The U.S. Forest Service wants to know how many people visit the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and the Pawnee National Grassland and how they recreate.
Forest Service staff will begin conducting surveys in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland as part of a yearlong process called National Visitor Use Monitoring.
The data collected in 2020 will update information previously gathered in the national forests in 2015, when the survey was last conducted, as well as show recreation trends over time.
Employees will be working in both developed and dispersed sites throughout the national forests wearing bright orange vests near signs that will read “Traffic Survey Ahead.” The survey is completely voluntary and confidential, so the Forest Service hopes visitors will participate.
Participants can expect to be asked basic visitor information and questions about what recreational activities they engaged in; how many people they were with; how long they were on forest land; and how satisfied they were with the available facilities.
The survey lasts around eight minutes. It is conducted every five years and aims to collect data on recreational activities, satisfaction with the facilities and services and an estimate of the number of visitors.
Ultimately, the information collected is used for forest management and local community planning, so employees try to speak with both locals and visitors so they are accurately represented.
Employees also speak with returning visitors and those who have already been surveyed to collect data about each visit.
Once the local survey data is collected, it will then be compiled into a detailed national report.