June 2023 Survey Results

14ers Centennial Visioning

Survey Responses EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

June 2023

What this means in practice:

Preservation and protection of natural ecosystems and wild areas with opportunities for solitude and retrospective or primitive recreation per the Wilderness Act

Healthy and stable populations of wildlife, native plants and iconic alpine trees

Effective waste management with the right infrastructure and routines Agency management standards are met

02. Provides equitable opportunities to responsibly explore Colorado’s 14ers

Everyone should be welcome to enjoy these awe-inspiring wild spaces in ways that best fit their different interests and abilities, that leave space for others to do the same, and that honor and protect the unique features of the land

What this means in practice:

Memorable and inspiring experiences are available for current and future generations Appropriate human resources and infrastructure on every 14er Opportunities for welcoming a variety of experience levels across the statewide system, including those whose cultures have not been honored in the past Sustainable behavior and respectful interactions are the norm among all users Opportunities for solitude, primitive recreation, and group recreation in and outside of Wilderness areas

03. Supports mutually beneficial relationships between visitors and communities

Communities located near the 14ers should not bear an undue burden in supporting the growing demands and impacts of visitors and user-related impacts must be addressed to deliver sustainability.

What this means in practice:

Funding and responsible management of areas in and around the 14ers shared by all users

Infrastructure capacity keeps up with demands from users, as appropriate

Negative impacts on nearby communities are minimized

Positive engagement between visitors and communities is maximized Issues identified by host communities are addressed

OVERVIEW

Fourteeners ("14ers") are Colorado’s mountains above 14,000 feet in elevation. 14ers include highaltitude alpine ecosystems with rare plants and unique wildlife, outdoor recreation experiences, tourism, healthy watersheds, community character, postcard-like vistas, sacred sites, and more.

Through the 14ers Centennial Visioning Process, supported by a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the National Forest Foundation (NFF), Envision Chaffee County, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, and other partners have incorporated the many values associated with the peaks into a shared vision of sustainable recreation and thriving natural resources across Colorado’s 14ers. With facilitation by Civic Canopy and input from a state-level Core Team and regional stakeholders, we are also working to understand current 14er conditions and to develop an action plan to ensure the vision will be a reality for this and for future generations. A list of Core Team organizations and the vision is available on our website: Centennial Program Visioning Process.

The 14ers Centennial Surveys were designed to help inform the vision and action plan by seeking input from the public, gateway community members, and land management professionals. The surveys provided an opportunity for people to share their perspectives and expertise. The following report describes survey methods and results.

Results from the 14ers Centennial Visioning Survey, and complimentary surveys of U.S. Forest Service District Rangers managing 14ers, wildlife professionals, and 14er project Core Team members, strongly suggest opportunities for improvement in 14er resources and management. Over half of 1,269 public survey respondents (52%) perceive that natural resource health has degraded in the last 5 years, citing increasing trash, human waste, and denudation of vegetation from off-trail use. A majority (41%) also feel the quality of their recreation experience has degraded. Comments convey a sense of frustration with overuse or a “crowded” feeling and poor user behaviors. Public survey responses also show support - and even eagerness – for change and a willingness by public survey respondents to pay to support management. Concerns from the public survey are reinforced by the perceptions of U.S. Forest Service District Rangers who manage 14ers, 90% of whom perceive a trend of increasing impact from campsites and human waste on 14ers, and most of whom note a need for both added funding and solutions to manage challenges including parking and waste management. The perception of wildlife professionals is consistent; 94% perceive that the impact on wildlife from recreation visitation of 14ers has increased. Ongoing project work will seek to add clarity to the issues and to develop collaborative action.

Methods

In early 2023, the 14ers Centennial Visioning Planning Team (comprised of the NFF, Envision Chaffee County, the Civic Canopy, and Colorado Fourteeners Initiative) drafted the 14ers Centennial Visioning process survey, modeling it from examples developed by Envision Chaffee County to guide the Chaffee Recreation Plan. The Core Team reviewed the draft survey and provided feedback. The final survey had six sections (Experience and Familiarity, General Questions about 14ers, Specific Questions about 14ers, Funding, Tell Us About Yourself, and Conclusion).

The NFF translated the survey into Spanish and distributed the English and Spanish versions to the Core Team. Both surveys were hosted on Typeform and made publicly available on the NFF's website. The Planning Team and Core Team then supported survey distribution via mailing lists, email blasts, newsletters, and social media posts.

