U.S.D.A.
Forest Service Region 1 Social Survey
Purpose
The purpose of this survey is to collect information that will help land managers improve conditions and resource management on federal public lands. Federal public lands include national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges and Bureau of Land Management lands. These are different from city and state parks and playgrounds. Examples of federal public lands include the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, and the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. This survey hopes to capture input from local stakeholders and therefore asks about local federal public lands.
Important Information
When answering, please think of the federal public lands that are nearby your home. These local federal public lands are those areas not more than an hour’s drive away or within approximately 50 miles of your home.
Please go to the next page and begin
Q1.
Are you the adult age 18 or older in your household who will have
the next birthday?
Mark one button
(X)
O
Yes Please continue.
O
No Please have the adult in
your household who will have the next birthday complete the
survey.
Q2.
How important do you believe each of the following is as a purpose
of your local, federal public lands? Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Not
at all important
Slightly important
Moderately
important
Very
important
Extremely
important
a. Protecting water quality
O
O
O
O
O
b. Providing recreation opportunities
O
O
O
O
O
c. Protecting air quality
O
O
O
O
O
d. Providing income for the tourist
industry
O
O
O
O
O
e. Providing income for the natural
resource extraction industries (oil /gas /coal /minerals)
O
O
O
O
O
f. Providing income for the timber industry
O
O
O
O
O
g. Protecting rare and endangered species
O
O
O
O
O
h. Protecting wildlife habitat
O
O
O
O
O
Q3.
And how important do you believe each of the following is as a
purpose of your local, federal public lands? Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Not
at all important
Slightly important
Moderately
important
Very
important
Extremely
important
a. Preserving unique plant and animal
ecosystems and genetic strains
O
O
O
O
O
b. Preserving natural areas for scientific
study
O
O
O
O
O
Q4.
And what about these? How important do you believe each of the
following is as a purpose of your local, federal public lands?
Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Not
at all important
Slightly important
Moderately
important
Very
important
Extremely
important
a. Knowing that in the future I will have
the option to visit a primitive or wilderness area of my choice
O
O
O
O
O
b. Providing spiritual inspiration
O
O
O
O
O
c. Knowing that future generations will
have primitive or wilderness areas
O
O
O
O
O
d. Just knowing that primitive or
wilderness areas exist
O
O
O
O
O
e. Providing scenic beauty
O
O
O
O
O
f. Other (Please specify below) __________________________________
O
O
O
O
O
Q5.
Please rate your level of support or opposition for the following
management options for managing local federal public lands. Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Oppose somewhat
Neither oppose or support
Support somewhat
Support
Strongly support
a. Closing underused campgrounds
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Requiring permits to recreate in very
popular areas
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
c. Introducing parking fees
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
d. Introducing camping fees
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
e. Allowing more outfitters and guides
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
f. Maintaining underused trails less
frequently
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
g. Increasing thinning of forests near
communities
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q6.
And what about these? Please rate your level of support or
opposition for the following management options for managing local
federal public lands. Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Oppose somewhat
Neither oppose or support
Support somewhat
Support
Strongly support
a. Harvesting dead trees following natural
wildfire, beetle kill, or other natural disturbance
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Using prescribed fires for fire
prevention near communities
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
c. Using prescribed fires for maintaining
forest health in areas farther away from communities
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
d. Allowing natural wildfires to burn if
they don’t threaten people’s lives or property
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q7.
Do you have any safety concerns about visiting local federal public
lands? Please
mark one button (X) for each item listed below.
Not at all concerned
Moderately concerned
Very concerned
a. Wildlife encounter (e.g. bear, lion,
snake, etc.)
O
O
O
b. Bad weather
O
O
O
c. May get lost
O
O
O
d. Poor road conditions
O
O
O
e. Poor trail conditions
O
O
O
f. Run out of gas or supplies in remote
area
O
O
O
Q8.
And what about these? Do you have any of these safety concerns about
visiting local federal public lands? Please
mark one button (X) for each item listed below.
Not at all concerned
Moderately concerned
Very concerned
a. Lack of cell phone coverage
O
O
O
b. Needing emergency services
O
O
O
c. Forest fire
O
O
O
d. Poor air quality
O
O
O
e. Shooting (not at a range)
O
O
O
f. Crime
O
O
O
g. Other? (please specify below) _________________________
O
O
O
Q9.
