Form 7-2544 Reservoir Preferred Water Level Survey

OMB Control No. 1006-0028
Expiration Date: xx/xx/2014

Reservoir Preferred Water Level
Survey

Paperwork Reduction Act
The purpose of this survey is to provide information to the Bureau of Reclamation for evaluating and
improving the recreation services and programs that it provides to the public. Response to this survey
is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. The
reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 25 minutes, which includes the time for reviewing
instructions and completing and reviewing the form. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. Please direct comments regarding the burden
estimate or any other aspect of these forms to the Bureau of Reclamation, Policy and Administration,
Land Resources Division, 84-53000, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225.

Privacy Act Statement
No Privacy Act Information is being collected; therefore, no direct link to the individual(s) filling out this
survey will be available. Information collected will be compiled to produce statistics.

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation

7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

RESERVOIR PREFERRED WATER LEVEL SURVEY
For agency use only
Reservoir being surveyed: ____________________________________________________
Today’s date: ______________

1.

What would you consider the reservoir water level to be today? Please refer to the water
level descriptions below to help you answer this question. Please check [ ] one of the
descriptors listed below or, if you know the actual water level in feet, you may enter that
below.
____ Very high

____ High

____ Medium ____ Low

____ Very low

____ Water level in feet

2.

Very high water:

Reservoir full to overfull, some flooding occurring, trees and bushes in the water, no
exposed shoreline or mudflats, water way up on boat ramps, docks high, and water often
muddy and with floating sticks, logs, and other debris.

High water:

Reservoir full to nearly full, all facilities are usable, water usually clear, and likely no
exposed underwater hazards.

Medium water:

Reservoir water below full, high water line exposed, some sandbars and mud areas
exposed, underwater hazards may begin to appear (i.e., tree stumps, rocks, etc.)

Low water:

Reservoir has exposed shoreline area, mudflats and sandbars, exposed rocks and tree
stumps, water low on the boat ramp, and rocks, tree stumps, and other hazards abundant.

Very low water:

Reservoir has lots of exposed shoreline, mudflats, rocks, and tree stumps fully exposed,
water very low on boat ramps and docks and mostly unusable, difficult to get to water
from the shore, coves are dry, and a good part of the reservoir bottom is dry with only a
stream showing.

How satisfied are you with the reservoir water level today? Please check ( ) the one that
applies.
Very
satisfied

3.

Mostly
satisfied

An even mix of
satisfied and
dissatisfied

Mostly
dissatisfied

Very
dissatisfied

No opinion

For your primary (main) reservoir recreation activities, please describe what contributes to
and makes for an enjoyable recreation experience.

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7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

What detracts from your reservoir recreation experience?

4.

In Column 1 of the following table, check all the recreation activities that you are doing on
this trip.

5.

In Column 2 of the following table, check the one activity that is your primary (main)
activity for your current visit.

Activities

Column 1
(Q. 4)
 Activities this trip

Column 2
(Q. 5)
 Primary activity this
visit

Motorboating
Boat fishing (guided)
Boat fishing (private)
Bank fishing
Kayaking / canoeing
Sailing
Water skiing
Jet skiing
Swimming / wading
Camping
Sightseeing
Wildlife viewing
Houseboating
Day use / picnicking
Other
Other

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Bureau of Reclamation

6.

In Column 1 of the following table, check all the primary activities you have participated
in over the past 12 months.

7.

In column 2 of the following table, write in the percent of time that you participated in each
of the primary activities listed in column 2 in Q. 5 by season over the past 12 months.
Column 2
(Q. 7)
Percent of time by season
(primary activities only!)

Activities
Motorboating

Column 1
(Q. 6)
 Primary
activities past
12 months

Spring
March 1
to
May 31

Summer
June 1
to
August 31

Fall
September 1
to
November 30

Winter
December 1
to
February 28

%

%

%

%

Boat fishing (guided)

%

%

%

%

Boat fishing (private)

%

%

%

%

Bank fishing

%

%

%

%

Kayaking / canoeing

%

%

%

%

Sailing

%

%

%

%

Water skiing

%

%

%

%

Jet skiing

%

%

%

%

Swimming / wading

%

%

%

%

Camping

%

%

%

%

Sightseeing

%

%

%

%

Wildlife viewing

%

%

%

%

Houseboating

%

%

%

%

Day use / picnicking

%

%

%

%

Other

%

%

%

%

Other

%

%

%

%

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7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

8.

In the table below, record the number of visits that you made to this reservoir for each
primary activity you participated in over the past 12 months. The number of visits should
be for those activities checked in Column 1 in Q. 6.

9.

In the table below, give the average number of days or hours you spent per visit. The
average number of days or hours should only be for the primary activities checked in
Column 1 in Q. 6.

Primary recreation activities over
the past 12 months
Motorboating
Boat fishing (guided)
Boat fishing (private)
Bank fishing
Kayaking / canoeing
Sailing
Water skiing
Jet skiing
Swimming / wading
Camping
Sightseeing
Wildlife viewing

(Q. 8) – Number of visits for
each primary activity over
the past 12 months

(Q. 9) – Average number of
days or hours per visit
(Indicate whether it is
days or hours)

Houseboating
Day use / picnicking
Other
Other

10.

What facilities do you use at the reservoir? Check ( ) all that apply.
 Facility type
Boat ramps
Campgrounds
Picnic sites
Beaches
Floating docks
Marinas
Boat camps
Parking lots
Restrooms
Fish cleaning station(s)
Sanitary dump station(s)
Other

4

Facility name or location

7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

11.

