Understanding All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) user attitudes about salmon and stream crossings in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska

OMB Control No. 1090-0011

Expires 10/31/2021

1. Have you visited [LOCATION] before this trip?

☐ Yes

☐ No

If YES, approximately how many times have you visited in the last 12 months?

Number of prior visits: _________________

2. What is the primary goal of your trip today?

   ☐ mudding/mud flats riding
   ☐ point to point travel
   ☐ general trail riding
   ☐ sightseeing
   ☐ family time
   ☐ other:

3. How aware are you of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game-approved stream crossings on ATV trails?

	Not at all Aware	Slightly Aware	Moderately Aware	Very Aware	Extremely Aware
Only cross streams at Alaska Department of Fish and Game-approved crossings.	1	2	3	4	5

IF the answer to question 3 is Not at all aware (1): Skip Question 4.

4. How likely are you to do the following while crossing streams in Jim Creek Recreational Area?

	Highly unlikely	Unlikely	Slightly unlikely	Neither	Slightly likely	Likely	Highly likely
Only cross streams at Alaska Department of Fish and Game-approved crossings.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Avoid crossing streams in areas without an established Alaska Department of Fish and Game-approved crossing.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

We would like to know about some different aspects regarding your travel while riding your ATV.

5. How likely are you to do the following while crossing streams on your ATV?

	Highly unlikely	Unlikely	Slightly unlikely	Neither	Slightly likely	Likely	Highly likely
Try to reduce the amount of stream crossings you make.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Make stream crossings as direct and short as possible.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Avoid driving through streams and wetlands when possible.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Completely avoid driving through streams and wetlands.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

The next questions are about stream crossings while riding your ATV. Please answer them to the best of your ability.

6. How do the following factors influence your stream crossings while riding your ATV?

Statement	Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very	Completely	N/A
Length of crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6
Safety of crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6
Busyness of crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6
Water depth of crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6
Possible damage to salmon habitat at crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6
Possible erosion damage at crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6
Other:	1	2	3	4	5	6

7. Which of the following factors is most influential when crossing streams in Jim Creek Recreational Area?

☐ Length of crossing

☐ Safety of crossing

☐ Busyness of crossing

☐ Water depth of crossing

☐ Possible damage to salmon habitat at crossing

☐ Possible erosion damage at crossing

☐ Other:

8. How true do you find the following statements?

Statement	Not at all true	Slightly true	Moderately true	Very true	Completely true
People who I value think I should follow stream-crossing best practices (shortest path, durable crossing point) while riding my ATV.	1	2	3	4	5
People important to me would follow stream-crossing best practices (shortest path, durable crossing point) while riding their ATV.	1	2	3	4	5
Other ATV riders would support my decision to follow stream-crossing best practices (shortest path, durable crossing point) while riding my ATV.	1	2	3	4	5

We would like to know more about support for various management strategies that could be used for salmon in the area.

9. Please rate your level of support or opposition to the following hypothetical management actions in the area.

	Completely Oppose	Oppose	Slightly Oppose	Neither	Slightly Favor	Favor	Completely Favor	N/A
Providing signs indicating salmon species are present	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Providing signs indicating approved crossings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Providing signs with directions to approved crossings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Positioning a depth gauge in the middle of a stream crossing	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Other:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8

10. Would you use a bridge to cross streams if available?

    ☐ Yes
    ☐ No

11. How do you find out about new or existing ATV trails? (select all that apply.)

☐ Existing signage
☐ Trail maps ☐ Social media (Facebook, etc.) - What social media platform do you use for finding new existing ATV trails? ☐ Trail app on smartphone - What trail app do you use on your smartphone? ☐ Online Forums ☐ Friends/Family ☐ Other:

12. How do you navigate ATV trails while riding? (choose all that apply.)

☐ Trail maps

☐ Existing Signage

☐ GPS/GPS Tracks

☐ Navigation App on Smartphone – What navigation app on your smartphone do you use for navigating ATV trails?

☐ Prior knowledge

☐ Other:

13. Would you use a navigation app on your smartphone if it had crossing info (hazards, approved crossing locations, bridges, etc.)?

☐ Yes

☐ No

14. How aware are you that streams in Jim Creek Recreational Area provide critical habitat for salmon spawning, egg development, and young fish?

Not at all aware	Moderately aware	Very aware	Extremely aware	Completely aware
1	2	3	4	5

15. Are you a permanent Alaska resident?

☐ No
☐ Yes	What is your zip code? Zip code ______________

16. In what year were you born?

________________

17. What is your gender? Please mark one.

☐ Male	☐ Female ☐ Not listed:

18. Please indicate your highest level of education completed. (select one)

☐ Some high school	☐ Bachelor’s degree
☐ High school diploma/GED	☐ Graduate degree
☐ Some college

19. What is your ethnicity? Please mark one or more.

☐ American Indian or Alaska Native	☐ White
☐ Asian	☐ Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
☐ Black or African-American	☐ Hispanic/Latinx ☐ Prefer not to answer ☐ Other:

20. Do you belong to an organized ATV group?

☐ No
☐ Yes	What group? ______________

21. Do you ride anywhere else? List up to 3 other locations you ride.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to evaluate the effectiveness of the current method (signage) put in place to influence human behavior (safeguard salmon habitat and restoration investments in upper Cook Inlet/deter degradation) and promote awareness that juvenile salmon occupy small streams and wetlands. Your response is voluntary and we will not share your response publicly. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. OMB has reviewed and approved this focus group and assigned OMB Control Number 1090-0011.

Estimated Burden Statement: We estimate it will take 15 minutes to complete this survey, including time to read instructions and gather information. You may submit comments on any aspect of this information collection to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: AMAD-ARM-PPM, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, or via email at [email protected].