Impacts of Sound on Visitors' Experience in Denali National Park Front-Country (DENA)

OMB Control: #1024-0224

Current Expiration Date: 5-31-2019

Denali National Park and Preserve

Visitor Study A

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The National Park Service is authorized by the NPS Research Mandate (54 USC 100702) to collect this information. This information will be used by park managers to understand visitors’ perceptions of sounds in the front-country of Denali National Park and Preserve. Responses to this request are voluntary and anonymous. Your name will never be associated with your answers, and all contact information will be destroyed when the data collection is concluded. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. 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 form is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: Denali National Park and Preserve, PO Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755.

TOPIC AREA 4: VISHIS1, VISHIS3

1. Is this your first visit to Denali?

YES ☐ (If YES, move on to #2) NO ☐

If NO, Approximately how many times have you visited Denali?

Times before ___________ (approximate)

OR

☐ Don’t know/not sure

TOPIC AREA 8: PREF1

2. How important was it that these visits to Denali’s front-country provide you with the opportunity to...? Mark "Not relevant" if an aspect was not relevant for this visit.

Importance
	Not Relevant	Not at all Important	Slightly Important	Moderately Important	Very Important	Extremely Important
Appreciate the history and cultural significance of the site	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
View the natural scenery	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Experience a feeling of calmness, peace, or tranquility	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Experience a sense of adventure or challenge	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Enjoy the natural quiet and sounds of nature	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐

3. How much did man-made sounds interfere with your enjoyment during your time in Denali’s front-country? (Please select one)

Much less than I expected	Less than I expected	About as much as I expected	More than I expected	Much more than I expected
1	2	3	4	5

4. What man-made sounds interfered the most with your enjoyment? (Please describe)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

NOTE TO REVIEWER

In this section we will ask visitors to listen to the sounds around them for 3 minutes, and then they will be asked to tell the surveyor each sound they heard during those 3 minutes. The surveyor will select the sound (or add) from the table below. The respondent will then be asked to rate the acceptability of each and their interpretation (based on annoyance) of each sound.

TOPIC AREA 6: SOUND4, SOUND5, SOUND 18, SOUND19

5. In this section I would like for you to listen to the sounds around you for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes I will ask you to tell me each of the sounds you heard during those 3 minutes.

Instructions: This survey will be used to help the researchers understand the effects of natural and human sounds in the park.

Step 1: Close your eyes and relax, and keep track of each individual sound that you hear for at least 3 MINUTES.

Step 2: While holding your concentration, focus on the sounds you have heard. Now, please list off for the survey administrator all the sounds you heard during the 3-minute listening exercise.

Step 3: Under the ACCEPTABILITY OF SOUNDS AT THIS LOCATION column, please indicate one number which best describes how unacceptable or acceptable the sound was for this location in the park:

Step 4: Under the INTERPRETATION OF SOUNDS AT THIS LOCATION column, please indicate one number which best describes how pleasing or annoying the sound was to you

Surveyor - Please indicate LOCATION, DATE and TIME OF DAY

of the listening exercise

 Visitor Center  Triple Lakes (South Trailhead)  Riley Creek Campground

DATE _______________ TIME of DAY  AM  NOON  PM

		ACCEPTABILITY OF SOUNDS AT THIS LOCATION									INTERPRETATION OF SOUNDS AT THIS LOCATION
SOUNDS	Did you hear?	Very Unacceptable		Slightly unacceptable		Neutral		Slightly acceptable		Very Acceptable	Very Annoying		Slightly annoying		Neutral		Slightly pleasing		Very Pleasing
Water, streams, rivers, etc.	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Rain	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Thunder	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Wind blowing trees	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Bird song/chatter	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Insects	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Animals	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Walking sounds	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Voices	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Wind	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Music	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Cell phone	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Camera	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Aircraft, Jet	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Aircraft, Propeller	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Aircraft, Helicopter	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Train	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Traffic sounds	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Motorcycle	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
Other (please specify):_________	Yes	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4

6. If you heard the sounds of a JET AIRCRAFT, during the time and location of listening exercise please answer the following questions. If none of these sounds were heard, please skip to question 8.

a) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of JET AIRCRAFT at the following times and locations?

