Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

Executive Summary
Overall, respondents were somewhat knowledgeable about threats to the health of the
watershed. Nearly half of all those who returned the questionnaire (44%) fell into the High
Knowledge group--although about one in ten may be classified as having Low Knowledge
(11%).
! Most residents are able to correctly define the term “watershed” (73%), although a
significant number believe that a watershed is “the building that contains the well and well
pump for a municipal water supply or are unsure what the term identifies (17%).
! Residents are aware of the impact of wetlands, lawn fertilizers, erosion, deforestation, and
runoff; but disagree as to whether farm animals and gravel parking lots have a positive or
negative impact on the health of streams and ground water.
! Respondents report a moderate to high interest in water quality issues, with 48% saying
they “always” or “frequently” read or watch news reports related to the issue.
Respondents believe that protecting Erie County’s water resources (lakes, streams, creeks,
ground water, etc) is at least as important as other economic and social issues.
! Most respondents believe that protecting water resources is as important as creating more
jobs in Erie County, economic growth and development, improving healthcare, and
improving the quality of schools.
! More than half of all respondents believe that protecting water resources is more important
than increasing suburban developments (58%), improving the availability of shopping
opportunities (58%) and improving the opportunity for entertainment (55%).
Rivers Conservation Planning Grant--Public Opinion Survey Page 6
Executive Summary (cont’d)
When it comes to protecting water resources from the impact of development, government
receives mixed reviews.
! On balance, residents tend to be critical of government’s performance in the area of water
resource protection in Erie County.
! Only about one in ten residents say government is doing an excellent or good job, while
nearly three in ten believe government is doing a poor or very poor job. A plurality of
residents (40%) say government is doing a fair job.
! One in five residents say they don’t know how government has performed in the area of
water resources protection.
Respondents believe that the cost of protecting water resources in our area should depend on
the source of the threat.
! When it comes to preserving wetlands, stormwater management and flood reduction
measures, respondents believe that government should bear the financial burden.
! However, business and industry also have a responsibility to protect water resources when
it comes to industrial sources of pollution, according to respondents.
! More than seven in ten residents believe that property owners should be responsible for
controlling household sources of water pollution.
! Respondents are divided on who should pay to repair stream bank erosion with 43.8%
claiming government and 27.6% claiming property owners. Also, on the issue of
controlling agricultural sources of water pollution, residents disagree on who should be
responsible with a plurality citing property owners (44.1%), and a significant number saying
government (30.6%), and business and industry (20.0%).
Rivers Conservation Planning Grant--Public Opinion Survey Page 7
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