|
Opinion Survey Summary – Berry Lake
Introduction
This final report provides an analysis of the Berry Lake Opinion Survey. The purpose of this report is to communicate the findings of the opinion survey to the stakeholders in order to facilitate discussions regarding sustainable lake planning. The survey assessed characteristics of the property, use of Berry Lake, concerns about Berry Lake, and opinions concerning potential ways to solve these concerns.
Data Collection
An opinion survey was mailed to each property owner in the Town of Underhill and a select few property owners in Menominee County on March 9, 2009. Additionally, post card thank you/reminders were sent to all that was mailed an opinion survey on March 16, 2009. Overall, the twelve-page questionnaire was returned by 60% of all surveys sent out.
Methods
The survey responses were coded into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The difference between the means of the Lake front property owners and the Non-Lake front property owners is only presented if that difference is greater than one point on a 1 to 5 scale.
Question 1: Have you ever visited or used Berry Lake?
|
Response
|
Frequency*
|
Percent
|
|
Yes
|
318
|
74.8
|
|
No
|
107
|
25.2
|
*Respondents = 425; non-respondents = 72
Question 2: How frequently do you visit or use Berry Lake?
|
N*
|
Not at all
|
Slight
|
Moderate
|
Often
|
Very Often
|
Mean
|
|
399
|
16.0
|
32.8
|
20.6
|
13.0
|
17.5
|
2.8
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Lake front property owners mean response was 4.4
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 2.4
Question 3: How would you describe Berry Lake’s water clarity?
|
N*
|
Clear
|
|
Cloudy
|
|
Murky
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
394
|
16.5
|
23.6
|
17.5
|
8.9
|
3.3
|
30.2
|
2.4
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Lake front property owners mean response was 1.9
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 3.9
Question 4: How would you describe Berry Lake’s aquatic plant growth?
|
N*
|
Too sparse
|
|
|
|
Overly weed-choked
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
394
|
.3
|
2.8
|
36.5
|
13.7
|
5.6
|
41.1
|
3.4
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Question 5: How would you describe Berry Lake’s level of crowding on WEEKENDS?
|
N*
|
Calm/little activity
|
Slight
|
Moderate
|
Crowded
|
Overly crowded
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
392
|
3.1
|
11.5
|
28.1
|
15.6
|
5.4
|
36.5
|
3.1
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Question 6: How would you describe Berry Lake’s level of crowding on WEEKDAYS?
|
N*
|
Calm/little activity
|
Slight
|
Moderate
|
Crowded
|
Overly crowded
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
391
|
32.2
|
23.8
|
7.9
|
1.0
|
0.0
|
35.0
|
1.7
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Question 7: How would you describe Berry Lake’s availability of public access?
|
Response
|
N*
|
Too little
|
|
|
|
Too much
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
Boating
|
390
|
9.2
|
9.2
|
43.6
|
10.0
|
4.9
|
23.1
|
2.9
|
|
Swimming
|
390
|
21.0
|
11.0
|
30.3
|
6.7
|
4.4
|
26.7
|
2.5
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Lake front property owners mean response was 3.4 on swimming
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 2.1 on swimming
Question 8: How would you describe the boating rules posted at the Berry Lake boat landing?
A
|
N*
|
Inadequate
|
|
|
|
Overly restrictive
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
360
|
4.4
|
6.4
|
36.9
|
6.1
|
1.1
|
45.0
|
2.87
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
B
|
N*
|
Very unfair
|
|
Fair
|
|
Very fair
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
378
|
1.3
|
.8
|
19.3
|
11.9
|
23.0
|
43.7
|
3.97
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Question 9: How would you describe the level of law enforcement on Berry Lake?
|
N*
|
Inadequate
|
|
Adequate
|
|
Overly aggressive
|
Don’t know
|
Mean
|
|
386
|
11.1
|
7.0
|
21.2
|
5.4
|
2.8
|
52.3
|
2.6
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Question 10: How is your “quality of life” affected by living or owning property in the vicinity of Berry Lake?
|
N*
|
Very negatively affected
|
|
|
|
Very positively affected
|
Mean
|
|
366
|
7.1
|
6.0
|
48.1
|
20.2
|
18.6
|
3.4
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Lake front property owners mean response was 4.3
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 3.1
Question 11: What value do you place on each of the following for Berry Lake as far as contributing to your “quality of life” as a local property owner?
