Improving the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to Ensure Longevity of Voluntary Conservation Efforts

OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
Expires 10/31/2021 

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Dear <>, 
I am writing to ask for your help with a study being conducted by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife 
Program of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Partners Program). The purpose of this study is 
to understand ways in which the Partners Program can improve so that it may better serve landowners 
like yourself. Your input on this topic is very valuable and we are excited to provide you with an 
opportunity to share your opinions and experiences in regards to working with the Partners Program. 
You were selected to participate in this study because you began a project with the Partners Program 
more than 10 years ago and therefore have long‐term experience working with them. 
You began work on a project with the Partners Program in <> in <> 
County. This survey refers to that project. As part of this project you did the following activity(s) or 
practice(s): <> 
Your participation in this survey is voluntary and has been approved through the requirements of the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB Control # 1040‐0001). It should take you take no more than 18 
minutes to complete. When you return your completed questionnaire, your name and address will be 
deleted from the mailing list and never connected to your answers in any way. 
If you have any questions or comments about this study, we would be happy to talk with you – simply 
contact us by email at [email protected] or by calling 970‐266‐2998.  
Sincerely, 
<< Signature>> 
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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
Expires 10/31/2021 

Your Experience Working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
1. What type of operation(s) do you have on your property? (Check all that apply)
Cattle
Sheep
Other livestock
Farming / Agriculture
Timber harvesting Dude Ranch / Agricultural-tourism
Oil, Gas, Mineral extraction Recreation
Outfitting (fishing, hunting)

Other(s) (please list): _____________________________________________________________

2. About how many acres is your operation? _____ Number of acres
3. About how many years has your family or group owned this property? _____ Number of years
4.

Is use of your property restricted by an easement that was put in place for wildlife habitat or other
resource conservation purposes?
Yes
No
Not Sure

5. Thinking about how you use your property, what proportion is used to generate income and what
proportion is for recreation. Select one the choices below that most closely represents that proportion.

6. For purposes of this survey we’d like you to select one of the practices you worked on with the
Partners Program. For example, you may have entered into an agreement with the Partners Program
to do plantings, grazing management and fencing, all of which are called “practices”.
Please select the one practice below you are most interested in talking about (there may only be one
listed). This list comes from our files, if a practice you worked on is not listed use the space in the
table below to write it in.
(Circle only one)
Planting

Water Management

Fencing

Invasive Species Control

Stream Modification

Grazing Management

Fire Management

Vegetation Management

Farm Management

Fish/Aquatic Species Passage

Other(s) (please list):______________________________________________________________

For the rest of this survey please answer each question with this single practice in mind.

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
Expires 10/31/2021 

7. Did you keep the practice in place after the agreement with the Partners Program expired?
Yes
No if ‘no’ skip to question 12
8. Most agreements with the Partners Program last 10 years (although some may vary). About how long
past the end of the agreement with the Partners Program did you keep the practice in place?

The practice is still in place
I removed the practice… (Check the appropriate box below)
Less than a year after
A year after
2 years after
3 to 4 years after
5 to 6 years after
7 + years after
Don’t know

9. If the practice is still in place beyond the terms of the agreement,
how long do you intend to keep the practice in place?

1 to 2 years
3 to 5 years
6 to 15 years
16 to 20 years
More than 20 years
As long as I own the property

10. What factors would encourage you to remove the practice?
Strongly
Disagree

Slightly
Disagree

I could increase my income

1

It got in the way of my operation (e.g., reduced
forage for livestock, recreational opportunities
and/or aesthetics of my property)
It did not work as intended

I would remove the practice if:

Neither

Slightly
Agree

Strongly
Agree

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

Please explain: ___________________________________________________
I wanted to reduce government influence on
my property

1

2

3

4

5

It had negative unintended consequences

1

2

3

4

5

Please explain: ___________________________________________________
Other(s) (please describe): ____________________________________________________________

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
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11. What factors would encourage you to keep the practice?
Strongly
Disagree

Slightly
Disagree

Neither

Slightly
Agree

Strongly
Agree

It increased my income

1

2

3

4

5

It enhanced my operation (e.g., improved
forage, recreational opportunities and/or
aesthetics of my property)

1

2

3

4

5

It worked as intended

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted to work with the government

1

2

3

4

5

It provided unintended benefits

1

2

3

4

5

I would keep the practice if:

Please explain: ________________________________________________________
Other(s) (please describe): _______________________________________________________
12. If you answered ‘no’ in question 7, why did you remove or discontinue the practice after the
agreement with the Partners Program expired? (If you DID keep the practice in place please skip to
question 13)
Strongly
Disagree

Slightly
Disagree

Neither

Slightly
Agree

Strongly
Agree

I was able to increase my income by
removing the practice

1

2

3

4

5

The practice was intrusive and got in the way
of my operation

1

2

3

4

5

The practice did not work as it was intended

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted to reduce government influence on
my property

1

2

3

4

5

The practice had negative unintended
consequences

1

2

3

4

5

Please explain: ________________________________________________________
Other(s) (please describe): _______________________________________________________

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
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13. Thinking of the practice you identified in question 6, to what extent did each of the following
influence you to work with the Partners Program on that practice?
Strongly
Disagree

Slightly
Disagree

Neither

Slightly
Agree

Strongly
Agree

I wanted to improve my property

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted to leave my land in a good state for
my kids and/or grandkids

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted to do conservation on my property

1

2

3

4

5

I was encouraged by my friends, neighbors
and/or business associates

1

2

3

4

5

Increased forage yield

1

2

3

4

5

Increased hunting lease quality and
quantity

1

2

3

4

5

Increased recreation opportunities on
my land other than hunting and
fishing

1

2

3

4

5

I trusted the Partners Program staff

1

2

3

4

5

I value wildlife and their habitat

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted to establish a relationship with the
Partners Program prior to any potential
endangered species listing decision

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted technical assistance

1

2

3

4

5

I felt a moral obligation to protect wildlife

1

2

3

4

5

I wanted to increase my income through
property improvements:

Other(s) (please describe): ____________________________________________________________
14. Overall, how satisfied are you with your experience working with the Partners Program on the
identified practice?
Extremely dissatisfied
Slightly dissatisfied
Neither dissatisfied nor satisfied
Slightly satisfied
Extremely satisfied

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
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15. Overall, how satisfied are you with the following aspects of the Partner Program?
Extremely
Dissatisfied

Slightly
Dissatisfied

Staff

1

Policies

Neither

Slightly
Satisfied

Extremely
Satisfied

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

The terms of the agreement

1

2

3

4

5

Cost-share arrangement

1

2

3

4

5

Technical assistance

1

2

3

4

5

Ability to manage my property
under the terms of the agreement

1

2

3

4

5

16. Did your experience working with Partners Program encourage you to work on another project with
the Partners Program?

Yes If yes, please continue
No If ‘no’ skip to question 18

17. What factors led you to the decision to work on another project with the Partners Program
(Check all that apply)?
I wanted to improve my property
I value the outcomes of these activities
I want to have more wildlife on my property
I enjoy working with Partners Program staff
I believe Partners Program staff will work with me for the duration of the project
I had concerns about a potential listing under the Endangered Species Act
Other(s) (please describe):
18. Did working with the Partners Program make you more or less likely to want to continue that kind of
work on your property (either with the Partners Program or another organization)?
Less likely
Neither
More likely

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
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19. Did your experience with the Partners Program encourage you to work on a project(s) with another
organization (e.g., USDA/NRCS-FSA, local or state government, land trusts or non-governmental
organizations)?

