Views from the Views from the FlowageFlowage

RespondentsRespondents

A total of 252 surveys A total of 252 surveys were returnedwere returned

Carey (70 )

Montreal (117 )

Pence (65 )

Response RatesResponse Rates

Overall, there was a Overall, there was a good response rate good response rate of 26.6%of 26.6%

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Carey PenceMontrealTotal

Satisfaction, Value Satisfaction, Value and Useand Use

What is Most Valued?What is Most Valued?

““Scenic beauty” is the Scenic beauty” is the most valued most valued characteristic of the characteristic of the flowageflowage

Beauty (27 )

Rec (16 )

Prop Values (4 )Other (4 )

Fishing (20 )North (17 )

Most Popular On-Land UsesMost Popular On-Land Uses

Scenic enjoyment, Scenic enjoyment, wildlife viewing wildlife viewing and walking/hiking and walking/hiking are the most are the most popular on-land popular on-land activities in the activities in the flowageflowage

Scenery (33 )

Sleds (11 )

X-C Ski (6 )Biking (6 )

Other (5 )

Walking (25 )

ATV's (14 )

Overall SatisfactionOverall Satisfaction

Sixty five percent of Sixty five percent of the respondents are the respondents are satisfied or very satisfied or very satisfied with the satisfied with the Gile Flowage Gile Flowage watershedwatershed

Neutral (21 )

Not Satisfied (14 )

Satisfied (65 )

On-the-WaterOn-the-WaterRecreational UseRecreational Use

How important is on-the-water How important is on-the-water recreation?recreation?

60% say it is very 60% say it is very importantimportant

Some (31 )

Not (9 )

Very (60 )

Most Popular On-Water UsesMost Popular On-Water Uses

The most common The most common water based use is water based use is fishing – from a fishing – from a boat and from the boat and from the shoreshore

Fishing (41 )Canoe (9 )

Sled (9 )Other (8 )

Swimming (12 )

Ice Fish (10 )

Motor (11 )

Trends in Recreational UseTrends in Recreational Use

Most agree that Most agree that recreational use of recreational use of the flowage has the flowage has increased over the increased over the past several yearspast several years

Less (10 )

More (56 )Same (34 )

Do current levels of recreational Do current levels of recreational use diminish your enjoyment?use diminish your enjoyment?

Most agree that it Most agree that it does not diminish does not diminish their enjoyment of their enjoyment of the flowagethe flowage

Some (22 )A Lot (2 )

Does Not (76 )

Do You Support Ordinances that Do You Support Ordinances that Would:Would:

Limit Jet Skis to Select Areas/Times (62%)Limit Jet Skis to Select Areas/Times (62%)

Prohibit Wakes in Select Areas (59%)Prohibit Wakes in Select Areas (59%)

Limit Water Skiing to Select Areas (59%)Limit Water Skiing to Select Areas (59%)

Prohibit Jet Skis (57%)Prohibit Jet Skis (57%)

Limit the Size of Motors Allowed (47%)Limit the Size of Motors Allowed (47%)

Provide Non-Motorized Areas (33%)Provide Non-Motorized Areas (33%)

Limit Times for Motorized Use (27%)Limit Times for Motorized Use (27%)

Island Camping – Permitted?Island Camping – Permitted?

Most believe that Most believe that camping on the island camping on the island should be should be permittedpermitted

Unsure (13 )

No (11 )

Yes (76 )

Island Camping – Developed?Island Camping – Developed?

There was a fairly even There was a fairly even split on whether or not split on whether or not to to developdevelop the islands the islands for campingfor camping

Yes (43 )

Unsure (15 )

No (42 )

Water QualityWater Quality

Importance of Water QualityImportance of Water Quality

Virtually everybody Virtually everybody agrees that the agrees that the quality of the Gile quality of the Gile Flowage water is Flowage water is importantimportant

Some (15 )Not (2 )

Very (83 )

Does water quality affect your Does water quality affect your enjoyment?enjoyment?

Most agree that the Most agree that the current water current water quality does not quality does not diminish their diminish their enjoyment of the enjoyment of the flowageflowage

Some (30 )

Greatly (5 )

No (66 )

Has the water become more Has the water become more polluted?polluted?

Most believe that the Most believe that the water quality has water quality has stayed about the stayed about the same over the past same over the past several yearsseveral years

More (17 )Less (6 )

Same (76 )

Exotic SpeciesExotic Species

How important is the issue of How important is the issue of exotic species?exotic species?

This is a critical This is a critical issue, as over 90% issue, as over 90% feel that it is either feel that it is either fairly important or fairly important or very importantvery important

Fairly (26 )

Not (8 )

Very (66 )

Do exotic species affect your Do exotic species affect your enjoyment?enjoyment?

The majority are The majority are negatively affected negatively affected by exotic species – by exotic species – at least to a limited at least to a limited degreedegree

No (43 )

Very Much (15 )

Limited (43 )

Have you noticed exotic species?Have you noticed exotic species?

