DULUTH — Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 1, the public may encounter employees and partners conducting public surveys on the Superior National Forest in recreation sites and along Forest Service roads.
Surveys will be conducted through Sept. 30, 2026.
According to a news release, National Visitor Use Monitoring is a Forest Service program designed to estimate how many people recreate on national forests and grasslands, what activities they engage in while there and how satisfied people were with their visit. These surveys are conducted on a national forest every five years.
Surveyors will be out in all types of weather conditions, wearing bright orange vests and be near a sign that reads “Traffic Survey Ahead.”
Surveys are voluntary and all responses are confidential. Names are not included and interviews last about 10 minutes. You may stop participating at any time.
Questions asked may include where you recreated in the forest; how many people traveled with you; how long you were in the forest; what other recreation sites you visited while in the forest and how satisfied you are with the facilities and services provided.
About a third of survey participants will be asked to complete a confidential survey on recreation spending during their trip to measure the economic impact to local communities.
Information about the National Visitor Use Monitoring program can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/nvum.