These questions ask for your opinion about management of local
federal public lands. Please indicate the extent to which you agree
or disagree with each of the following statements. Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree or disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
No opinion
a. People in my local community have been
involved in decisions about land management
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Land management decisions balance the
concerns of most people in my community
O
O
O
O
O
O
c. Land managers in my area do a good job
communicating with the public
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q10.
This question also asks for your opinion about management of local
federal public lands. Please indicate the extent to which you agree
or disagree with the following statement. Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree or disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
No opinion
a. I trust local land managers to make the
proper decisions about land management
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Land management decisions balance the
concerns of both local communities and national interests
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Land management decisions balance the
concerns of most people in my community
O
O
O
O
O
O
a. People in my local community have been
involved in decisions about land management
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Land management decisions balance the
concerns of most people in my community
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q11.
Have you ever visited your local federal public lands?
Mark one button
(X)
O
Yes Go to Question
12 below.
O
No Skip to Question
24 on page 12.
Q12.
Please
tell us how many times you have visited your local federal public
lands in the past 12 months? Do not count visits that include
commuting through public lands and working in public lands.
Mark one button (X)
O
0 times
O
1 time
O
2 to 4 times
O
5 to 10 times
O
11 to 30 times
O
More than 30 times
Q13.
In general, what recreational
activities
do you participate in on local federal public lands? Please
tell us how often you participate on local federal lands by marking
one button (X) for each item.
Very often = at least once a
week
Often = at least once a
month
Sometimes = at least once a year
Rarely = at least once in my
lifetime
Never
a. Hiking/walking
O
O
O
O
O
b. Horseback riding
O
O
O
O
O
c. Downhill skiing or snowboarding
O
O
O
O
O
d. Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing
O
O
O
O
O
e. Snowmobiling
O
O
O
O
O
f. Cultural ceremonies
O
O
O
O
O
g. Fishing
O
O
O
O
O
h. Hunting
O
O
O
O
O
i. Creative arts (photography /drawing/
painting/writing)
O
O
O
O
O
j. Developed camping (at official
campground)
O
O
O
O
O
k. Dispersed camping (not at official
campground)
O
O
O
O
O
l. Viewing wildlife
O
O
O
O
O
m. Relaxing
O
O
O
O
O
n. Driving for pleasure
O
O
O
O
O
Q14.
And what about these recreational activities? In general, what
recreational activities do you participate in on local federal
public lands? Please
tell us how often you participate on local federal lands by marking
one button (X) for each item.
Very often = at least once a
week
Often = at least once a
month
Sometimes = at least once a year
Rarely = at least once in my
lifetime
Never
a. Road bicycling
O
O
O
O
O
b. Mountain bicycling
O
O
O
O
O
c. Firewood collecting
O
O
O
O
O
d. Foraging for berries, mushroom, etc.
O
O
O
O
O
e. Picnicking
O
O
O
O
O
f. Other (please specify below) _______________________________
O
O
O
O
O
Q15.
In general, what income
generating activities
do you participate in on local federal public lands? Please
tell us how often you participate on local federal lands by marking
one button (X) for each item.
Very often = at least once a
week
Often = at least once a
month
Sometimes = at least once a year
Rarely = at least once in my
lifetime
Never
a. Harvesting timber
O
O
O
O
O
b. Mining
O
O
O
O
O
c. Oil/gas extraction
O
O
O
O
O
d. Outfitter/guiding
O
O
O
O
O
e. Other (please specify below) _______________________________
O
O
O
O
O
Q16.
Have there been activities that you wanted to do during your
visit(s) to local federal public lands that you were not able to?
Mark one button
(X)
O
Yes Go to Question
17 below.
O
No Skip to Question
19.
Q17.
What is the activity? Please
describe the activity below.
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Q18.
Why were you unable to participate? Please
tell us below.
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Q19.
We are interested in knowing if there are any specific places or
sites on local federal public lands that you used to visit but no
longer visit, or have changed the time when you visit, due to too
much crowding, noise, commercial activity, fewer fish, etcetera.
Write
in the place or site and select the reason why you do not visit at
certain times or altogether.
Site / Place
Reason for no longer visiting:
Example:
Russian
River
There
is too much crowding during weekends, so I visit during weekdays
_______________
_________________________________________________________________
________________
_________________________________________________________________
Q20.
We would like to know how you feel about visiting local federal
public lands. For each item below please rate how much you think it
describes your typical experience. Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree or disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
Don’t know
a. I have access to areas of
cultural/traditional significance
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. I have pleasant interactions with other
visitors
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q21.