|
Response
|
N*
|
Not important
|
|
Important
|
|
Very important
|
Mean
|
|
Safe water quality
|
375
|
5.1
|
2.4
|
12.8
|
21.9
|
57.9
|
4.3
|
|
Clear water
|
376
|
5.6
|
3.2
|
16.5
|
25.5
|
49.2
|
4.1
|
|
Observance of lake rules
|
371
|
6
|
5
|
19
|
21
|
49
|
4.0
|
|
Natural scenic beauty
|
377
|
5.6
|
2.9
|
23.6
|
25.7
|
42.2
|
4.0
|
|
Abundant fish/wildlife habitat
|
374
|
6
|
7
|
25
|
20
|
43
|
3.9
|
|
Peace and tranquility
|
375
|
7.2
|
4.8
|
25.9
|
21.9
|
40.3
|
3.8
|
|
Presence of lake
|
374
|
9.6
|
6.7
|
23.3
|
21.7
|
38.8
|
3.7
|
|
Unique & diverse wildlife
|
376
|
9.3
|
6.4
|
27.7
|
25.0
|
31.6
|
3.6
|
|
Good fishing
|
374
|
11.5
|
7.8
|
25.7
|
25.7
|
28.6
|
3.5
|
|
Slow-no-wake policies
|
371
|
14.8
|
7.5
|
25.6
|
19.9
|
32.1
|
3.5
|
|
Public boat-launch
|
374
|
15.2
|
9.4
|
25.7
|
16.0
|
33.7
|
3.4
|
|
Minimal boat traffic
|
373
|
11
|
10
|
39
|
20
|
20
|
3.3
|
|
Public swimming beaches
|
375
|
25.1
|
11.7
|
20.3
|
15.5
|
27.5
|
3.1
|
|
Walking/biking paths
|
373
|
25
|
13
|
29
|
16
|
18
|
2.9
|
|
Public shore-fishing areas
|
373
|
29.5
|
11.0
|
23.6
|
14.7
|
21.2
|
2.9
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Lake front property owners mean response was 4.8 on Presence of Lake
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 3.4 on Presence of Lake
Lake front property owners mean response was 1.7 on Public Swimming Beaches
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 3.5 on Public Swimming Beaches
Lake front property owners mean response was 2.5 on Public Boat Launch
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 3.7 on Public Boat Launch
Lake front property owners mean response was 1.5 on Public Shore-Fishing Areas
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 3.3 on Public Shore-Fishing Areas
Question 12: From the list above, please tell us the two that make the most important contributions to your quality of life at Berry Lake.
|
Response
|
Most important
|
Percent
|
Second most important
|
|
Presence of lake
|
66
|
21
|
10
|
|
Good fishing
|
56
|
18
|
24
|
|
Safe water quality
|
41
|
13
|
38
|
|
Peace and tranquility
|
32
|
10
|
40
|
|
Clear water
|
27
|
9
|
39
|
|
Public swimming beaches
|
24
|
8
|
29
|
|
Natural scenic beauty
|
21
|
7
|
41
|
|
Public boat-launch
|
15
|
5
|
23
|
|
Abundant fish/wildlife habitat
|
10
|
3
|
27
|
|
Walking/biking paths
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
|
Unique & diverse wildlife
|
4
|
1
|
10
|
|
Public shore-fishing areas
|
2
|
1
|
8
|
|
Minimal boat traffic
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
Observance of lake rules
|
3
|
1
|
6
|
|
Slow-no-wake policies
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
31 respondents found that none of these were important.
Question 13: Below is a list of activities that take place on Berry Lake. Please indicate which activities you and your family participate in by marking the appropriate boxes.
|
Response
|
Number of responses
|
|
Fishing
|
255
|
|
Swimming
|
233
|
|
Enjoying peace & tranquility
|
221
|
|
Observing wildlife
|
191
|
|
Ice fishing
|
143
|
|
Slow, motorboat cruising
|
133
|
|
Walking/biking around lake
|
112
|
|
Sunbathing
|
104
|
|
Canoeing/Kayaking
|
95
|
|
Water skiing or tubing
|
91
|
|
Rowing
|
79
|
|
Nature photography
|
69
|
|
Jet skiing
|
54
|
|
Speed boating
|
44
|
|
Ice skating
|
37
|
|
Sailing or wind surfing
|
28
|
Question 14: From the list in Question 13, please tell us the two activities, if any, you and your family most enjoy while at Berry Lake.
|
Response
|
Most enjoyable
|
Percent
|
Second most enjoyable
|
|
Fishing
|
83
|
28.8
|
48
|
|
Swimming
|
66
|
22.9
|
53
|
|
Enjoying peace & tranquility
|
50
|
17.4
|
43
|
|
Ice fishing
|
20
|
6.9
|
18
|
|
Slow, motorboat cruising
|
17
|
5.9
|
27
|
|
Walking/biking around lake
|
17
|
5.9
|
8
|
|
Observing wildlife
|
9
|
3.1
|
25
|
|
Water skiing or tubing
|
9
|
3.1
|
12
|
|
Canoeing/Kayaking
|
4
|
1.4
|
14
|
|
Jet skiing
|
3
|
1.4
|
7
|
|
Speed boating
|
2
|
.7
|
3
|
|
Sunbathing
|
1
|
.3
|
2
|
|
Sailing or wind surfing
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Rowing
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Nature photography
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
|
Ice skating
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
41 respondents had no participation with the above activities
Question 15: How much of a problem, if at all, would you say each of the following are at Berry Lake?
