Form 3-2330A Lake Umbagog NWR Camp and Home Survey

OMB Control No. 1018-0132
Expires XX/XX/20XX

Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge

Camp and Home Survey

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3501), please note the following information. This information collection is authorized by the National
Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997. Managers at Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge will
use this information to make management and policy decisions. Your response is voluntary. We will
aggregate the information and use only for statistical purposes. We do not maintain personal
identifying information. OMB has assigned OMB Control No. 1018-0132, which expires XX/XX/2007.
Response is not required unless a currently valid OMB control number is displayed. We estimate that
it will take 20 minutes to complete this form. You may direct comments regarding the burden
estimate or any other aspect of the form to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish
and Wildlife Service, Mail Stop 222, Arlington Square, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street,
NW., Washington D.C. 20240. Do not return completed surveys to this address--please use the
postage-paid envelope provided with this questionnaire.
FWS Form 3-2330A
04/07

Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is located in northern New Hampshire and Maine.
It includes Umbagog Lake, portions of the Androscoggin, Magalloway, Rapid, and Dead
Cambridge Rivers, and surrounding uplands. A map of the Refuge is on the last page of this
questionnaire. The refuge and the lake are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the States of New Hampshire and Maine.
1.

Are you a year-round or seasonal resident on Umbagog Lake or the rivers included in
the refuge? (Circle one number.)
1. Year-round
2. Seasonal

2.

Do you own or rent a camp/home on Umbagog Lake or the rivers included in the
refuge?
1. Own
2. Rent (Skip to question 4.)

3.

How long have you owned your camp/home?
Years: _____ (Skip to question 5.)

4.

Approximately how long do you normally rent your camp/home each year?
Length of rental: __________

5a.

Do you have any boats that you use on Umbagog Lake or the rivers included in the
refuge? (Circle one number.)
1. Yes
2. No (Skip to question 6.)

b.

Approximately how many times per week do you use this boat(s) on the Lake or rivers
in the refuge?
Times per week: _____

c.

How many and what type of boats do you use on the Lake or rivers?
Number
Type (Check all that apply.)
Motorboat (pontoon)
Motorboat (not pontoon)
Sailboat
Canoe/Kayak
Other (please specify:)
___________________________

______
______
______
______
______

2

d.

Do you dock your boat(s) at camp/launch your boat(s) from camp, or do you transport
it/them to a launch site? (Circle one number.)
1. Dock at camp/launch from camp (Skip to question 6.)
2. Transport to launch site.

e.

What launch sites do you usually use? (See map at end of questionnaire.) (Check all
that apply.)
Public boat launch at the south end of the Lake
Public boat launch on the Androscoggin River above the Errol Dam
Steamer Diamond boat launch
Other (Please specify:___________________________________)

6a.

Please check the activities below that you participated in at the refuge.
Looking for loons, ducks, eagles, osprey and other birds on or near the water
Looking for moose
Boat fishing for bass
Boat fishing for trout and salmon
Boat fishing for other fish species
Fishing from shore
Motorboating (in a pontoon boat)
Motorboating (not in a pontoon boat)
Paddling (canoeing or kayaking)
Waterfowl hunting
Wildlife photography opportunities
Camping
Swimming
Trapping
Other activities (Please list) __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

b.

From the above list of activities, what was your primary reason for visiting the refuge
today?
Primary activity: ____________________________

3

7.

Please rate the importance of the following items in determining the quality of your
experience at the refuge. (Circle one number for each item.)

Importance
a.

Somewhat Moderately Extremely
Important Important Important
2
3
4

e.

The number of visitors to
the refuge
The number of boats on the
lake/rivers
The number of motor boats
on the lake/rivers
The number of
canoes/kayaks on the
lake/rivers
The speed of boats

f.

The noise of boats

1

2

3

4

g.

Visitors disturbing loons,
eagles and other wildlife
Parking at access sites

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

k.

Large groups of
visitors/boats
Congestion at popular
fishing spots
Seeing wildlife

1

2

3

4

l.

Catching fish

1

2

3

4

b.
c.
d.

h.
i.
j.

8.

Not at all
Important
1
1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

We would like to know how many and what types of boats you think could use the lake
without you feeling too crowded. To help judge this, we have included a series of
photographs in this questionnaire that show different numbers and types of boats on the
lake. Please look at the photographs on Poster 1 (included with this questionnaire.)

4

a.

Please rate each photograph by indicating how acceptable you think it is based on the
number and types of boats shown. A rating of “-4” means the number and types of
boats are very unacceptable, and a rating of “+4” means the number and types of
boats are very acceptable. (Circle one number of each photograph.)

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
Photo 10
b.

Very Unacceptable
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2

-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1

Very Acceptable
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4

Which photograph shows the number and type of boats you would prefer to see on
the lake?
Photo number: _____

c.