Only a few Only a few respondents respondents actually noticed actually noticed exotic species in exotic species in the flowagethe flowage

Unsure (20 )

Yes (13 )

No (67 )

Education and AwarenessEducation and Awareness

There is strong There is strong support for support for improving improving education and education and awareness on exotic awareness on exotic speciesspecies

Unsure (11 )No (5 )

Yes (84 )

Enforcement ActivitiesEnforcement Activities

There is strong There is strong support for support for enhanced enhanced enforcement to enforcement to reduce the reduce the introduction of introduction of exotic speciesexotic species

Unsure (15 )

No (9 )

Yes (76 )

Enhanced FishingEnhanced Fishing

There is strong There is strong support for efforts support for efforts to improve fishing to improve fishing (through the (through the construction of fish construction of fish cribs or the cribs or the stocking of fish)stocking of fish)

Unsure (10 )No (6 )

Yes (85 )

Land Use and Land Use and DevelopmentDevelopment

Are land use and development Are land use and development issues important?issues important?

Yes, only 4% believe Yes, only 4% believe that they are not that they are not importantimportant Some (34 )

Not (4 )

Very (62 )

Development of the Gile Development of the Gile FlowageFlowage

Most respondents Most respondents think that the think that the watershed is watershed is developed about developed about rightright

Too Much (16 )

About Right (62 )Too Little (22 )

Do you support long range Do you support long range planning for the watershed?planning for the watershed?

No question about itNo question about it

Nearly 90% support Nearly 90% support long range planning long range planning for the Gile for the Gile Flowage watershedFlowage watershed

Unsure (7 )Not Support (5 )

Support (88 )

How important is preserving the How important is preserving the Northwood’s character?Northwood’s character?

Very important. Only Very important. Only 3% feel that it is 3% feel that it is notnot important important

Somewhat (13 )

Not (3 )

Very (84 )

Future DevelopmentFuture Development

IFIF there was future there was future development, what development, what type of land use would type of land use would you like to see?you like to see?

Campgr's (34 )Marinas (9 )

Other (16 )

Homes (30 )

Rest's (11 )

Land OwnershipLand Ownership

Most respondents Most respondents support retaining support retaining public ownership public ownership

of watershed landof watershed land

Unsure (15 )

Sell (13 )

Retain (72 )

Public AccessPublic Access

Satisfaction with Public Access Satisfaction with Public Access to the Gile Flowageto the Gile Flowage

Satisfaction Levels Were Highest For:Satisfaction Levels Were Highest For:– Quality and Quantity of Public Access SitesQuality and Quantity of Public Access Sites

Satisfaction Levels Were Lowest For:Satisfaction Levels Were Lowest For:– Restroom Facilities and Garbage Pick-upRestroom Facilities and Garbage Pick-up

Public Access Site ImprovementsPublic Access Site Improvements

The Following Improvements were Supported:The Following Improvements were Supported:

Provide Toilet Facilities – 61%Provide Toilet Facilities – 61%

Improve Parking – 46%Improve Parking – 46%

Improve Lighting – 40%Improve Lighting – 40%

Recreational Vehicle AccessRecreational Vehicle Access

Should snowmobiles Should snowmobiles and ATV’s be and ATV’s be permitted to access the permitted to access the flowage during the flowage during the winter?winter? Unsure (13 )

No (12 )

Yes (75 )

Vision for the Vision for the FutureFuture

What is your vision for the What is your vision for the watershed?watershed?

Over half agree that Over half agree that there should be a there should be a high priority placed high priority placed on protecting natureon protecting nature

Development (9 )

Nature (52 )Balance (39 )

Management and EducationManagement and Education

Percent Supporting the Following:Percent Supporting the Following:- Information at Public Access Sites (78%)- Information at Public Access Sites (78%)

- Education Regarding Steps to Reduce Pollution - Education Regarding Steps to Reduce Pollution (69%)(69%)

- Increased Regulation Re: Development (65%)- Increased Regulation Re: Development (65%)

- Mandatory Septic Tank Inspections (61%)- Mandatory Septic Tank Inspections (61%)

- Regulations Limiting Pesticides (57%)- Regulations Limiting Pesticides (57%)

Management and Education – Management and Education – ContinuedContinued

- Increased Zoning Setbacks and Regulations - Increased Zoning Setbacks and Regulations (47%)(47%)

- Education Encouraging Septic Tank - Education Encouraging Septic Tank Inspections (41%)Inspections (41%)

- Chemical Treatment (26%)- Chemical Treatment (26%)

How to Preserve Unique How to Preserve Unique Character?Character?

Support for Methods to Preserve Character of the Support for Methods to Preserve Character of the Gile Flowage and its Watershed:Gile Flowage and its Watershed:

Develop Zoning Overlay District (49%)Develop Zoning Overlay District (49%)Rely on Current County Zoning (27%)Rely on Current County Zoning (27%)Develop Town Ordinances (16%)Develop Town Ordinances (16%)Rely on Voluntary Compliance (8%)Rely on Voluntary Compliance (8%)

SummarySummary

High level of Satisfaction with Existing ResourcesHigh level of Satisfaction with Existing Resources

Desire to Preserve Character of the WatershedDesire to Preserve Character of the Watershed

Understanding of Trends and ThreatsUnderstanding of Trends and Threats

Significant Public Support for Long Range Significant Public Support for Long Range Planning (88%)Planning (88%)

Next Steps…Next Steps…