Assateague Island National Seashore Survey

                                               Economics 415, Salisbury University

 

Thank you for participating in our survey.  The survey is designed to gather information about visitation to the Assateague Island National Seashore.  The information provided is anonymous and cannot be traced to survey participants.  The results will be used for student research and class purposes only.

 

1) How many people are in your party today? ______

 

2) Are you a(n):

            a. resident of the local area that is visiting for the day.

            b. day visitor that is staying overnight in Ocean City.

            c. overnight visitor from the local area.

            d. overnight visitor from outside of the local area that is also visiting Ocean City .

            e. overnight visitor from the local area that is not visiting Ocean city.

 

       2.1) How many nights will you spend at Assateague Island on this trip? _____ nights

 

3) What was your primary destination when making plans for this trip? 

 

            Ocean City (      )        Assateague Island (     )          Other (     ) specify: ___________________

 

4) How far did you travel to the beach today?  ______________ (distance in MILES)

 

5) Have you camped in the past year?  (    ) Yes   (     )  No

            5.1) If yes, on average, how many times per year? _________

 

6.0) How many times (including this trip) have you visited Assateague Island in 2005? _____

 

6.1) How many times do you plan to visit Assateague Island for the remainder of 2005? _____

 

6.2 ) Are your answers to questions 6.0 and 6.1 a typical number of trips for you?  (    ) Yes   (     )  No

 

6.3) If no, how many times do you typically visit Assateague Island in any year?______________

 

7) On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is “not important” and 5 is “extremely important,” how important do you think it is to preserve national parks such as Assateague Island?           (circle one response)

 

                        1                      2                      3                      4                      5

            not important                                                                          extremely important

 

8) In what ways do you enjoy the outdoors? (circle as many as are appropriate)

1) Hiking / Walking                5) Canoeing / Kayaking / Other river/lake activities 

2) Hunting / Fishing                6) Sightseeing by vehicle

3) Camping                             7) Photography

4) Bicycling                             8) Other: ______________________________________________

 

9) We would like to find out more information on the spending behavior of visitors to Assateague Island.  For all of the days of your visit to Assateague Island, approximately how much will your group spend on:

 

Spending Category

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Entrance Fees

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

 

 

 

Food

 

 

 

 

Rental Car

 

 

 

 

Beach Gear (towels, lotion, chairs, clothes, etc.)

 

 

 

 

Air Travel

 

 

 

 

Other: (explain)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10) On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent, how would you rate your visit to Assateague Island?              (circle one response)

 

                        1                      2                      3                      4                      5

                     poor                                                                                      excellent

 

Additional comments about your visit: ___________________________________________________________________________________

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

The Assateague Island National Seashore is part of a 37 mile-long island located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  A free-roaming wild population of approximately 160 ponies is managed by the National Park Service on this island. The pony preservation and management plan includes the use of contraceptive vaccines to maintain herd size; regular monitoring of births, deaths, and grazing; as well as the management of interactions between visitors and the horses.  The horses are managed as a wildlife resource and therefore do not receive veterinary care or any supplemental feeding. 

 

Note: The following questions are hypothetical. Your answers will be summarized and supplied to the National Park Service to help them decide how best to manage the pony herd. We are NOT collecting any money.

 

11) Suppose the National Park Service established a tax-deductible “Pony Preservation and Management Fund.” The purpose of the fund would be to help maintain a healthy herd size. Would you be willing to make a one-time tax-free donation to help maintain the habitat that supports the wild ponies that live on Assateague Island ? (check one)   (     ) Yes   (     ) No

 

11.1) If yes, what is the maximum amount you would be willing to donate?   $________________ 

 

11.2) If no, please explain why ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

        11.3) If this policy were implemented how many times would you typically visit Assateague Island in a year? _____

 

The Assateague Island beach replenishment project is designed to help reduce the negative impacts to the Assateague Island beach caused by the jetty-stabilized inlet at Ocean City.  The manmade jetty has decreased the flow of sand to the barrier island.  If the beach replenishment project does not take place, the northern portion of the island will likely de-stabilize with the expectation that future storms will fragment the island and result in land loss.  This project, which began in 2004, will take 90,000 cubic yards of sand from around the Ocean City Inlet and move it to northern part of the island twice a year

 

12) Would you be willing to make a one-time tax-free donation to support the Assateague Island beach replenishment project? (check one)   (     ) Yes   (     ) No

 

12.1) If yes, what is the maximum amount you would be willing to donate to beach

Replenishment project?   $________________ 

 

12.2) If no, please explain why __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

        12.3) If this policy were implemented how many times would you typically visit Assateague Island in a year? _____

 

13) In what year were you born? _____________

 

14) What is your gender?  (    )   Male  (    )  Female

 

15) How many people reside in your household? ________ 

            15.1) How many children reside in your household? ________ 

 

16) What is the zip code at your permanent home? _________

 

17) What is the highest level of education you have completed? (circle one)

a) some high school

b) high school graduate

c) some college (including associate’s degree)

d) college graduate (4 year degree)

e) post graduate

 

18) What is your approximate household income from all sources, before taxes, in 2004?  (circle one)

a) Below 15,0000                                           

b) Between 15,000 and $25,000                                            

c) Between 25,000 and $35,000

d) Between 35,000 and $50,000

e) Between 50,000 and $75,000

f) Between 75,000 and $100,000

g) Between 100,000 and $150,000

h) over $150,000

 

Thank you for your participation