Which photograph shows the number and type of boats you think is so unacceptable
you would no longer use Umbagog Lake? (If none of the photographs represent this
condition, you may indicate that.)
Photo number: _____
OR
None of the photographs are so unacceptable that I would not use Umbagog
Lake.

d.

Which photograph shows the highest level of use you think should be allowed on the
lake? In other words, at what point should visitors be restricted from using the lake?
(If use should not be restricted at any point represented by the photographs, or not
restricted at all, you may indicate that.)
Photo number: _____
OR
None of the photographs show a high enough level of use to restrict visitors from
using the lake.
OR
Visitor use of the lake should not be restricted.

5

e.

Which photograph looks most like the number and type of boats you typically saw on
the lake today?
Photo number: _____

9a.

Do you boat on any of the rivers included in the refuge? (Circle one number.)
1. Yes
2 No (Skip to question 10.)

b.

Which rivers did you boat on? (Circle all numbers that apply.)
1.
2.
3.

c.

Androscoggin
Magalloway
Rapid

We would like to know how many and what types of boats you think could use the
rivers without you feeling too crowded. To help judge this, we have included a series of
photographs in this questionnaire that show different numbers and types of boats on the
rivers. Please look at the photographs on Poster 2 (included with this questionnaire.)
Please rate each photograph by indicating how acceptable you think it is based on the
number and types of boats shown. A rating of “-4” means the number and types of
boats are very unacceptable, and a rating of “+4” means the number and types of boats
are very acceptable. (Circle one number of each photograph.)

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
Photo 10
d.

Very Unacceptable
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2

-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1

Very Acceptable
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4

Which photograph shows the number and type of boats you would prefer to see in the
rivers?
Photo number: _____

6

e.

Which photograph shows the number and type of boats you think is so unacceptable
you would no longer use the rivers? (If none of the photographs represent this
condition, you may indicate that.)
Photo number: _____
OR
None of the photographs are so unacceptable that I would no longer use the rivers.

f.

Which photograph shows the highest level of use you think should be allowed on the
rivers? In other words, at what point should visitors be restricted from using the
rivers? (If use should not be restricted at any point represented by the photographs, or
not restricted at all, you may indicate that.)
Photo number: _____
OR
None of the photographs show a high enough level of use to restrict visitors
from using the rivers.
OR
Visitor use of the rivers should not be restricted.

g.

Which photograph looks most like the number and type of boats you typically see on
the rivers?
Photo number: _____

10a.

Do you fish using a boat at the refuge? (Circle one number.)
1. Yes
2. No (Skip to question 11.)

b.

We would like to know how many fishing boats you think you could see in an area
without you feeling too crowded. To help judge this, we have included a series of
photographs in this questionnaire that show different numbers of fishing boats in an
area. Please look at the photographs on Poster 3. Please rate each photograph by
indicating how acceptable you think it is based on the number of fishing boats shown.
A rating of “-4” means the number of boats is very unacceptable, and a rating of “+4”
means the number of boats is very acceptable. (Circle one number for each
photograph.)

7

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
c.

-4
-4
-4
-4
-4

Very Unacceptable
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1

0
0
0
0
0

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1

Very Acceptable
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4
+2
+3
+4

Which photograph shows the number of boats you would prefer to see?
Photo number: _____

d.

Which photograph shows the number of boats you think is so unacceptable you
would no longer fish at the refuge? (If none of the photographs represent this
condition, you may indicate that.)
Photo number: _____
OR
None of the photographs are so unacceptable that I would no longer fish at
the refuge.

e.

Which photograph shows the highest number of boats you think should be allowed at
fishing areas at the refuge? In other words, at what point should visitors be restricted
from fishing at the refuge? (If visitor use should not be restricted at any point
represented by the photographs, or not restricted at all, you may indicate that.)
Photo number: _____
OR
None of the photographs show a high enough level of use to restrict visitors
from fishing at the refuge.
OR
Fishing should not be restricted at the refuge.

f.

Which photograph looks most like the number of fishing boats you typically see at
the refuge?
Photo number: _____

8

11.

Please read and follow the instructions for each statement.
a.

To avoid disturbing nesting loons and waterfowl, you should: (Circle all numbers
that apply.)
1. Paddle or motor quietly, close to the shoreline.
2. Paddle or motor close to the shoreline, but try to make enough noise to warn
incubating birds that you are coming.
3. Paddle or motor quietly, well away from the shoreline.
4. Paddle or motor well away from the shoreline, but try to make enough noise
to warn incubating birds that you are coming.

b.

It is best to observe or photograph wildlife by: (Circle all numbers that apply.)
1. Using binoculars or a telephoto lens to see the animal clearly, while keeping
your distance.
2. Moving very slowly and quietly, while approaching the animal as closely as
possible.
3. Using food to attract wildlife, so you can get a good photo.
4. Approaching the animal from behind, so it is less likely to see you.

c.

