King County 2011 River Management Public Opinion Survey

February 28, 2012

What was the purpose of the survey?

1. Gather information about residents’ experiences, opinions, and priorities regarding river uses and river management in King County.

2. Inform our outreach strategies.

3. Learn what matters to our customers throughout King County.

4. Establish benchmarks for future measurement.

How important are rivers to our residents?

3%3% 13% 26% 54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

How important to you personally are rivers in King County? (N=703)

Importance of Rivers in King County

Not at all important 2 3 4 Extremely important

How do residents recreate?

36%

35%

26%

28%

11%

4%

15%

14%

12%

12%

5%

3%

18%

17%

18%

15%

16%

12%

12%

13%

19%

15%

23%

24%

18%

22%

25%

31%

45%

56%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Go rafting or tubing on rivers (N=702)

Swim in rivers (N=701)

Go boating, canoeing, or kayaking N=701)

Fish in rivers (N=702)

Walk, hike, run, or bicycle on trails by rivers (N=702)

Enjoy river features, such as scenery or riverside

attractions (N=703)

How important is it to you to be able to do each of the following on rivers in King County?

Not at all important 2 3 4 Extremely important

+ Near water

+ In water

Do residents know about our work on rivers?

25%

20%

19%

22%

18%

21%

25%

29%

25%

17%

21%

21%

11%

12%

14%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Keep rivers available for recreational activities

(N=699)

Protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat on

King County rivers (N=702)

Reduce flood risks to protect people and property (N=701)

How familiar are you with King County's efforts to ____________?

Not at all familiar 2 3 4 Extremely familiar

Do residents agree with our top priorities for river management?

• 75% - Restoring fish and wildlife habitat

• 65% - Reducing flood risks

• 53% - Keeping rivers available for recreational activities

“Agree” or “strongly agree”

Do our residents agree with our management strategies?

• 89% - “Temporarily close portions of a river to recreational activities if hazardous conditions exist.”

• 65% - “Place logs in rivers and on river banks to prevent erosion.”

• 58% - “Acquire property near rivers to move levees back and allow rivers more room to move.”

“Agree” or “strongly agree”

How do residents feel about recreational safety on rivers?

• 85% agree, or strongly agree, that river safety is “an individual's personal responsibility.”

• 60% agree, or strongly agree, that individuals should be “required by law to wear a life jacket when engaging in recreational activities on rivers.”

• 64% of river users say they always or almost always wear a life jacket.

• 20% of respondents who fish, boat, raft/tube, or swim said they never wear a life jacket.

What do residents feel are the biggest recreational safety risks on rivers?

18%

8%

10%

7%

7%

4%

24%

10%

10%

6%

6%

6%

29%

25%

19%

15%

12%

11%

15%

23%

25%

23%

12%

25%

15%

33%

36%

49%

63%

54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Other users on the rivers (N=680)

Rocks (N=681)

Trees and wood (N=680)

Cold water (N=688)

Intoxication (N=682)

Fast water (N=680)

How big a risk is each of the following on rivers in King County?

No risk at all 2 3 4 Extremely serious risk

Opportunities & Recommendations

• Continue to confirm we’re on track with our top three goals for river management to

• reduce flood risks,

• protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat, and

• keep rivers available for recreational activities.

• Improve outreach about what we do in each river basin.

• Improve education of river users regarding personal responsibility for safety.