Yes

If yes, what organization(s):__________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Please describe the project or projects: __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

No

If no, why not? Please explain: ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

20. In addition to those you identified in question 19, what other types of organizations could you work
with and which would you consider working with in the future? (Circle your responses to both)
Could work with

Would consider working with

Local government agencies
(for example municipal or county)

Yes

No

Yes

No

State agencies
(for example State wildlife agency, State Parks)

Yes

No

Yes

No

Federal agencies
(for example Farm Service Agency (FSA) that
administers the CRP program)

Yes

No

Yes

No

Land Trusts
(for example Cattleman’s Land Trust, The Nature
Conservancy)

Yes

No

Yes

No

Non Governmental Organizations
(for example Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation, Trout Unlimited)

Yes

No

Yes

No

Other(s) (please describe): ____________________

Yes

No

Yes

No

21. Were there any factors that lead you to work with the Partners Program instead of other
organizations? Please be as specific as possible.

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
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22. To what extent do you disagree or agree with the following statements regarding working with the
Partners Program?
Strongly
Disagree

Slightly
Disagree

I feel that the Partners Program will maintain a
relationship with me for the long haul

1

I trust the Partners Program staff

Neither

Slightly
Agree

Strongly
Agree

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

The cost-share arrangement with the Partners
Program fits my financial needs

1

2

3

4

5

The Partners Program bureaucracy /paperwork/
red tape is not burdensome

1

2

3

4

5

The Partners Program allows me to still manage
my property the way I want to

1

2

3

4

5

The Partners Program places no permanent
restrictions on my property

1

2

3

4

5

The Partners Program helps me better prepare
for potential endangered species listing
decisions

1

2

3

4

5

My family, friends, neighbors and/or business
associates work with the Partners Program

1

2

3

4

5

I’ve worked with the Partners Program in the
past and had a good experience

1

2

3

4

5

I needed technical assistance to help plan
restoration activities that were beneficial to
wildlife on my operation

1

2

3

4

5

23. Was there anything about the Partners Program that made you hesitant to want to work with them?
Please be as specific as possible.

Yes

If yes, what were those things: ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
No
Don’t know

24. In your opinion, how can the Partners Program improve to make itself better for landowners?

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
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25. People think about the land and land ownership in different ways. The following questions help us
understand how landowners who work with the Partners Program view and relate to the land. By
understanding this the Partners Program will be able to better serve their partners. To what extent do
you disagree or agree with each of the following statements about land ownership by circling the
number that matches your response.
Strongly
Slightly
Slightly Strongly
Disagree Disagree Neither
Agree
Agree
Landowners have the right to use their land as
they see fit.

1

2

3

4

5

Landowners have an obligation to consider
how their management affects other people.

1

2

3

4

5

Other people have no right to tell private
landowners how to manage their land.

1

2

3

4

5

Landowners have an obligation to maintain
the land for future generations.

1

2

3

4

5

Private landowner rights outweigh any
responsibilities the landowner has to manage
land for public benefit.

1

2

3

4

5

The public has a role in deciding how private
land is used.

1

2

3

4

5

Conservation is a voluntary choice of the
landowner.

1

2

3

4

5

Conservation is one of the responsibilities of
private landownership.

1

2

3

4

5

Conservation is a state of harmony between
people and land.

1

2

3

4

5

When people see land as a community to
which they belong, they may begin to use it
with love and respect.

1

2

3

4

5

Land management is right when it tends to
preserve the integrity of the land.

1

2

3

4

5

People abuse land because they regard it as a
commodity belonging to them.

1

2

3

4

5

Landowners have an obligation to manage the
land in the interest of the community.

1

2

3

4

5

A landowner is a custodian of the land.

1

2

3

4

5

Landowners have a responsibility to manage
land for private and public benefit.

1

2

3

4

5

The private landowner is a custodian of
wildlife.

1

2

3

4

5

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OMB Control No. 1040‐0001 
Expires
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The following two questions help us understand more about the type of people who work with the
Partners Program. As a reminder, your responses will never be shared individually.
26. Are you: ____ Male or ____ Female
27. What is your age? _____ Years old

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

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We estimate it will take you 18 minutes to complete the survey,
including time to read instructions, gather information, and complete and submit the survey. We will use
the information to support voluntary habitat restoration through financial and technical assistance and to
better meet the needs of private landowners. Your response is voluntary and results will be anonymous.
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 (1040-0001). You may submit comments on any
aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. Please do not send
your survey to this address.

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