Starting on Oct. 5th, Tonto National Forest will start asking visitors questions as they leave the site as part of the one-year visitor use pattern survey that’s part of the Forest Service’s national recreational study.

The interviews will be done at all six ranger districts with approx. 245 randomly selected interview locations. The last of the interviews have been scheduled for Sept. 28th, 2013.

Participation is voluntary and information provided is confidential (names and addresses are not requested on the survey form). The interview lasts roughly 5 minutes per participant for the basic survey. Some visitors who participate might be asked to complete an expanded survey that takes approx. 5 more minutes with questions related to satisfaction &/or recreation-related expenditures during the trip.

The surveys are conducted to garner recreational visitation information on National Forest system lands to be used by national forest recreation managers, state and local tourism planners, and Congress to make sure recreation opportunities of the visitors are met &/or offered by the Forest Service.