1. King County 2011 River Management Public Opinion Survey February 28, 2012

2. What was the purpose of the survey? 1.Gather information about residents experiences, opinions, and priorities regarding river uses and river management in King County. 2.Inform our outreach strategies. 3.Learn what matters to our customers throughout King County. 4.Establish benchmarks for future measurement.

3. How important are rivers to our residents?

4. How do residents recreate? + Near water + In water

5. Do residents know about our work on rivers?

6. Do residents agree with our top priorities for river management? 75% - Restoring fish and wildlife habitat 65% - Reducing flood risks 53% - Keeping rivers available for recreational activities Agree or strongly agree

7. Do our residents agree with our management strategies? 89% - Temporarily close portions of a river to recreational activities if hazardous conditions exist. 65% - Place logs in rivers and on river banks to prevent erosion. 58% - Acquire property near rivers to move levees back and allow rivers more room to move. Agree or strongly agree

8. How do residents feel about recreational safety on rivers? 85% agree, or strongly agree, that river safety is an individual's personal responsibility. 60% agree, or strongly agree, that individuals should be required by law to wear a life jacket when engaging in recreational activities on rivers. 64% of river users say they always or almost always wear a life jacket. 20% of respondents who fish, boat, raft/tube, or swim said they never wear a life jacket.

9. What do residents feel are the biggest recreational safety risks on rivers?

10. Opportunities & Recommendations Continue to confirm were on track with our top three goals for river management to reduce flood risks, protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat, and keep rivers available for recreational activities. Improve outreach about what we do in each river basin. Improve education of river users regarding personal responsibility for safety.