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LKWI Town Survey 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.
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. Bacteria and viruses in the water (such as E.coli / coliform)
5. Toxic materials in the water
6. Cloudiness of the water
7. Arsenic
8. Algae in the water
9. Invasive aquatic plants and animals
10. Flow Alteration
11. Habitat alteration harming local fish
12. Pesticides
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 industry into streams and lakes
2. Discharges from sewage treatment plants
3. Soil erosion from construction sites
4. Soil erosion from farm fields
5. Excessive use of lawn fertilizers and/or pesticides
6. Grass clippings and leaves entering storm drains
7. Improper disposal of household wastes (chemicals, batteries, florescent light bulbs, etc.)
8. Improperly maintained septic systems
9. Manure from farm animals
10. Stormwater runoff from rooftops and/or parking lots
11. Stormwater runoff from streets and/or highways
12. Street salt and sand
13. Littering/illegal dumping of trash
14. Excessive use of fertilizers for crop production
15. Crop production (irrigated)
16. Land development or redevelopment
17. Urban stormwater runoff
18. Residential stormwater runoff
19. Highway/road/bridge runoff
20. Post-development erosion and sedimentation
21. Inappropriate waste disposal
22. Industrial land management
23. Septic disposal
24. Waste storage/storage tank leaks (underground)
25. Channelization of streams
26. Flow regulation/modification
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. Polluted swimming areas
3. Contaminated fish
4. High drinking water treatment costs
5. Loss of desirable fish species
6. Reduced beauty of lakes or streams
7. Reduced opportunities for water recreation
8. Reduced quality of water recreation activities
9. Excessive aquatic plants or algae
10. Fish kills
11. Odor
12. Lower property values
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. Create a rain garden
3. Use a mulching lawn mower
4. Keep grass clippings and leaves out of the roads, ditches, and gutters
5. Repair home sewage treatment system
6. Replace home sewage treatment system
7. Recycle automotive oil
8. Properly dispose of pet waste
9. Use rain barrels
10. Add tank additives to a septic system
11. Add tank cleaners to a septic system
12. Inspect septic system for size and condition
13. Establish grass cover for septic system
14. Not planting trees and shrubs over septic system
Specific Constraints of Practices
Pesticide Application Instructions: Follow pesticide application instructions for lawn and garden according to the guidelines from the manufacturer.
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
Regular Septic System Servicing: Having septic system thoroughly cleaned every 3-5 years to remove all the sludge, effluent and scum from the tank.
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
Proper Hazardous House Waste Disposal: Taking hazardous waste such as batteries, paint, car fluids, and solvents to a hazardous waste facility.
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
Native Plant Communities Restoration: Restore plant species in a manner designed to produce plant communities comprised of native species.
37. 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
38. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
39. 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
40. Don't know how to do it
41. Time required
42. Cost
43. The features of my property make it difficult
44. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
45. Desire to keep things the way they are
46. Physical or health limitations
47. Hard to use with my farming system
48. 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 physical abilities
3. Not having access to the equipment that I need
4. Lack of available information about a practice
5. No one else I know is implementing the practice
6. Approval of my neighbors
7. Don't know where to get information and/or assistance about those practices
8. Environmental damage caused by practice
9. Legal restrictions on my property
10. Concerns about resale value
11. Not being able to see a demonstration of the practice before I decide
12. The need to learn new skills or techniques
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 water quality issues?
Newsletters/brochure/fact sheet
Internet
Radio
Newspapers/magazines
Workshops/demonstrations/meetings
Conversations with others
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. Environmental groups
6. Local garden center
7. Lawn care company
8. Local community leader
9. Neighbors / friends
10. State natural resources agency
11. County Health department
12. Land trust
Septic Systems
1. Do you have a septic system?
No
Don't Know
Yes
2. If you answered 'yes' to the previous question, in what year was it installed?
3. Within the last five years, have you had any of the following problems? (Check all that apply)-
Slow drains
Sewage backup in house
Bad smells near tank or drain field
Sewage on the surface
Sewage flowing to ditch
Frozen septic
Other
None
Don't know
4. In the future, would you like a reminder from your local health department regarding inspection/maintenance of your septic system?
Yes
No
Don't know
5. Do you have a garbage disposal?
Yes, I use it daily
Yes, I use it occasionally
Yes, but I don't use it
No
6. Does your septic system have an absorption field ( finger system )?
Yes
No
Don't know
7. How would you know if your septic system was NOT working properly? (Check all that apply)
Slow drains
Sewage backup in house
Bad smells
Toilet backs up
Wet spots in lawn
Pumping tank monthly or more
Straight pipe to ditch
Frozen septic
Don't know
Other
8. Is your septic system designed to treat sewage or get rid of waste?
Treat sewage
Get rid of waste
Both
Neither
Don't know
9. Do you think a local government agency should handle inspection and maintenance of septic systems?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Thank You
1. Please use the space below for any additional comments about this survey or water resources in your community.




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