	Acceptable		If NO, where would it be most unacceptable
	Yes	NO	Campsite	Front- country trail	Backcountry trail	Visitor Center
In the morning or before you started your activities for the day?
In the afternoon or during your activities for the day
In the evening or after you ended your activities for the day

b) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of JET AIRCRAFT be if it occurred for the following amounts of time per hour during any time while in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Minutes Per Hour	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
3	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
9	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
15	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
30	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
☐ I would prefer to never hear jet aircraft
☐ Did not hear this sound (skip to question 8)

c) How acceptable or unacceptable would the JET AIRCRAFT you heard during the listening exercise be if you heard it the following number of times per day during your time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Overflights Per Day	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
1	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
10	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
25	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
50	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
100	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐

d.) How frequently could you tolerate hearing the jet aircraft as you heard during the listening exercise before you would no longer visit in Denali? (front-country only)

? Please enter a number or select the checkbox.

No more than ______ overflights in an hour.

OR

☐ I would visit Denali’s front-country regardless of how frequently I heard the sounds of a jet aircraft.

7. If you heard the sounds of a PROPELLER AIRCRAFT during your listening exercise please answer the following questions. If none of these sounds were heard, please skip to question 8.

a) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of PROPELLER AIRCRAFT at the following times and locations?

	Acceptable		If Yes, where would it be most acceptable
	Yes	NO	Campsite	Front- country trail	Backcountry trail	Visitor Center
In the morning or before you started your activities for the day?
In the afternoon or during your activities for the day
In the evening or after you ended your activities for the day

b) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of PROPELLER AIRCRAFT be if it occurred for the following amounts of time per hour during any time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Minutes Per Hour	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
3	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
9	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
15	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
30	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
☐ I would prefer to never hear jet aircraft
☐ Did not hear this sound (skip to question 8)

c.)How acceptable or unacceptable would the PROPELLER AIRCRAFT you heard during the listening exercise be if you heard it the following number of times per day during your time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Overflights Per Day	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
1	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
10	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
25	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
50	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
100	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐

d.)How frequently could you tolerate hearing the PROPELLER AIRCRAFT as you heard during the listening exercise before you would no longer visit Denali? Please enter a number or select the checkbox.

No more than ______ overflights in an hour.

OR

☐ I would visit Denali’s front-country regardless of how frequently I heard the sounds propeller aircraft.

8. If you heard the sounds of a HELICOPTER during your listening exercise please answer the following questions. If none of these sounds were heard, please skip to question 8.

a) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of HELICOPTER at the following times and locations?

	Acceptable		If Yes, where would it be most acceptable
	Yes	NO	Campsite	Front- country trail	Backcountry trail	Visitor Center
In the morning or before you started your activities for the day?
In the afternoon or during your activities for the day
In the evening or after you ended your activities for the day

b) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of HELICOPTER be if it occurred for the following amounts of time per hour during any time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Minutes Per Hour	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
3	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
9	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
15	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
30	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
☐ I would prefer to never hear jet aircraft
☐ Did not hear this sound (skip to question 8)

c.)How acceptable or unacceptable would the HELICOPTER you heard during the listening exercise be if you heard it the following number of times per day during your time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Overflights Per Day	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
1	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
10	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
25	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
50	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
100	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐

d.)How frequently could you tolerate hearing the HELICOPTER as you heard during the listening exercise before you would no longer visit in Denali? (front-country only)

Please enter a number or select the checkbox.

No more than ______ overflights in an hour.

OR

☐ I would visit Denali’s front-country regardless of how frequently I heard the sounds of helicopters.

9. If you heard the sounds of a VEHICLE during your listening exercise please answer the following questions. If none of these sounds were heard, please skip to question 8.

a) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of VEHICLE at the following times and locations?

	Acceptable		If Yes, where would it be most acceptable
	Yes	NO	Campsite	Front- country trail	Backcountry trail	Visitor Center
In the morning or before you started your activities for the day?
In the afternoon or during your activities for the day
In the evening or after you ended your activities for the day

b) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of VEHICLE be if it occurred for the following amounts of time per hour during any time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Minutes Per Hour	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
3	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
9	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
15	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
30	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
☐ I would prefer to never hear jet aircraft
☐ Did not hear this sound (skip to question 8)

c.)How acceptable or unacceptable would the VEHICLE you heard during the listening exercise be if you heard it the following number of times per day during your time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Per Day	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
1	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
10	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
25	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
50	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
100	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐

d.)How frequently could you tolerate hearing the VEHICLE as you heard during the listening exercise before you would no longer visit Denali? (front-country only) Please enter a number or select the checkbox.

