Examining Visitor Use & User Characteristics at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE)

For the purposes of this review and submission the justifications for each question or section of questions is highlighted in a shaded text box above each question. These text boxes will not be printed on the final version of the surveys. The Topic Areas noted are consistent with the currently approved pool questions for the NPS Programmatic Review Process (1024-0224 – Current Expiration Date: 8-31-2014). The questions that are slight variations are denoted as such. Any questions that are outside the general scope of the programmatic review process have been carefully discussed and generally approved by the NPS Information Collection Review Coordinator with understanding that that those questions will require further review and consideration by OMB before full determination and approval can be granted.

Platte River Visitor Study

Dear Visitor, Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. It should only take about 15 minutes to answer the questions and return the complete survey to the on-site personnel. This very short survey will be used to help the Managers of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore to understand more about the visitors like you who are visiting the Platte River. Thank you for your help.

TOPIC AREA 1: VISITHIS2

1. Including this trip, how many times have you visited _______ # of visits

the Platte River?

TOPIC AREA 3: TRIPC1

2. How many miles did you travel from your residential home to visit the

Platte River this year?

_______ miles

TOPIC AREA 1: GR3

3. Including yourself, how many people were in your group? ______ # of people

TOPIC AREA 3: TRANS1

4. How did you travel on the Platte River during this visit? (Check all that apply, but if more than one, underline the way you traveled most.)

 PADDLED A PRIVATELY OWNED CANOE/KAYAK

 PADDLED A RENTED CANOE/KAYAK

 FLOATED ON PRIVATELY OWNED TUBE

 FLOATED ON RENTED TUBE

 OTHER (Describe) ______________________________

TOPIC AREA 3: TRIPC15 and TRIPC16

5. At what entry point/location did your trip begin? (Check one)

Riverside Outfitter Loon Lake El Dorado Landing

Kittendorf Landing Fish Weir Other __________

5a. Where did your trip end? (Check one)

 Kittendorf Landing Lake Township Park

Other __________

TOPIC AREA 1: KNOW2

6. Prior to your visit, were you aware that the lower Platte River is

managed by the National Park Service? (Circle one) 1. Yes 2. No

TOPIC AREA 1: GEND1

7. Are you: (Circle one) 1. Female 2. Male

TOPIC AREA 1- AGE3

8. What is your age? _____ Years

TOPIC AREA 1- ED2 (Variation)

9. What is the highest level of education in years you have attained? (Circle one number that best represents your education)

8 9 10 11	12	13 14 15 16	17 18 19 20 21
Less than a high school diploma	High school graduate or GED	Undergraduate college degree (BS, BA, etc)	Graduate degree (MS, PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

TOPIC AREA 4 – PA1

10. The Platte River may have many different roles in people’s lives. As you think about the Platte River please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement below. (Circle one number for each statement)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

a. I am very attached to the Platte River. 1 2 3 4 5

b. The Platte River is the best place for what I like to do. 1 2 3 4 5

c. I feel like the Platte River is a part of me. 1 2 3 4 5

d. I identify strongly with the Platte River 1 2 3 4 5

e. I get more satisfaction out of visiting the Platte River 1 2 3 4 5

than any other.

f. The Platte River is very special to me. 1 2 3 4 5

g. The Platte River means a lot to me. 1 2 3 4 5

h. Doing what I do at the Platte River is more 1 2 3 4 5

important to me than doing it in any other place.

i. Visiting the Platte River says a lot about who I am. 1 2 3 4 5

The Platte River is

j. A place to escape from civilization. 1 2 3 4 5

k. The real “north woods.” 1 2 3 4 5

l. A place of high environmental quality. 1 2 3 4 5

m. A pristine natural area. 1 2 3 4 5

TOPIC AREA 6: TRUST (Variation)

The National Park Service is responsible for managing recreation use on the Platte River. Its mission is to conserve nature, wildlife, and historical objects while providing for their enjoyment for the public and future generations. As you think about your interaction with the National Park Service please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement below. (Circle one number for each statement)

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
aa. The National Park Service shares my values about how the Platte River should be managed	1	2	3	4	5	X
ab. I share the National Park Service’s goals for the Platte River.	1	2	3	4	5	X
ac. The National Park Service supports my views about the Platte River.	1	2	3	4	5	X
ad. I trust the National Park Service in their efforts to manage the Platte River	1	2	3	4	5	X
The connection I have with the National Park Service
ae… is something I really care about	1	2	3	4	5	X
af… is something I intend to maintain indefinitely	1	2	3	4	5	X
ag… deserves my maximum effort to maintain	1	2	3	4	5	X
ah… is very important to me.	1	2	3	4	5	X
ai … is something I am very committed to.	1	2	3	4	5	X
aj … is very much like being family	1	2	3	4	5	X

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWD 1

11. How crowded did you feel while on the Platte River? (Circle one number)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Not at all Somewhat Moderately Extremely

Crowded Crowded Crowded Crowded

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWD 15

12. What is the total number of other groups you saw while

on the Platte River? ______ # of Groups

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWD 20

13. What is the total number of other groups you would prefer to see

during your trip on the Platte River? ______ # of Groups

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWD20 (Variation)

