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This document outlines the proposed sampling effort and protocols for conducting visitor surveys at various sites of the Middle Fork American River Project. It includes details on sampling schedules, site-specific protocols, survey administration, and survey logs.
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Placer County Water Agency Middle Fork American River Project (FERC No. 2079) Recreation Technical Working Group Meeting March 6, 2008
Proposed Sampling Effort • Table 5 3
General Protocols • Statistical sites will be sampled on weekdays, weekend days and holidays • Qualitative sites will be sampled on weekends and holidays • Sampling effort for statistical sites is stratified by month based on use distribution – June, July, August • For each month, the number of holiday, weekend-day, and weekday sample-day are assigned • Fridays will not be scheduled for sampling to provide an open day for QA/QC and data management activities and to allow for adjustments to the sampling schedule, if needed • Each sample-day represents two sample-blocks • Each sample-block represents a four hour sample effort 4
General Protocols • Sampling-blocks dates for each month are first randomly selected for each “day-type” • Second, sampling blocks were systematically adjusted to account for staff loading • Staff load balancingonly occurs within “day-type” categories • Example: A weekday sampling block can be re-assigned to another weekday but not a weekend-day • Sampling block times are systematically selected based on survey location and facility type • Surveyors will remain on site 4 hours (AM, PM, or evening) for each designated survey block • Surveyors will survey all persons encountered during the sampling block, provided they are willing to participate 5
Site-Specific Protocols • Campgrounds • Surveys will be conducted during AM blocks (8-12) or evening blocks(4-8) only • Survey team will coordinate sampling dates for reserved group sites with Forest Service to ensure occupancy at site • All Other Individual Sites • Surveys will be conducted during AM blocks (8-12) or PM blocks(1-5) • Grouped Sites • Surveys will be conducted during AM blocks (8-12) or PM blocks(1-5) • Surveyors will rove through groups of sites over a 4-hour period • Starting points within each group of sites will be randomly selected • All persons encountered at any one site will be approached and asked to participate in the survey 6
Site-Specific Protocols • Survey Administration • Section A-1 will be administered at all survey locations • With the exception of campgrounds, each user will be asked to complete two additional relevant sections based upon the primary activities they identify • Users intercepted at campgrounds will be asked to complete all relevant sections • Survey administration may be adjusted pending the pre-test results and/or feedback from early sampling efforts 7
Site-Specific Protocols • Locations in ASRA • Surveys will be conducted during AM blocks (8-12) or evening blocks (1-5), and will target stream-based recreation users • Sections A-1 and A-5 will be administered at all locations • Section A-7 will also be administered, if applicable • Ruck-a-Chucky • Sections A-1 and A-5 will be administered to all users • One of the following sections will be administered - Section A-2, A-3, or A-7 8
Survey Log • Survey logs will be completed for each sampling location • Surveyors will record the following information on the survey log: • Contact Number • Contact Time • Surveyed Previously (Y/N) • Willingness to Participate (Y/N) • Survey No. • Male/Female (M/F) • Part of Family? (Y/N) • Part of Larger Group (Y/N) • How may in family/group (#/#) • Site Identification • Weather Conditions • Site Conditions • Surveyor Name • Date • Time Arrived at Site • Time Departed Site • Estimated Number of People at Site 9
Proposed Sampling Schedule • Sampling schedule tables 10
Proposed Pretest Process and Schedule • Conduct surveys at Ruck-a-Chucky on Sunday, March 9th • If no one is present at Ruck-a-Chucky, move to Confluence • Conduct interviews over a 4-hour period, from 1PM - 5 PM • Intercept all users present at site • Record survey participation notes on survey log • Report results and discuss proposed survey form/ protocol revisions to group at March 26th TWG 11
Focus Groups 12
Focus Groups • Draft Invitation Letter(s) • Proposed Discussion Topics • Whitewater Boating Focus Group • Angler Focus Group • Trail Users/Stream Crossing Focus Group • Timing • February - March 2008: Identify Focus Group participants for each Focus Group • February - March 2008: Develop Focus Group topics • April - May 2008: Conduct Focus Group sessions 13
Flow Study Implementation • Timing • March - April 2008: Develop flow study survey instruments • March - April 2008: Evaluate water-year data to refine windows for flow study Implementation • April - May 2008: Select flow study team members • June 2008: Orientation of study team members • July - October 2008: Implement studies in coordination with instream flow studies conducted as part of AQ 1 TSP 15
Flow Study Implementation Study Reaches and Potential Target Flows 16
Flow Study Implementation • Whitewater survey form 17