Please think about the local federal public lands that you use. To
what extent do you feel the following issues are a problem on local
federal public lands? Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Not a Problem
Small Problem
Moderate Problem
Big Problem
Very Big Problem
Don’t know
a. Too many rangers patrolling the area
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Not enough rangers patrolling the area
O
O
O
O
O
O
c. Not enough trails for all terrain
vehicles
O
O
O
O
O
O
d. Too many trails for all terrain vehicles
O
O
O
O
O
O
e. Not enough areas open to snow machines
O
O
O
O
O
O
f. Too many areas open to snow machines
O
O
O
O
O
O
g. Not enough trails for mountain bikers
O
O
O
O
O
O
h. Too many trails for mountain bikers
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q22.
And what about these issues? To what extent do you feel the
following issues are a problem on local federal public lands? Please
mark one button (X) for each item.
Not a Problem
Small Problem
Moderate Problem
Big Problem
Very Big Problem
Don’t know
a. Not enough accessible (e.g., for
wheelchairs) sites
O
O
O
O
O
O
b. Availability of bathrooms
O
O
O
O
O
O
c. Not enough travel information on forest
websites to plan for trips
O
O
O
O
O
O
d. Conflict between motorized and
non-motorized users
O
O
O
O
O
O
e. Too much designated wilderness
(preserved wildlands)
O
O
O
O
O
O
f. Not enough designated wilderness
(preserved wildlands)
O
O
O
O
O
O
g. Wildfire suppression i.e. management to
put out wildfires
O
O
O
O
O
O
h. Wildfire mitigation i.e. management to
prevent wildfires
O
O
O
O
O
O
i. Other (please specify below) _________________________
O
O
O
O
O
O
Q23.
For any issues that you feel are “big problems” on local
federal public lands, please provide more information below about
the problem (for example, where did you encounter the problem?)
______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Q27.
What
is your race? Please
mark one or more boxes (X) below.
☐
American Indian or Alaska Native
☐
Asian
☐
Black or African American
☐
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
☐
White
Q26.
Are
you Hispanic or Latino? Please
mark one button (X) below.
Mark one button (X)
O
Yes
O
No
Q25.
In
what year were you born? Please
print the year in the box below.
Year
Q24.
What
is your gender? Please
mark one button (X) below.
Mark one button (X)
O
Male
O
Female
O
Other
Q28.
Would
you or any member of your household prefer to receive information
about public lands, services, etc. in languages other than English?
Mark one button (X)
O
Yes
Go to
Question 29
O
No
Skip to Question 30
Q29.
Which
language? Please
print the language name below.
Language
Q30.
Please
indicate the highest level of education you have completed? Please
mark one button (X) below.
Mark one button (X)
O
Less than high school
O
High school graduate/ GED
O
Some college
O
Vocational or Technical School certificate
O
Associates degree
O
Some college
O
Bachelor’s degree
O
Master’s degree
O
Graduate degree or professional degree (MA, MS, PhD, JD, MBA
etc.)
Q31.
Including
yourself, how many people live in your household? Please
print the number in the box below.
People in household
Q35.
Which
of the following categories applies to you? Please
mark one or more boxes (X) below.
☐
Employed full-time
☐
Employed part-time
☐
Unemployed
☐
Retired
☐
Student
☐
Homemaker/caregiver
☐
Self-employed/consultant
☐
Small business owner
☐
Permanently disabled
Q34.
How
long have you lived in the community where you now live? Please
print the number of years in the box below.
Years
Q33.
On
average, how far is it from your home to the places where you
usually recreate? Please
print the number of miles in the box below.
Miles
Q32.
Are
you a permanent or seasonal resident of [state]? Please
mark one button (X) below.
Mark one button (X)
O
Permanent
O
Seasonal
Q36.
Which
category best represents your annual household income (before taxes)
last year? Please
mark one button (X) below.
Mark one button (X)
O
Less than $24,999
O
$25,000-$34,999
O
$35,000-$49,999
O
$50,000-$74,999
O
$75,000-$99,999
O
$100,000-$149,999
O
$150,000-$199,999
O
$200,000 or more
O
Choose not to answer
Thank you for your help with this important research!
U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 1 Social Survey
Use envelope provided or mail to:
Bureau of Business and Economic Research
Gallagher Business Building, Rm 231
University of Montana
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812-6840
File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
File Title | U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 1 Social Survey |
Author | Administered by: University of Montana Bureau of Business and Ec |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2021-01-21 |