14. What is the maximum number of other groups you could see during

your trip before you no longer would use the Platte River? ______ # of Groups

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWDATT12 (Variation)

15. How did the following compare with what you expected to see on the Platte River?

(Circle one scale response for each statement)

About

Far What I Far Had no

Fewer Fewer Expected More More Preference

a. the number of

groups you saw on the river FF F P M FM X

b. the number of groups you

saw at the put-in FF F P M FM X

c. the number of groups you

saw at the take out FF F P M FM X

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWDATT12 (Variation)

16. How did the following compare with what you preferred to see on the Platte River?

(Circle one scale response for each statement)

About

Far What I Far Had no

Fewer Fewer Expected More More Preference

a. the number of

groups you saw on the river FF F P M FM X

b. the number of groups you

saw at the put-in FF F P M FM X

c. the number of groups you

saw at the take out FF F P M FM X

TOPIC AREA 5: VERP1 (Variation)

17. We would like to know how many other groups you think are acceptable to see without the

Platte River being too crowded. Please rate the acceptability of each of the following numbers of other groups seen on your trip.

Very Unacceptable

Unacceptable

Slightly Unacceptable

Neutral

Slightly Acceptable

Acceptable

Very Acceptable

See no other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 5 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 10 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 15 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 20 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 30 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 40 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

See up to 50 other groups -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

TOPIC AREA 6: OPMGMT6

18. We are interested in the type of management you think is appropriate on the Platte River.

Please indicate the degree to which you support or oppose the following management actions that are sometimes used in a river setting (Circle one number for each item).

	Strongly Oppose	Oppose	Neither support or oppose	Support	Strongly Support
Prohibit the use of glass containers	1	2	3	4	5
Prohibit the use of alcohol	1	2	3	4	5
Limiting in the number of users following public consultation	1	2	3	4	5

TOPIC AREA 6: EVALSERV17 (Variation)

19. How satisfied are you with the current management of the Platte River?

(Circle one number)

Not at all satisfied		Somewhat satisfied		Moderately Satisfied		Very Satisfied		Extremely Satisfied
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

TOPIC AREA 3: FVIS1 (Variation)

20. Do you plan to return to the Platte River in the future? 1. Yes 2. No

TOPIC AREA 6: OPMGMT7

21. These items represent conditions you may have encountered on the Platte River. Please indicate two things for each item. First, whether you felt the item was a problem during the visit. Second, whether you feel the situation has become better or worse over the years you have been coming to the Platte River. If this was your first trip, or if you really don’t know the trend, circle the X for ‘Don’t Know.’

First, is it: ║ Second, is it:

Not a A ║ Getting Getting Don’t

Problem Problem ║ Better Worse Know

║

a. Bank Erosion N Y ║ + – X

║

║

b. Noisy/Loud Groups N Y ║ + – X

║

║

c. Social trails N Y ║ + – X

║

║

d. Vegetation Damage N Y ║ + – X

║

║

e. Inappropriate Language N Y ║ + – X

║

║

f. Litter N Y ║ + – X

║

║

g. Improper disposal ║

of human waste N Y ║ + – X

║

║

h. Large groups of people N Y ║ + – X

║

║

i. Conflicts between users N Y ║ + – X

TOPIC AREA 4: PREF1

22. Below is a list of possible experiences you may have sought while visiting the Platte River Please indicate how important the experience is to you on your visit to the Platte River

(1 being not important, and 5 being extremely important):

Not at all Important

Slightly Important

Moderately Important

Very Important

Extremely Important

Experience:

To be away from the everyday routine of home 1 2 3 4 5

To get away from crowded areas 1 2 3 4 5

To experience the solitude/privacy 1 2 3 4 5

To be in a natural setting 1 2 3 4 5

To enjoy the natural scenery 1 2 3 4 5

To enjoy the tranquility of the area 1 2 3 4 5

To share quality time with family/friends 1 2 3 4 5

To do something with my family/friends 1 2 3 4 5

To bring family/friends closer together 1 2 3 4 5

To develop my knowledge of the area 1 2 3 4 5

To learn more about nature 1 2 3 4 5

To learn about the natural history of the area 1 2 3 4 5

To be with people who have similar interests 1 2 3 4 5

To talk to new and varied people 1 2 3 4 5

To meet new people 1 2 3 4 5

To experience new and different things 1 2 3 4 5

To be close to nature 1 2 3 4 5

To experience the peace and calm 1 2 3 4 5

To party with friends and family 1 2 3 4 5

TOPIC AREA 4: PREF (Variation)

23. From the list above, please tell us which of the experiences you valued the most during your visit on the Platte River?

PLEASE USE THE REMAINING SPACE TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS

PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT statement: The National Park Service is authorized by16 U.S.C. 1a-7 to collect this information. This information will be used by Sleeping Bear National Park managers to understand visitor experiences and attitudes about current management at the Platte River. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you refusing to supply the information requested. Please do not put your name or that of any member of your group on the questionnaire. All permanent data associated with this collection will be anonymous. 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 OMB control number and expiration date.

BURDEN ESTIMATE statement: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Please send any comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NPS Information Collection Review Coordinator, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80525.

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Current Expiration Date 8/31/2014

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