The survey opened on April 7, 2023, and closed on May 1st, 2023. We received 1,269 responses, including 1,266 responses in English and 3 responses in Spanish. Planning Team members reviewed and analyzed quantitative and qualitative survey responses to provide the summary that follows, including key themes for each section.

Demographics

The public survey successfully captured the perspectives of 1,269 14er users, many of whom indicated they had generally high 14er experience levels. Because the survey generally tapped experienced users, it may have blind spots relative to the needs of people who have not yet visited a 14ers. Compared to state census data (2022 Estimates) and to other recreation surveys (like the 2019 SCORP Survey), the survey had relatively fewer responses from women, Hispanic/Latino users, and low to middle income populations. These demographic gaps provide opportunity for continued engagement and learning as the project advances.

Only 20 respondents self-identified as Indigenous. A high percentage of respondents answered an open-ended question about incorporating and honoring Indigenous perspectives and history, generally voicing support for including Indigenous priorities in the 14ers vision and projects.

Responses to parallel surveys from 10 U.S. Forest Service District Rangers managing 14ers, 17 Wildlife Biologists and 5 Core Team subject matter experts provided additional insights to 14ers current condition and management priorities.

RESULTS

14er Centennial Visioning Survey

1269 responses from 36 states, 76% from CO

6 sections with multiple choice and open-ended questions

Many found natural resources and recreation experiences degraded in past 5 years

Opportunities for improved management, education, and trail work

District Ranger Survey

10 responses

Multiple choice and short answer

Most found increased use on 14ers, impacting trails, parking, and facilities

Most found increased in human and dog waste and needs for more restrooms

Wildlife Biologist Survey

17 responses

Multiple choice and short answer

16 of 17 respondents indicate the impact of 14er use on wildlife has increased since 2018

Recommendations included improving user trail behavior through enforcement, implementing a lottery or permit system, and designating high-alpine camping areas

14ER CENTENNIAL VISIONING SURVEY

Section 1: Experience and Familiarity Themes

RESPONSES

More than 2/3s of respondents have visited more than 10 14ers. Most respondents (52%) perceive that 14er natural resources (water, wildlife, plant life, etc.) have somewhat to greatly degraded over time citing denudation of vegetation by off trail use and the prevalence of trash and human waste as top causes.

The majority of respondents reported that the quality of their 14er experiences has degraded over time. The most frequent reason stated is the high number of people recreating on 14ers, resulting in a loss of the sense of solitude or nature.

Visits

Respondents were very familiar (67%) with the 14ers. 55% have visited more than 10 14ers, 26% of visited at least one, while 18% have visited all 14ers. Less than 1% had not visited a 14er. 77% of respondents indicated that they typically camp nearby trailheads or day trip to trailheads.

Natural Resources

52% found the natural resources of 14ers to be degraded, 8% found them improved, 18% found no change, and 22% were unsure. 43% of respondents left comments about changes in natural resources. In the comments, top perceived types of natural resource damage were denudation and erosion related to off-trail use (areas adjacent to the trail, rogue/social trails), and a prevalence of trash and human waste (each with 13 to 17%). A second tier of damage included trail widening and erosion, denudation and vegetation damage related to parking at trail heads, and issues associated with dogs (dog waste, dogs chasing wildlife). A third tier included damage related to camping along the routes and a general observation that there is less wildlife and less respectful user behaviors.

Recreation Experience

41% responded that their experience was degraded, 25% said it was improved, 26% said there was no change, and 9% were not sure. About half of respondents left comments about their recreation experience. The top reason for declining experience quality (stated by almost 1/3 of all respondents) was a sense of overcrowded trails and increased use, impacting their experience of high-alpine recreation. These included observations of disruptive behaviors (boom boxes, leaving trash, dogs off leash, etc.). Some respondents indicated that they prefer recreating in the winter, on 13ers, or at other recreation sites, and many also supported some system to limit use. 69% of comments came from respondents who selected ‘degraded’ and 28% came from those who selected ‘improved’. For those whose experience quality has improved, 3% of respondents indicated that trail conditions have improved and celebrated Colorado Fourteeners Initiative's work in particular.

