Beaver Lake Boating Survey

SUMMER BOATING EXPERIENCE AT BEAVER LAKE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey

Beaver Lake, located in Northwest Arkansas, is the headwaters of the White River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is the steward of the lands and waters around Beaver Lake and is responsible for providing the public with quality outdoor recreation experiences.

As such, the Corps is currently examining future management of recreation and natural resources at Beaver Lake. You are invited to participate in a short survey to better understand your experiences and preferences regarding Beaver Lake!

The survey is brief and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You can complete the survey online by entering the following address into any web browser http://beaverlake.boater.sgizmo.com/s3/ or mail back the paper survey in the postage paid envelope provided. The response period will be open for 30 days, so we kindly ask that you complete the survey at your earliest convenience.

If you have questions regarding the survey, please contact the Beaver Lake Operations Project Manager for more information at (479) 636-1210 ext. 1701.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES AND PREFERENCES FOR BOATING AT BEAVER LAKE!

Please reference this map when answering Question 2a and Question 7

Beaver Lake Boater Survey

A. User Characteristics

1. Do you own a residence located within 1/4 mile of the Beaver Lake shoreline? (Circle one)

1. Yes (If Yes, please answer Question 1a)

2. No (If No, please continue to Question 2)

1a. Referencing the map included with this survey, please mark the lake zone number below indicating where along the shoreline this residence is located. (Circle one)

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

2. What are the City, State, and Zip Code of your permanent residence?

____________________________ _____ __________

City State Zip Code

3. Do you engage in any boating activities on Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

1. Yes

2. No

If No, please skip to Section C, Questions 19-22 and then return this survey in the envelope provided. Characterizing those who are not boating on Beaver Lake is very important to the overall results of the study, so please respond even if you do not boat on Beaver Lake.

4. How often do you engage in boating activities on Beaver Lake? (Mark one)

( ) Less than once per year

( ) 1-5 times per year

( ) 6-10 times per year

( ) 11-15 times per year

( ) 16-20 times per year

( ) 21 times or more per year

Please continue to the next page

5. How many years have you been boating? (Round up) _____ Years

6. How many years have you been boating at Beaver Lake? (Round up) _____ Years

7. During a typical boating trip on Beaver Lake, please indicate the primary area where you do most of your recreation activities. Use the map included with this survey as a reference. (Circle only one)

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

8. Please provide the type and size of the primary boat that you use at Beaver Lake and whether this boat was trailered to the lake or launched from the lake.

Boat Type (Mark one)	Boat Size (Mark one)	Was this boat transported (e.g., trailered or car/truck roof) to the lake, kept at a marina on the lake, or rented/borrowed? (Mark one)
I don't know Runabout/Speedboat Ski or Wake Boat Fishing boat/bass boat Pontoon boat House boat Cabin cruiser Sailboat/Sailboard Personal Watercraft (e.g. Jet Ski) Rowboat/Kayak/Canoe Other ___________________	less than 16' 16 - 20' 21 - 28' 29'+	Trailered/transported to the lake Kept at a marina on the lake Kept at my private or community boat dock Kept at the resort I stayed at Rented Borrowed Other _____________________ ______________________

Please continue to the next page

9. In general, what percent of your time do you spend on the following activities while recreating on Beaver Lake? (Consider time spent getting to or moving between fishing locations as "Fishing")

Fishing _______ %

Cruising _______ %

Swimming _______ %

Water Skiing _______ %

Relaxing/Sunning _______ %
in boat (stationary)

Other activities _______ % ...please describe_______________________

(BE SURE THE TOTAL = 100%)

B. Management Questions

10. Is there a problem from too many boats on Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

1. Yes, there is a problem

2. No, there is not a problem

If Yes, please indicate how serious of a problem there is from too many boats on Beaver Lake. (Circle one)

Minor Problem

Moderate Problem

Serious Problem

11. How safe are boating conditions on Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

Not at All Safe

Slightly Safe

Somewhat Safe

Very Safe

Extremely Safe

Please describe any safety concerns you have: __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. How serious of a safety problem is the number of boats on Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

Not At All Serious

Slightly Serious

Moderately Serious

Very Serious

Extremely Serious

Please continue to the next page

13. How much do private docks interfere with your use of Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

Do Not Interfere at All

Slightly Interfere

Somewhat Interfere

Seriously Interfere

Tremendously Interfere

14. How much, if at all, has the noise from other boats reduced your enjoyment of Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

Not at All

Slightly

Somewhat

Quite a Bit

Extremely

15. How likely is it that the presence of too many boats would cause you to avoid your favorite parts of Beaver Lake? (Circle one)

Not at All Likely

Slightly Likely

Somewhat Likely

Quite Likely

Extremely Likely

16. Which of these statements best describes your expectation for the number of boats on Beaver Lake? Please refer to your last outing on the lake when answering this question.
(Mark one)

( ) I saw ABOUT AS MANY boats as I expected to see that day

( ) I saw MORE boats than I expected to see that day

( ) I saw FEWER boats than I expected to see that day

16b. Please indicate the date of your last outing:

______________(month) ______________(day) _____________(year)

17. Which of these statements best describes your preference for the number of boats on the lake? Please refer to your last outing on the lake when answering this question. (Mark one)

( ) I saw ABOUT AS MANY boats as I wanted to see that day

( ) I saw MORE boats than I wanted to see that day

( ) I saw FEWER boats than I wanted to see that day

Please continue to the next page

1
8. Please review the boating conditions depicted in the photos below. Which photo shows the maximum number of boaters you could see at one time on Beaver Lake without thinking it was too crowded? (Circle one)

A

B

C

D

E

I don’t think it looks crowded in any of the photos

Please continue to the next page

C. Basic Demographics

19. What is your gender? (Mark one) ( ) Female ( ) Male

20. What is your age? (Mark one)

( ) Under 18

( ) 18 – 24

( ) 25 – 44

( ) 45 – 54

( ) 55 – 64

( ) 65+

21. Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed? (Mark one)

( ) Less than high school

( ) High school graduate/GED

( ) Vocational or Technical School certificate

( ) Associates Degree

( ) Some college

( ) Bachelor’s degree

( ) Graduate degree or professional degree (MA, MS, PhD, JD, MBA etc.)

22. Which category best represents your annual household income (before taxes) last year? (Mark one)

( ) Less than $24,999	( ) $100,000-$149,999
( ) $25,000-$34,999	( ) $150,000-$199, 999
( ) $35,000-$49,999	( ) $200,000 or more
( ) $50,000-$74,999	( ) Do not wish to answer
( ) $75,000-$99,999

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

Your responses are important and will help inform the
future management of Beaver Lake.

Please return your completed survey in the
postage paid envelope provided.

This study is being conducted by CDM Smith, a contractor, on behalf of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 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 the Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters services, Executive Services Directorate, Information Management Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350-3100 (0596-0236, expiration XXX). Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.