On average, how much money do you spend per visit on the following items? Please enter
the average total dollars spent per visit getting to and from the recreation area in Column 1
and the average dollars spent in the local area once you arrive in Column 2.

Items
Camping fees
License fees
Hotel and motel
Restaurant
Groceries and alcohol
Gas
Recreation supplies
Guide services
Car rentals
Other rentals (list)

Column 1
Enter average total dollars spent
per visit traveling to and from the
local area

Column 2
Enter average dollars spent in
the local area per visit

Public transportation
fares (plane, etc.)

12.

In the table below, how much do you estimate that you spent each day, on average, for
each visit to the reservoir for each of your primary activities checked in Column 1 in Q. 6?
Activity
Motorboating
Boat fishing (guided)
Boat fishing (private)
Bank fishing
Kayaking / canoeing
Sailing
Water skiing
Jet skiing
Swimming
Camping
Sightseeing
Wildlife viewing
Houseboating

(Q. 12) – Dollars spent
per visit per day

Day use / picnicking
Other (list)

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7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

13.

Do you have a preferred reservoir water level for all your primary activities? In Column 1
of the table below, please give this preferred water level in feet or write in a preferred water
level of very high, high, medium, low, very low for each primary activity you participate
in (see Q. 1 for water level descriptions).

14.

In the appropriate columns in the table below, give the additional number of annual visits
(Column 2) and the additional number of days (Column 3) or hours per visit (Column 4)
that you would spend for each primary activity listed in Column 1 in Q. 6 if your preferred
water levels were met.
(Q. 14) – Additional number of visits per year
and days or hours per visit if preferred water
levels were met

Primary recreation
activity

Column 1
Preferred
water level in feet
or water level
description for
each activity

Column 2
Visits per
year

Motorboating
Boat fishing (guided)
Boat fishing (private)
Bank fishing
Kayaking / canoeing
Sailing
Water skiing
Jet skiing
Swimming
Camping
Sightseeing
Wildlife viewing
Houseboating
Day use / picnicking
Other
Other

6

Column 3
Days spent
per visit

Column 4
Hours spent
per visit

7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

15.

Are there upper and lower water levels and / or other conditions such as fluctuating water
levels that would stop you from pursuing your primary activity on the reservoir? In the
appropriate blank columns below, write the water level in feet or check ( ) a water level
of very high, high, medium, low, very low, or other for each activity you participate in.
(Q. 15) – Write the water level in feet or check ( ) the water level
description when you would stop activity
Primary recreation
activity
Motorboating
Boat fishing (guided)
Boat fishing (private)
Bank fishing
Kayaking / canoeing
Sailing
Water skiing
Jet skiing
Swimming
Camping
Sightseeing
Wildlife viewing
Day use / picnicking

Very high

High

Medium

Low

Very low

Other

Houseboating
Other

16.

17.

Have you had any conflicts with other users while recreating here? Check ( ) all that
apply. Please skip to Q. 19 if you have not encountered any conflicts.
___

Kayakers / canoers

___

Partiers

___

Boat anglers

___

Shoreline anglers

___

Picnickers

___

Motorboaters

___

Wildlife viewers

___

Campers

___

Other (specify) ___________________

___

Houseboaters

___

Jet skiers

___

What types of conflicts you have experienced on the reservoir? Check ( ) all that apply.
___ Noise
___
___
___
___

Crowding
Inconsiderate groups or individuals
Too many boats on the reservoir at any one time
Other (list) _________________________________________________________

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Bureau of Reclamation

18.

19.

20.

What did you do about each conflict? Check ( ) all that apply.
___

Went to another area

___

Complained to a manager

___

Did nothing

___

Went home

___

Left the area

___

Other (specify)

____________

Did you feel crowded by the number of people at each of the following locations? Circle
the number that best represents your response.
Not at all
crowded

Slightly
crowded

Neutral

Moderately
crowded

Extremely
crowded

When you started
your activity

1

2

3

4

5

While
participating in
your activity

1

2

3

4

5

While ending
your activity

1

2

3

5

5

When on the reservoir, on average, how many people are within eyesight of you at any
given time? ____
Is this number: Check ( ) only one.
___ Way too many ___ Too many ___ About the right number ___ Too few ___ Way too few

21.

What is an acceptable number of other outdoor recreationists to see in the following
places?
At the access point where you first start your activity

It is OK to see as many as _____ people

While participating in your activity

It is OK to see as many as _____ people

At the end of your activity

It is OK to see as many as _____ people

Note: The background information being collected below is needed to provide a profile of our
study population to make sure it is representative of all the visitors to our recreation area. None
of the information in this or other sections will be associated with any names or addresses.
22

Are you from in-state, out-of-state or another country? Please check ( ) only one
location.
_____In-State

_____Out-of-State

_____Another County

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7-2544 (1-07)
Bureau of Reclamation

Note: The two questions below are designed to describe your ethnicity and race. Regardless of
your answer to Q. 23, go to Q. 24.
23.

Are you Hispanic or Latino (i.e., a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or
Central American, or other Spanish culture, regardless of race)?
_____ Yes
_____ No

24. Please select one or more racial categories with which you most closely identify. Please
check ( ) all that apply.
_____ American Indian or Alaska Native
_____ Asian
_____ Black or African American
_____ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
_____ White

— Thank you for your cooperation —

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