Button Rock Preserve Management Plan

Public Survey #3 Results

This survey was available online between May 6 and Aug. 2, 2020. 831 people responded and
131 people included written comments. Questions were not required so some respondents
skipped some questions.

Summary and Qualitative Statistics

 Most are from Longmont
 Most are not in favor of a shuttle
 Most do not agree with a no dog policy
 Most do not agree with eliminating the fishing permit and fee
 Most were in favor of charging fees on Fri./Sat./Sun. between Memorial Day and Labor
Day.
 Most who were in favor of a fee chose the weekend daily vehicle pass ($5 utility
customer/$10 non-customer)
 The top three comment topics in the written responses were about dogs, hiking, and
charging a fee.

1. Where are you from? (671 responses, 160 skipped)

 74% who participated in the survey are from Longmont.

2. To alleviate parking pressure at the Preserve, would you ride a shuttle to/from Button
Rock Preserve (BRP)? (820 responses, 11 skipped question)
 72% responded NO (594 respondents)
 28%responded YES (226 respondents)

3. The goals of BRP are to:

1) Protect our drinking water supply
2) Protect surrounding ecosystems including healthy forests
3) Provide sustainable recreational opportunities
Research indicates that when humans are accompanied by dogs, both on and off trail,
their area of influence (noise, scent, trash) increases significantly, impacting wildlife
behavior and movement. How would you feel if a no dog policy was instituted?
(829 responses, 2 skipped question)
 64% Strongly Disagree (531 respondents)
 25% Strongly Agree (203 respondents)
 11% Neither Agree or Disagree (95 respondents)

4. Beginning in 2021, staff recommends eliminating the Button Rock fishing permit and fee.
Once in effect, anglers will only need to carry a state license, instead of both a Button
Rock permit and a state license. Do you agree with this recommendation?
(829 responses, 2 skipped question)
 48% Strongly Disagree (397 respondents)
 30% Neither Agree or Disagree (252 respondents)
 22% Strongly Agree (180 respondents)
5. Visitation is overwhelming the Preserve (parking lot, restrooms, staff, trails).
Staff recommends dispersing use and limiting overall visitor numbers (cars, people, dogs)
by charging a fee on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor
Day. Do you agree with this strategy?
 55% answered YES (452 respondents)
 28% answered MAYBE (230 respondents)
 17% answered NO (140 respondents)

6. If you support dispersing and limiting overall visitor numbers, what would be the best
way to accomplish this?
(808 responses, 23 skipped question)

 35%, Weekend daily vehicle pass ($5 utility customer/$10 non-customer)

(280 respondents)
 26%, Annual pass ($65 utility customer/$150 non-customer)
(212 respondents)
 27%, Annual pass, senior or disabled ($35 utility customer/$70 non-customer) (222
respondents)
 12%, I don’t support dispersing and/or limiting visitors
(94 respondents)

7. Please share any other thoughts or comments here:

(131 responses received)
 50 mentioned “dogs”
 30 mentioned “hike” or “hiking”
 29 mentioned “fee(s)”
 24 mentioned “parking”
 18 mentioned “trails”
 14 mentioned “fishing”
 7 mentioned “cars”
 6 mentioned “bike” or “bicycling”