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Big Walnut Urban 2019

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Rating of Water Quality
Overall, how would you rate the quality of the water in your area?
Poor Okay Good Don't Know
1. For canoeing / kayaking / other boating
2. For eating locally caught fish
3. For swimming
4. For picnicking and family activities
5. For fish habitat
6. For scenic beauty
Your Water Resources
1. Of these activities, which is the most important to you?
For canoeing / kayaking / other boating
For eating locally caught fish
For swimming
For picnicking and family activities
For fish habitat
For scenic beauty
2. Do you know where the rain water goes when it runs off of your property?
No
Yes
3. If you answered 'Yes' above, where does your rain water drain to?
Your Opinions
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the statements below.
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree
1. The way that I care for my lawn and yard can influence water quality in local streams and lakes.
2. It is my personal responsibility to help protect water quality.
3. It is important to protect water quality even if it slows economic development.
4. My actions have an impact on water quality.
5. I would be willing to pay more to improve water quality (for example: though local taxes or fees)
6. I would be willing to change the way I care for my lawn and yard to improve water quality.
7. The quality of life in my community depends on good water quality in local streams, rivers and lakes.
8. The economic stability of my community depends upon good water quality.
9. What I do on my land doesn't make much difference in overall water quality.
10. Lawn and yard-care practices (on individual lots) do not have an impact on water quality.
11. Taking action to improve water quality is too expensive for me.
12. It is okay to reduce water quality to promote economic development.
13. It is important to protect water quality even it it costs me more.
Water Impairments
Below is a list of water pollutants and conditions that are generally present in water bodies to some extent. The pollutants and conditions become a problem when present in excessive amounts. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following water impairments in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Sedimentation (dirt and soil) in the water
2. Nitrogen
3. Phosphorus
4. Coliform
5. Bacteria and viruses in the water (such as E.coli / coliform)
6. Trash or debris in the water
7. Toxic materials in the water
Sources of Water Pollution
The items listed below are sources of water quality pollution across the country. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following sources in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Discharges from sewage treatment plants
2. Soil erosion from construction sites
3. Soil erosion from farm fields
4. Excessive use of lawn fertilizers and/or pesticides
5. Grass clippings and leaves entering storm drains
6. Improper disposal of household wastes (chemicals, batteries, florescent light bulbs, etc.)
7. Improperly maintained septic systems
8. Manure from farm animals
9. Stormwater runoff from rooftops and/or parking lots
10. Droppings from geese, ducks and other waterfowl
11. Waste material from pets
12. Littering/illegal dumping of trash
13. Animal feeding operations
14. Land development or redevelopment
15. Urban stormwater runoff
16. Residential stormwater runoff
17. Post-development erosion and sedimentation
18. Drainage/filling of wetlands
19. Natural sources
20. Wildlife
21. Yard maintenance
22. Turf management (golf courses, sports fields)
Consequences of Poor Water Quality
Poor water quality can lead to a variety of consequences for communities. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following issues in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Contaminated drinking water
2. Contaminated fish
3. Loss of desirable fish species
4. Reduced beauty of lakes or streams
5. Reduced opportunities for water recreation
6. Excessive aquatic plants or algae
7. Fish kills
8. Odor
Practices to Improve Water Quality
Please indicate which statement most accurately describes your level of experience with each practice listed below.
Not relevant for my property Never heard of it Somewhat familiar with it Know how to use it; not using it Currently use it
1. Following the manufacturer's instructions when fertilizing lawn or garden
2. Use phosphate free fertilizer
3. Replace home sewage treatment system
4. Properly dispose of pet waste
5. Properly dispose of household waste (chemicals, batteries, florescent light bulbs, etc.)
6. Use rain barrels
Specific Constraints of Practices
Rain Garden : A garden that uses native plants to absorb and filter stormwater collected off a roof, parking lot, sidewalk, or driveway.
1. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
2. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
3. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
4. Don't know how to do it
5. Time required
6. Cost
7. The features of my property make it difficult
8. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
9. Desire to keep things the way they are
10. Physical or health limitations
11. Hard to use with my farming system
12. Lack of equipment
Sewage Treatment Repair: Having improperly operating home sewage treatment systems repaired to prevent sewage runoff.
13. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
14. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
15. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
16. Don't know how to do it
17. Time required
18. Cost
19. The features of my property make it difficult
20. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
21. Desire to keep things the way they are
22. Physical or health limitations
23. Hard to use with my farming system
24. Lack of equipment
Vegetated Streambank/Shoreline Protection : Maintaining vegetation that grows along streams, rivers or lakes acts as a protective buffer between the land and the water to reduce runoff and sediments flowing into the water.
25. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
26. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
27. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
28. Don't know how to do it
29. Time required
30. Cost
31. The features of my property make it difficult
32. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
33. Desire to keep things the way they are
34. Physical or health limitations
35. Hard to use with my farming system
36. Lack of equipment
Making Decisions for my Property
In general, how much does each issue limit your ability to change your management practices?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
1. Personal out-of-pocket expense
2. My own views about effective lawn and yard maintenance
3. How easily a new practice fits with my current lawn care method
4. Not having access to the equipment I need
5. Lack of available information about a practice
6. No one else I know is implementing the practice
7. Approval of my neighbors
8. Legal restrictions on my property
9. Environmental damage caused by practice
10. Environmental benefit practice
About You
1. Do you make the home and lawn care decisions in your household?
Yes
No
2. What is your gender?
Male
Female
3. What is your age?
4. What is the highest grade in school you have completed?
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2 year college degree
4 year college degree
Post-graduate degree
5. What is your occupation?
6. What is the approximate size of your residential lot?
1/4 acre or less
More than 1/4 acre but less than 1 acre
1 acre to less than 5 acres
5 acres or more
7. Do you own or rent your home?
Own
Rent
8. How long have you lived at your current residence (years)?
9. Which of the following best describes where you live?
In a town, village, or city
In an isolated, rural, non-farm residence
Rural subdivision or development
On a farm
10. In addition to your residence, which of the following do you own or manage? (check all that apply)
An agricultural operation
Forested land
Rural recreational property
None of these
11. Do you use a professional lawn care service?
Yes, just for mowing
Yes, for mowing and fertilizing
Yes, just for fertilizing and pest control
Yes, for mowing, fertilizing, and pest control
No
12. Where are you likely to seek information about soil and water conservation issues? (Check all that apply)
Newsletters/brochure/factsheet
Internet
Radio
Workshops/demonstrations/meetings
Conversations with others
Trade publications/magazines
None of the above
Information Sources
People get information about water quality from a number of different sources. To what extent do you trust those listed below as a source of information about soil and water?
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much Am not familiar
1. Local watershed project
2. Local government
3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4. University Extension
5. State environmental agency
6. Environmental groups
7. Local garden center
8. Lawn care company
9. Local community leader
10. Other landowners / friends
Thank You
Thank You
1. Thank you for your time and assistance! Please provide your name and email to be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card!
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