Cover Letter to Property Owners

Dear Reservoir Shoreline Property Owner,

I am asking for your help by completing and returning the enclosed survey. This survey is being conducted by The University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The purpose of the survey is to obtain information about shoreline properties on XXXXX Reservoir and the nature and extent of property owners’ recreational use of the reservoir and related economic expenditures, attitudes, and preferences. This effort will allow TVA to make informed decisions on managing recreational resources.

You are one of a very few, randomly selected property owner to participate in this survey, and completion of this survey is expected to take about 10-15 minutes. Your participation in the study is important for adequately reflecting the activities and views of all XXXXX Reservoir shoreline property owners.

You may notice the survey is marked with an identification number. This provides a means by which reminders can be sent, if necessary, without further imposing on those who have completed and returned their survey. Completing this survey is voluntary and the information you give us is strictly confidential. Your name will not be placed on the survey or associated with your responses. Return of this survey constitutes consent to participate in the study. Once the survey is returned, your name will be deleted from our contact list.

If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact me at the address given below. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, contact the University of Tennessee’s Office of Research Compliance Officer at (865) 974-3466.

Thank you very much for your assistance in this research project.

Sincerely,

Dr. Neelam C. Poudyal

Assistant Professor

Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries

The University of Tennessee

274 Ellington Plant Sciences

Knoxville, TN 37996

Email: [email protected]

(865) 974-8771