Cayuga Lake Watershed RPP Update
Questionnaire for the PUBLIC & YOUTH
Part I. Please tell us about how you connect with the Cayuga Lake Watershed.
1. Which watershed town, village, or city do you live in or visit? (Click here to view a map of the
watershed and its municipalities.)
________________________________
2. What is the source of your drinking water?
__ Municipally drawn from Cayuga Lake
__ Municipally drawn water from creek, stream or stream-fed reservoir
__ Municipal well
__ Private well
__ Privately drawn from Cayuga Lake or tributary (creek or stream that drains to the lake)
__ Don’t know/not sure
3. How strongly do you perceive Cayuga Lake, its creeks and streams, to be positive assets to the
region? (1 is “very strongly” and 5 is “not at all strongly.”)
1
2
3
4
5
4. If you are a working individual, how dependent is your business or employer's business on the
watershed’s lake, creeks and streams? (1 is “very dependent” and 5 is “not at all dependent.”)
1
5.
2
3
4
5
How important is the health of the watershed to the health of your or your employer's
business? (1 is “very important” and 5 is “not at all important.”)
1
1
2
3
4
5
6. How do you enjoy Cayuga Lake, its creeks and streams? Please select all that apply.
__ Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddling
__ Boating/Sailing
__ Fishing and ice fishing
__ Skating, Hockey
__ Swimming
__ Wildlife Viewing
__ Hiking
__ Picnicking
__ Aesthetic Enjoyment
__ Other
7. How important is the good health of the watershed to the activities you enjoy?
Very
Somewhat
Not at all
Don’t know
8. Is there enough public access to the lake and its tributaries (creeks and streams) for the
activities you enjoy?
Yes
No
Explain:_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
II. Please tell us how familiar you are with issues facing the watershed.
9. How would you describe the water quality within the Cayuga Lake watershed?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
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10. Which do you think are the most significant issues facing the watershed?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
11. In your opinion, which are the pollutants that most affect Cayuga Lake? Please select up to four.
___ Sediment, including soil, sand and gravel.
___ Fertilizers, including phosphorus and nitrogen.
___ Pesticides, used in farms, homes and gardens, and on roadsides.
___ Organic compounds, such as petroleum products; from pavement runoff, other
sources.
___ Heavy metals, such as zinc and copper; metals from road runoff, coal storage and
combustion waste, other sources.
___ Salts, such as the de-icer and brine used on roads in the winter; and from other
sources.
___ Pathogens – disease-carrying microorganisms, such as coliform bacteria, fungi and
viruses.
___ Invasive species - pests, weeds, exotic species, such as hydrilla, zebra mussels.
___ Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, such as drugs, caffeine, microbeads.
___ Other:
____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
12. Please choose the top five actions that could most effectively protect or restore the watershed.
___ Improving stormwater management and erosion control.
___ Improving communications, collaboration and partnerships across municipal and
agency boundaries.
___ Fostering stewardship through education and citizen engagement.
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___ Improving farming practices to reduce runoff and erosion.
___ Improving public wastewater systems management.
___ Improving private wastewater systems (septic systems).
___ Providing lawn care education to reduce erosion and lawn chemicals runoff.
___ Improving protection of wetlands and riparian corridors/buffers (land along the
lake, creeks and streams).
___ Improving forestry management.
___ Improving control of invasive species.
___ Other:
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
III. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
13. I am (check all that apply):
___ A watershed resident
___ A watershed business owner
___ Employed within the watershed
___ A frequent visitor to the area
___ A student within the watershed
___ Active with an advocacy group within the watershed
___ Other: _______________________________________________________
14. How willing are you to have municipal funding used for watershed protection and
improvement?
Very
Somewhat
Not at all
Depends on the project
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15. How willing are you to dedicate a portion of your time to foster watershed protection (attend
meetings, support policies, other)
Very
Somewhat
Not at all
Depends on the project
16. Do you have any additional comments?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
17. Would you like to receive project updates or more information? (optional).
Please let us know how to reach you:
Name______________________________________________
Phone, Email _____________________________________________
Mailing address ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
IV. Special questions for YOUTH, major stakeholders in the future of the Cayuga Lake watershed!
If you have a young person (up to age 18) in your life or household, please ask them to answer these
questions.
1. What types of activities do you enjoy on Cayuga Lake or on the land and creeks surrounding the
lake? (Check all that apply)
__ Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddling
__ Boating/Sailing
__ Fishing
__ Ice Fishing
__ Skating, Skiing, Snowshoeing
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__ Swimming
__ Wildlife Viewing
__ Hiking
__ Picnicking
__ Other:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. How often do you spend time on the lake, along our creeks, or doing other outdoor activities?
__ Daily
__ At least once a week
__ At least once a month
__ At least once a year
__ Never
3. Do you think the water in Cayuga Lake is healthy?
Yes
No
Please explain:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Please share your ideas on how to protect Cayuga Lake and its creeks and streams.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. What is your age group?
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__ 0 – 5
__ 5 – 11
__ 12 – 15
__ 15 - 18
THANK YOU for providing your informed opinion for the update to the Cayuga Lake
Watershed Restoration & Protection Plan. We will share results and recommendations with
the public and survey participants later this year, and will use your input to help chart a
sustainable healthy course for our beautiful lake and watershed into the future.
This plan is funded by the NYS Department of State through the Title 11 Environmental Protection Fund.
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