and your household
Finally, we would like to ask a few questions about you and your household.
Your answers will not be saved or stored in a way that can be associated with your name or
address. You will not be contacted about your responses or this survey.
6. What is your sex?

□Male

□Female

7. What is your age? _____ years old
8. How many children under age 18 are living in your home? _____children
9. Have you or any member of your family ever worked in any of the following
industries or jobs?

□Agriculture
□Tour guide for fishing
□Commercial fishing
□Environmental non-profit group
□No one in my family ever worked in these industries

10. In 2012, what was your total pre-tax household income, including all earners in
your household?

□Under $25,000
□$25,000-$49,999
□$50,000-$74,999
□$75,000-$99,000

□$100,000-$149,999
□$150,000-$199,999
□$200,000 or more

11. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

□ Yes

□ No

□ I prefer not to answer

12. What is your race? (You may select more than one.)

□ American Indian or Alaska Native
□ Black or African American
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

□ Asian
□ White
□ I prefer not to answer

13. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

□ Less than high school
□ High school diploma or GED
□ Some college (1-4 years, no degree)

□ Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree

□ Graduate Degree

Thank you very much for your help.
Please mail this completed survey back to us in the postage-paid return envelope provided.
4

Thanks again for completing this survey!
If you have any additional thoughts about any of the
topics covered or the survey itself, please share them.

If you have any questions please call XXX-XXX-XXXX
or email [email protected].

The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 18 minutes per response. Send comments on the Agency's
need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any
suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use
of automated collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any
correspondence. Do not send the materials to this address.
5