Arizona News – Beginning Oct. 2, the public will find contractors at developed dispersed recreation sites and along forest service roads in Coconino National Forest conducting research that will inform future forest management.

of Nationwide visitor usage monitoring Surveys are conducted in national forests every five years, allowing forest managers to get an estimate of the number of people enjoying recreation in national forests, the activities they engage in there, and their level of satisfaction with their visit.

The survey also captures the economic impact on the local economy, and the baseline information collected will inform forest planning and tourism planning for local communities.

These voluntary surveys will be conducted in the Coconino National Forest for one year, concluding on September 30, 2025. Interviews will last approximately 10 minutes and all responses will be kept confidential. Names will not be included. Surveyors will wear bright orange vests in all weather conditions and will be near signs that read “Traffic Survey Ahead.”

The information collected may include:

• A place where individuals can enjoy recreation in the forest;
• Number of people accompanying
• How long did he stay in the forest?
• What other recreational facilities did the individual visit while in the forest?
• How satisfied was the individual with the facilities and services provided?

About a third of visitors will be asked to complete an additional confidential survey about their recreational spending during their trip.

“While the survey is completely voluntary, your participation is crucial in helping us evaluate visitors' experiences in the forest as we work to make this a better place,” said Brian Poturalski, recreation program manager for Coconino National Forest. “We ask visitors to take just a few minutes to answer a few questions. It's important that surveyors speak to local people who use the forest as well as visitors from outside the area to ensure all types of visitors are reflected in the survey.”

Information about the Forest Service's National Visitor Use Monitoring Program can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/nvum.

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