Mountain Pine Beetles and Invasive Plant Species Findings from a Survey of Colorado Community Residents

Abstract

The US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station funded research to assess community responses to forest disturbance by mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and public reaction to invasive plants in north central Colorado. In the Spring of2007, 4,027 16-page questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected households with addresses in Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Granby, Kremmling, Silverthorne, Springs Steamboat, Vail, and Walden, Colorado (see map below). After adjusting for 589 undelivered surveys due to incorrect addresses, the 1348 completed surveys yielded an aggregate response rate of 39.2%. All the nine communities were reasonably well represented in the survey. Table 1 shows number of surveys completed and response rates by communities. Walden had the highest proportion (15.7% ) of the surveys received. Walden also had the highest response rate among study communities (49.8%). The lowest response rate was from Kremmling (33.1%). Throughout this report, figures showing community variations are oriented from left to right according to a gradient of an amenity index from lower to higher amenity indicators. Thus, Walden has lower scores on indicators of amenity orientation and Frisco has the highest. Details on this amenity index can be obtained from the authors of this report.

Citation

Flint, Courtney; Qin, Hua; Daab, Michael. 2008. Mountain Pine Beetles and Invasive Plant Species Findings from a Survey of Colorado Community Residents. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences