Protocol for onsite survey

Tennessee Valley Authority Recreation Use Survey 2016 Consent Script / Survey Protocol

Title of Project: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recreation user survey.

Principal Investigators: Dr. Neelam Poudyal, Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Wildlife, & Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37922, Tel: (865)-974-8771

1. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to understand the extent and type of recreational use of TVA reservoirs, and estimate the total economic impact generated by the visitors’ expenditures. Your responses will provide valuable information for the TVA to maximize reservoir’s benefit in the region.

2. Procedures to be followed: As you exit the reservoir, you will be asked about your arrival time, group size, and type of watercraft. If you agree to participate in a longer survey, the survey clerk will give you a survey. You will be requested to complete the survey at your convenient time, and return it in the self-addressed stamped envelope. You must be 18 years old to participate.

3. Discomforts and Risks: There are no survey questions of a sensitive nature that are commonly considered private such as questions about religious beliefs or other matters.

4. Benefits: This survey will allow visitors to provide their perceptions of current conditions of the reservoir and associated recreational resources, and this information will be provided to the TVA to help guide future management actions.

5. Duration: Initial contact on-site will take 2 minutes and the completing of mail-back survey should take approximately 15-20 minutes.

6. Statement of Confidentiality: Your identity will not be associated with your responses, and your responses are strictly confidential. Once we receive your completed survey, it will be assigned with an alpha-numeric identifier for handling and analysis purpose but we will not have any of your personally identifiable information in file. In the event of a publication or presentation resulting from the research, no personally identifiable information will be shared and the information will only be presented in aggregate.

7. Right to Ask Questions 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 Office of Research Compliance Officer at (865) 974-7697.

8. Voluntary Participation: Your decision to be in this research is voluntary. You can refuse to participate or stop at any time without penalty. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer.

Completion and return of the surveys implies that you have read the information in this form and consent to participate in the research.