|
Response
|
N*
|
Not a problem
|
|
Problem
|
|
Big problem
|
Mean
|
|
Water level fluctuations
|
315
|
8.3
|
7.6
|
20.6
|
22.2
|
41.3
|
3.81
|
|
Property crime
|
307
|
15.6
|
13.0
|
31.9
|
19.5
|
19.5
|
3.14
|
|
Too many lake weeds
|
302
|
9.9
|
16.2
|
36.8
|
26.2
|
10.9
|
3.12
|
|
Jet skis
|
306
|
20.3
|
14.1
|
24.8
|
19.3
|
21.6
|
3.08
|
|
Quality of fishing
|
304
|
14.1
|
14.1
|
37.5
|
21.1
|
13.2
|
3.05
|
|
Big wake motorboats
|
307
|
18.6
|
16.3
|
27.7
|
17.6
|
19.9
|
3.04
|
|
Algal blooms (green algae)
|
300
|
14.7
|
19.3
|
34.3
|
23.7
|
8.0
|
2.91
|
|
Litter
|
307
|
16.6
|
19.2
|
35.2
|
18.2
|
10.7
|
2.88
|
|
Not enough habitat
|
304
|
17.1
|
17.4
|
39.5
|
20.4
|
5.6
|
2.80
|
|
Boating congestion/conflicts
|
297
|
15.8
|
24.2
|
39.1
|
13.8
|
7.1
|
2.72
|
|
Development on the lake
|
305
|
21.0
|
17.4
|
37.7
|
17.7
|
6.2
|
2.71
|
|
Loss of natural beauty
|
307
|
21.8
|
17.9
|
36.2
|
15.6
|
8.5
|
2.71
|
|
Lack of lake rule compliance
|
298
|
23.5
|
19.8
|
34.2
|
13.1
|
9.4
|
2.65
|
|
Crowding
|
304
|
20.7
|
23.0
|
35.9
|
16.8
|
3.6
|
2.60
|
|
Dogs running-at large
|
306
|
29.7
|
18.6
|
25.5
|
15.4
|
10.8
|
2.59
|
|
Water clarity
|
311
|
22.8
|
22.2
|
35.0
|
15.8
|
4.2
|
2.56
|
|
Fireworks (Not on 4th of July)
|
309
|
34.0
|
17.2
|
23.0
|
10.4
|
15.5
|
2.56
|
|
Dogs barking
|
303
|
28.1
|
20.8
|
29.4
|
10.6
|
10.6
|
2.54
|
|
Not enough public access
|
306
|
34.6
|
13.7
|
29.1
|
10.5
|
12.1
|
2.52
|
|
Noise
|
306
|
26.1
|
23.5
|
30.4
|
14.1
|
5.9
|
2.50
|
|
Personal safety (crime)
|
300
|
30.3
|
20.0
|
31.3
|
11.7
|
6.7
|
2.44
|
|
Issues related to piers
|
296
|
32.4
|
20.3
|
31.4
|
9.5
|
6.4
|
2.37
|
|
Too much public access
|
303
|
36.0
|
20.1
|
27.7
|
8.6
|
7.6
|
2.32
|
|
Fireworks (On 4th of July)
|
310
|
55.8
|
14.8
|
17.4
|
5.2
|
6.8
|
1.92
|
*N’s may vary due to some respondents not answering every question
Lake front property owners mean response was 3.1 on Too Much Public Access
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 2.0 on Too Much Public Access
Lake front property owners mean response was 1.6 on Not Enough Public Access
Non-Lake front property owners mean response was 2.9 on Not Enough Public Access
Question 16: From the list in Question 15 please tell us the two, if any, which you think are the biggest problems at Berry Lake.
|
Response
|
Biggest problem
|
Percent
|
Second biggest problem
|
|
Water level fluctuations
|
65
|
25.3
|
31
|
|
Property crime
|
39
|
15.2
|
18
|
|
Not enough public access
|
16
|
6.2
|
12
|
|
Jet skis
|
15
|
5.8
|
23
|
|
Water clarity
|
14
|
5.4
|
3
|
|
Quality of fishing
|
14
|
5.4
|
12
|
|
Dogs running-at large
|
12
|
4.7
|
14
|
|
Too many lake weeds
|
9
|
3.5
|
22
|
|
Big wake motorboats
|
8
|
3.1
|
16
|
|
Litter
|
7
|
2.7
|
6
|
|
Fireworks (Not on 4th of July)
|
7
|
2.7
|
4
|
|
Algal blooms (green algae)
|
6
|
2.3
|
4
|
|
Not enough habitat
|
6
|
2.3
|
8
|
|
Lack of lake rule compliance
|
6
|
2.3
|
4
|
|
Loss of natural beauty
|
5
|
1.9
|
7
|
|
Too much public access
|
4
|
1.6
|
11
|
|
Crowding
|
3
|
1.2
|
3
|
|
Development on the lake
|
3
|
1.2
|
8
|
|
Noise
|
3
|
1.2
|
2
|
|
Dogs barking
|
3
|
1.2
|
6
|
|
Personal safety (crime)
|
3
|
1.2
|
10
|
|
Boating congestion/conflicts
|
2
|
.8
|
8
|
|
Issues related to piers
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
|
Fireworks (On 4th of July)
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
41 respondents found that none of these are a problem.
Question 17: Which of the following do you feel are Berry Lake’s biggest threats?
|
Response
|
N*
|
Not a threat
|
|
Threat
|
| 