What should you do if you see the nest or the young of a loon or duck? (Circle
all numbers that apply.)
1. Approach no closer than 15 ft. and report what you see to a refuge staff
member or State conservation officer.
2. Attempt to capture the young bird and return it to the nest or parent.
3. Stay near the nest or young to see if the parents will return.
4. You should never knowingly approach a nest or a young waterbird.

d.

Which of the following statements is true? (Circle all numbers that apply.)
1. Loons are most sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season, from
May-July.
2. When a loon leaves its nest, the eggs are exposed to predation and chilling,
which may result in nest failure.
3. A boat wake close to shore can flood a loon nest and result in loss of the eggs.
4. A loon on a nest keeps its neck low and extended over the water, in order to
keep cool while incubating eggs.

e.

How do you know if you are getting too close to an animal? (Circle all numbers
that apply.)
1. It changes its behavior in some way (e.g. from eating or grooming to alertly
watching.)
2. It moves away from you.
3. It vocalizes.
4. It dives under the water.

9

12.

The size of groups using Umbagog Lake and associated rivers in the refuge can vary.
We would like to know how you feel about different group sizes. Please rate the
acceptability of the following number of boats for a group of visitors to the refuge.
(Circle one number for each group size.)
Very Unacceptable
Very Acceptable
1 boat
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
2 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
3 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
4 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
5 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
6 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
7 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
8 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
9 boats
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
10 boats -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4

13.

To help ensure a high quality visitor experience at the refuge, what is the minimum
acceptable percentage of visitors who should be able to see each of the following types
of wildlife each day? (Indicate a percentage for each type of wildlife.)
Minimum Acceptable Percentage
__________of Visitors__________
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

See a loon
See an eagle
See an osprey
See waterfowl
See a moose

__________%
__________%
__________%
__________%
__________%

14. [If you do not fish at the refuge, please skip to question 15.]
To ensure a high quality visitor experience at the refuge, what is the minimum
acceptable percentage of anglers who should catch the following types of fish each
day? (Indicate a percentage for each type of fish.)
Minimum Acceptable Percentage
__________of Anglers__________
a.
Catch a bass
__________%
b.
Catch a trout or salmon
__________%
c.
Catch other species of fish
__________%

10

15.

The following management actions might be taken at the refuge to improve wildlife
habitat and/or enhance the quality of the visitor experience. Please indicate the extent to
which you support or oppose each of the following management actions. (Circle one
number for each item.)
Strongly
Strongly
Oppose
Oppose
Support
Support
a. Limit the number of boats
on the lake/rivers
-2
-1
+1
+2
b. Limit the number of motor
boats on the lake/rivers

-2

-1

+1

+2

c. Limit the number of canoes/
kayaks on the lake/rivers
-2

-1

+1

+2

d. Limit the speed of boats
on the lake/rivers

-2

-1

+1

+2

e. Limit the horsepower of
motor boats on the lake/
rivers

-2

-1

+1

+2

f. Limit the noise generated
by motor boats

-2

-1

+1

+2

g. Require clean emission
engines for motor boats

-2

-1

+1

+2

h. Ban motor boats from the
lake/rivers

-2

-1

+1

+2

i. Educate visitors more
aggressively about
minimizing impacts
on wildlife

-2

-1

+1

+2

j. Enforce regulations more
aggressively about
minimizing impacts on
wildlife

-2

-1

+1

+2

k. Close sensitive wildlife
areas to visitor use

-2

-1

+1

+2

11

Strongly
Oppose

Strongly
Support

Oppose

Support

-2

-1

+1

+2

-2

-1

+1

+2

n. Reduce number of campsites
to protect wildlife
-2

-1

+1

+2

o. Relocate campsites to
protect wildlife

-2

-1

+1

+2

p. Add more shore-based
fishing access (e.g., docks)

-2

-1

+1

+2

q. Zone or separate conflicting
recreation activities
-2

-1

+1

+2

r. Regulate use and/or type of
fishing tackle to protect
wildlife

-2

-1

+1

+2

s. Close campsites during
wildlife breeding
seasons

-2

-1

+1

+2

t. Close areas to fishing to
protect wildlife

-2

-1

+1

+2

u. Limit additional shoreline
development

-2

-1

+1

+2

v. Expand parking at
access areas

-2

-1

+1

+2

w. Add more boat ramps

-2

-1

+1

+2

l. Improve wildlife habitat
through forest management
(e.g., selective cutting of
trees) that might be seen
from the lake.
m. Improve wildlife habitat
by substantially reducing
the depth of the lake

12

16.

Are you?
Male
Female

17. In what year were you born? _______

Thank you for completing the survey.

13