14ER CENTENNIAL VISIONING SURVEY

Section 2: General Questions about 14ers

Themes

Respondents cared most about retaining healthy forests, waters, and wildlife, and improving trails for increased use.

Enjoyment of 14ers comes from beautiful scenery, the alpine environment, and fitness benefits.

Trash and human waste and the increased number of users were the highest selected negative impacts on user experience.

40% of respondents thought Indigenous cultures and perspectives should be considered and honored through education, inclusion, collaboration, or co-management.

The biggest barriers to recreate on 14ers for respondents were private land, scheduling, and transportation issues.

Respondents were most concerned about retaining healthy forests, waters, and wildlife (72%), improving trails for increased use (51%), and informing and educating visitors for safe and responsible recreation (43%). Interestingly, managing 14ers so that host communities are healthy and stable was a priority for only 11%, which may be a root issue toward communities not feeling like they are valued or prioritized. Only 2% were in favor of additional promotion of 14ers for economic benefit.

When asked what they enjoy most about 14ers, most respondents noted the beautiful scenery (86%), the alpine environment (85%), and fitness benefits (77%). About half also enjoy wildlife (53%), unique plants and flowers (48%), and sharing experiences with friends and family (48%). 3% provided comments, many on the enjoyment of solitude and a spiritual sense of the overall experience.

Four negative impacts stood out in responses: the presence of trash and human waste (80%), high number of users (68%), disruptive user behavior (58%), and damage to plants and wildlife (52%).

For approaches to improving sustainable recreation on 14ers, respondents most often selected providing education for reduced impacts, safety, and alternative destinations. Respondents supported protection of forests through campfire restrictions, watersheds by requiring human and pet waste removal, and alpine environments by allowing camping in designated areas only. Improving trails, adding backcountry rangers for waste cleanup and enforcement, or improving access were also acceptable to respondents.

Strategically, 44% of respondents thought 14er management should focus on high use ‘priority’ peaks, while 7% thought the focus should be broad across all 14ers. 43% felt those approaches should be combined. 2% of respondents provided comments, with some recommending a permitting system.

64% of survey respondents wrote comments about supporting, respecting, and honoring Indigenous cultures and perspectives. 67% of these responses offered suggestions to provide education at trailheads or online, to include Native Nations in planning and management, to post land acknowledgements, or to rename mountains. 12% said that they did not know, 11% were not supportive, had no comment, or found the question irrelevant to the survey, while 7% recommended asking the Tribes.

44% reported barriers preventing recreation access, the majority being private land issues, scheduling issues, and transportation issues. Of those respondents, 22% commented with other barriers, including crowds, technical expertise, or age. Less than 1% of those respondents had not visited a 14er or did not know if they had.

26% of respondents commented about disability access, but only 4% self-identified as having a disability. 16% provided comments about improving facilities or about access in general.

14ER CENTENNIAL VISIONING SURVEY

Section 3: Specific Questions about 14ers

Themes

About a third of respondents had a specific 14er they cared about that was near their home or was special for them or their family.

29% of respondents indicated that they had a specific 14er they cared about. Those that did indicated that their specific peak was near to their house, important to their family, or that they had a personal connection to it. 57% of those respondents provided additional comments about their specific peak.

Section 4: Funding

Themes

Respondents think more investment is needed to support sustainable 14ers, including from the state, federal government, and user fees/permits.

Funding priorities for respondents include trail maintenance, wildlife protection, and education.

Most respondents are willing to pay on average $75 for priority projects.

80% of respondents believe that 14ers would benefit from additional investments, but opinions were split over who should pay for it, between the state of Colorado (74%), the federal government (70%), 14er users by fees or permits (64%), and philanthropy (54%). A small portion (6%) wrote in additional comments about other approaches to funding, including a combination of funding sources, recreation taxes, and cannabis taxes.

The preferred use of additional funding was for trail maintenance (68%), wildlife protection (54%), and public awareness/education (50%).

Willingness to pay responses were variable, ranging from $0 to $200 with the most frequently chosen amounts of $100, $50, and $200 (with an average of $75). Some respondents commented that they were unsure if the question referred to annual cost or a one-time payment.