No more than ______ times in an hour.

OR

☐ I would visit Denali’s front-country regardless of how frequently I heard the sounds of vehicles

10. If you heard the sounds of a TRAIN during your listening exercise please answer the following questions. If none of these sounds were heard, please skip to question 8.

a) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of TRAIN at the following times and locations?

	Acceptable		If Yes, where would it be most acceptable
	Yes	NO	Campsite	Front- country trail	Backcountry trail	Visitor Center
In the morning or before you started your activities for the day?
In the afternoon or during your activities for the day
In the evening or after you ended your activities for the day

b) How acceptable or unacceptable would the sound of TRAIN be if it occurred for the following amounts of time per hour during any time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Minutes Per Hour	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
3	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
9	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
15	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
30	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
☐ I would prefer to never hear jet aircraft
☐ Did not hear this sound (skip to question 8)

c.)How acceptable or unacceptable would the TRAIN you heard during the listening exercise be if you heard it the following number of times per day during your time in Denali? (front-country only)

Acceptable							Unacceptable
Per Day	Extremely	Very	Moderately	Slightly	Neutral		Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
1	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
10	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
25	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
50	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐
100	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐		☐	☐	☐	☐

d.)How frequently could you tolerate hearing the TRAIN as you heard during the listening exercise before you would no longer visit Denali? (front-country only)? Please enter a number or select the checkbox.

No more than ______ times in an hour.

OR

☐ I would visit Denali’s front-country regardless of how frequently I heard the sounds of a train

TOPIC AREA 6: SOUND7

11. Besides this listening exercise, did you HEAR aircraft during your time in Denali?

☐ Yes (If yes, move on to #9)

☐ No (If no, move on to #10)

TOPIC AREA 6: SOUND13

11. During this visit to Denali’s front-country how much did noise from aircraft annoy you?

Annoy
Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very	Extremely
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐

TOPIC AREA 3: TRANSMODE6

11. Have you ever taken a commercial flightseeing tour over Denali or any other park? Please check all that apply.

YES, I have taken a commercial flightseeing tour over Denali	☐
YES, I have taken a commercial flightseeing tour over another park	☐
NO, I have never taken a commercial flightseeing tour over a park	☐

11. Are you interested in taking a commercial flightseeing tour over Denali?

☐ YES ☐ NO ☐ Don’t Know/Not Sure

TOPIC AREA 3: TRANSMODE9 (variation)

11. Have you ever taken an air taxi over Denali or any other park? Please check all that apply.

YES, I have taken an air taxi over Denali	☐
YES, I have taken an air taxi over another park	☐
NO, I have never taken an air taxi over a park	☐

TOPIC AREA 4: LOCALSERV8

11. On this trip, did you and your personal group camp inside Denali?

☐ YES

If yes, where did you camp? _____________________________________

☐ NO, day use only

TOPIC AREA 4: DEST9

11. On this visit, how long did you and your personal group stay at Denali? Please list hours or days below.

Number of hours, if less than 24 _______

OR

Number of days, if 24 hours or more _______

TOPIC AREA 1: GROUP5

11. How many adults and how many children were in your personal group (spouse, family, friends) during this visit to Denali? Please provide a number.

Number of Adults (Age 16 or Older) _______

Number of Children (Age 15 or Younger) _______

TOPIC AREA 1: GROUP1

11. Were you or your personal group part of some larger commercial, educational, or other organized group of visitors? YES ☐ NO ☐

TOPIC AREA 1: GEND 1

11. What is your gender? Female ☐ Male ☐

TOPIC AREA 1: AGE1

11. In what year were you born? Year born:___________

TOPIC AREA 1: RES3

11. Do you live in the United States?

 YES (What is your zip code? __________)

 NO (What country do you live in? ______________________________)

TOPIC AREA 1: EDUC1

11. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed? (Check one.)

 Some high school

 High school graduate or GED

 Some college, business or trade school

 College, business or trade school graduate

 Some graduate school

 Master’s, doctoral or professional degree

TOPIC AREA 1: RACE/ETH1

11. Are you Hispanic or Latino? YES ☐ NO ☐

TOPIC AREA 1: RACE/ETH2

11. What is your race? (Check all that apply.)
     American Indian or Alaska Native

 Asian

 Black or African American

 Native Hawaiian

 Pacific Islander other than Native Hawaiian

 White

Denali National Park and Preserve and Penn State University

both thank you for your assistance.

3