UMBSN Stakeholder Survey 2004
The 2004 UMBSN Stakeholder Survey was conducted during the 2004 Grand Excursion Event as our outreach effort distributed the Mississippi Monitor to approximately 6,000 new readers along the route of the Grand Flotilla. This year’s survey was simplified from previous years so that the eight questions would fit onto a postcard inserted into the June/July issue of the Monitor. Of the 6,000 surveys distributed, 128 (2.1%) have been returned at this time. While talking with stakeholders who were taking the survey, it became apparent that here was more than one way to interpret some of the questions. In particular, question five “Who should be in charge of cleaning up the water?” may need to be further clarified in a future survey. The term “in charge of” remains open to interpretation, as various elements of responsibility can fall under that umbrella term. When we were creating the survey, we were considering the financial responsibility for cleanup and remediation. However, oversight for the level of cleanup that is performed, selection of restoration methods, prioritization of cleanup efforts, and the enforcement of pollution laws could also be interpreted from the “in charge of” terminology that was used in the 2004 survey. The results of the survey are outlined below along with the questions that were asked.
|
1.)
What is your occupation? |
|
|
Retired |
42 |
|
Other
Occupations |
24 |
|
Teacher/Education/Student |
20 |
|
Gov't/Law Enforcement |
8 |
|
Service/Volunteers |
6 |
|
Farming |
5 |
|
Banking |
4 |
|
Medical |
4 |
Figure 1: Stakeholder
Occupations
|
2.)
How often to you think about water quality? |
|
|
Daily |
48 |
|
Five |
11 |
|
Four |
21 |
|
Three |
19 |
|
Two |
13 |
|
One |
8 |
|
Never |
2 |
Figure 2: How often
do you think about water quality?
|
3.)
What are the biggest threats to water quality? |
|
|
Agricultural
Runoff |
84 |
|
Industrial
Pollution |
69 |
|
Development |
54 |
|
Septic
Systems |
29 |
|
Other |
9 |
Figure 3: Biggest
threats to water quality.
|
4.)
Are you involved in local group concerned with water quality? |
|
|
No |
81 |
|
Yes |
35 |
|
5.)
Who should be in charge of cleaning up the water? |
|
|
Polluters |
52 |
|
Federal
Govt. |
50 |
|
State
Govt. |
37 |
|
|
25 |
|
All |
20 |
|
Taxpayers |
10 |
Figure 4: Who should
be in charge of cleaning up the water?
|
6.) Is
wetland restoration the most effective way to improve water quality? |
|
|
Yes |
80 |
|
No |
28 |
|
|
|
|
7.) What
kind of area do you live in? |
|
|
Small
City/Town |
66 |
|
Rural |
31 |
|
Big City |
16 |
|
Suburbs |
11 |
Figure 5: What kind
of area do you live in?