14ER CENTENNIAL VISIONING SURVEY

Section 5: Tell Us About Yourself

Themes

36 states represented

76% of respondents reside in Colorado

Largest age groups were 25 to 34 (27%) and 35 to 44 (24%)

67% men, 29% women, 4% preferred not to state, 1% non-binary

88% White / Caucasian and 91% English speakers

Top incomes:

$150,000+ (27%),

$50,000 to $89,999 (21%)

$90,000 to $129,999 (17.6%)

Compared to 2020 population data, there were relatively more responses from Chaffee County (+8.7%) and Jefferson County (+5.3%). There were relatively fewer responses from Adams County (-6.0%), and Arapahoe County (-6.2%).

76% of respondents reside in Colorado while 21% identified as working in recreation, conservation, or land management.

The largest age group was 25 to 34 (27%), followed by 35 to 44 (24%). 75% indicated that they were not parents or guardians of children.

67% identified as men, 29% as women, 4% preferred not to state, and less than 1% identified as non-binary or preferred to self-describe. 6% identified as LGBTQ+, with 4% preferring not to state.

The demographics were predominately White / Caucasian at 88%. 7% preferred not to state, 2.2% Asian / Pacific Islander, 2.1% Hispanic, 1.6% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 1.4% Latino, 1.1% Other, and 0.7% Black or African American.

91% responded that English was their sole language at home, and the majority of the 7% who indicated they spoke another language at home indicated Spanish.

The top three income brackets were $150,000+ (27%), $50,000 to $89,999 (21%), and $90,000 to $129,999 (17.6%).

Section 6: Conclusion

Themes

Survey respondents consistently prioritized action to protect natural beauty and wildlife and to improve user behaviors, such as with education and enforcement. Some respondents prioritized maintaining or increasing access to 14es while other suggested access should be more limited. Respondents found that the vision statements aligned with their hopes for 14ers.

84% provided a comment about the most important thing to retain or change about Colorado 14ers. The most frequent responses were to protect the natural beauty and wildlife (39%), maintain/increase access to the 14ers (31%), and to educate users about how to responsibly use and care for the mountains and trails (13%). Others noted the importance of limiting access to the 14ers (9%), including the use of permits and fees.

In general, respondents indicated that their hopes for the 14ers aligned with the vision statements. The highest votes were for a healthy natural environment and resources and for sustainable trails. They rated each vision on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most aligned.

I hope 14ers will have healthy alpine meadows and plants, thriving wildlife, and clean waters.

I hope 14ers will have peak-appropriate, sustainable trails.

I hope 14ers will provide an enjoyable, peakappropriate experience for all users.

I hope 14ers will have a beneficial relationship with host communities.

DISTRICT RANGER SURVEY

Themes

90% of District Rangers said campsite footprint impact at trailheads and along trails and human/dog waste have increased on 14ers since 2018.

100% of District Rangers managing 14ers in Wilderness Areas indicated they are not in compliance with Wilderness Management Act standards. Rangers indicated that 69% of 14er trailheads have access that is limited by parking and 80% say more restrooms are needed. 100% disagreed/strongly disagreed that resources are available to address community concerns about 14ers. Additional comments included a need for a visitor use management strategy and Wilderness education.

Methods

DISTRICT RANGERS SURVEYED

Demographics

10 District Rangers responded to most questions on the survey, although a few questions related to specifics of staffing and funding had lower response rates. Responses provided data on the perception of land management agency leaders on general trends which can be followed up with hard data and regional conversations. Additionally, these responses are the perceptions of specific individuals in forest administration and may not reflect the current state of recreation infrastructure on the ground. Further research and conversations with field-going recreation specialists could help better clarify the needs of specific 14er trailheads or recreation areas.

DISTRICT RANGER SURVEY

Summary

90% of Rangers said that the footprint of camping at 14er trailheads and along routes has increased since 2018 (67% greatly/22% somewhat), while 11% perceived that they are the same. Similarly, 90% said the volume of human and dog waste on 14ers in their district has increased from 2018 to present and 10% were unsure. None of the Rangers had data on e-coli levels in waterbodies to assess potential impacts of the waste. All District Rangers perceived that 14er trails in Wilderness Areas in their districts do not meet Wilderness Act standards.

Regarding parking, District Rangers indicated that only 17% of 14er trailheads in their districts have sufficient funding for appropriate parking solutions and that 69% of trailheads have access that is limited by parking. Half of District Rangers said parking conditions have greatly/somewhat declined since 2018, 20% see no change and 30% indicate parking is somewhat/greatly improved. Write-in comments also expressed concern about safety and emergency vehicle access in some parking areas.

Regarding restrooms, 80% said more restrooms are needed. They indicated that only 49% of 14er trailheads have sufficient restroom capacity and that roughly 37% of 14er trailheads lack toilets. Considering the condition of existing restroom facilities, District Rangers indicated that 30% have greatly/somewhat declined since 2018, 40% have not changed, and 10% have improved (20% did not have restrooms or were unsure).

The majority of District Rangers did not provide information on budgets and staffing levels, and so those areas did not have conclusive trends.

Additional comments noted an increase in illegal parking, an increase in human and dog waste and resulting water quality, the need for a visitor use management strategy, and improved education about recreating on Wilderness vs. non-wilderness 14ers.

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST SURVEY

Themes

94% of surveyed biologists perceived that the impact of 14er users on wildlife has increased since 2018.

Recommendations to manage impact included managing use on sensitive 14ers with a permit system, encouraging visitors to stay on trails through enforcement and education, and designating high-alpine camping areas.

Methods

A three-question survey was sent to wildlife biologists with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service who manage 14ers or who self-selected by attending a statewide virtual forum on the Centennial Visioning Process. This brief survey asked respondents for their professional opinion regarding the trend of wildlife impact from 14er visitors since 2018 and asked for ideas to solve any issues.

Demographics

The survey results provide the opinion of professionals tasked with protecting and managing wildlife and plant populations, especially for species at risk of habitat loss and displacement due to recreation of all types, as supported by a growing body of scientific research. The opinions are valuable since hard data, such as acres denuded or wetlands damaged by off trail use, are not currently available and since data on specific species population trends on specific peaks are also limited. While these responses can be used to help guide the vision, there are opportunities to expand by including more information from existing scientific literature. Collecting data on wildlife, especially in high-alpine environments, is costly and time-consuming, and most biologists do not collect data annually. More often, changes in populations or distribution are observed over a longer period (like 20 years). Additionally, studies conducted in specific areas may not reflect conditions in other areas.

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST SURVEY

Summary

Regarding impact, 94% said the impact of 14er use on wildlife has increased since 2018 (71% greatly increased and 24% somewhat increased). 6% say impact has somewhat decreased.

Comments included statements about keeping people on designated trails, a need for permitting or a lottery system to control visitation and improving enforcement of ethics and Leave No Trace. Increased human presence and waste has a negative impact on wildlife, especially at high elevation. Dispersed camping spreads out human impacts, so some respondents suggested making designated camping areas. Others suggested increasing trail ambassadors or hiring 14er Rangers to help with education, awareness, and enforcement of low-impact recreation practices

When asked if there was a specific statewide program or project that can address the challenges, the top themes were: 1) increase enforcement and education especially related to staying on main trails (41%), and 2) manage access to sensitive 14ers with a permit system (35%).

Two positive existing programs were mentioned in comments, the Uncompahgre Fritillary Butterfly Recovery and Monitoring project in year 30 (FS Update from 2014 observations, original Recovery Plan (1994)) and changes by the U.S. Forest Service to avoid grazing in top habitat.

Note, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has approved all 14er trail enhancements, which can decrease impact by managing erosion and social trails. Other factors, such as climate change and insect infestations may also impact alpine ecosystems.

Overall, the survey responses align with the vision for sustainable recreation and natural resources across the 14ers, but identify important opportunities for managing access, impacts to wildlife and natural resources, and many others. In combination with visitor trend data from Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, these results help inform the Report Card grades assessing our progress in achieving the shared vision. The data, which will improve over time, provides a catalyst for collective action among agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals. Even though there are signs of great progress in key areas, like trail quality and increases in individual donations, we also recognize there is considerable work to be done to achieve the vision.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS NEXT STEPS

With an expanded understanding of the current state of natural resources and recreation experience, we head to the regional meetings to expand on solutions, refine our measures, and further develop the vision. In these meetings, we will continue engaging with agencies, gateway communities, and other organizations as we fill in the gaps and identify priority project areas and programs to achieve the shared vision.

Surveys

14er Centennial Visioning Survey

District Ranger Survey

Wildlife Biologist Survey

Report Card

A B C D F

Shared Vision

Regional Meetings

Central Mountains

Front Range & I-70

Southern Mountains