2024-2028 Blue Ridge SWCD Strategic Plan: General Constituent Survey

General Constituent Survey

The Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District (BRSWCD) is in the process of updating our four year strategic plan to help guide our operations and generate our goals and objectives. We rely on input from our constituents to accomplish this. Your input is important to us, so we request that you thoughtfully answer each survey question.

Virginia's Conservation Districts are "political subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Virginia" classified as (501) (c5) that utilize state, federal and private sector resources to solve today's conservation issues. The guiding philosophy of all Conservation districts is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people, with technical assistance provided by government.

Each conservation district is led by a Board of Directors (are not paid) made up of local people from all walks of life. These elected/appointed members study local natural resource issues and make decisions which enhance and protect their community.

The BRSWCD is one of 47 SWCD's throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia designed to give a local voice to the conservation of our state's natural resources. Our mission is accomplished through a variety of programs including the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Program, an Environmental Education Program, Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), Ag Stewardship Act, TMDL (319 grant(s), and a Technical Assistance Program. Blue Ridge SWCD serves the citizens of Franklin, Henry, Roanoke Counties and the City of Roanoke. The Blue Ridge SWCD was formed under the authority of Title 21, Code of Virginia passed by the General Assembly in 1938.

All SWCDs are required by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to develop a strategic plan that will guide district operations for a defined period. The following stakeholder survey will help direct us in our operations for the next four years. Your input is important to us, so we respectfully request your participation in the following survey. Information collected will be utilized to generate goals and objectives in our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan.

As a participation incentive, respondents will be eligible to win one of three random drawings of $75.00 each.

Please return the survey no later than November 1, 2024. Thank you in advance for your time, efforts and consideration to this request to complete this survey.

Mission Statement: "The Mission of the Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District is to promote conservation of our natural resources".

Vision Statement: "The Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District, as an elected autonomous body, will strive to coordinate the natural resources interests to achieve our mission by educating and providing technical assistance to the citizens within".

Question Title

* 1. Where do you live? (Mark only one oval)

Franklin County

Henry County

Roanoke County

City of Roanoke

Question Title

* 2. Are you familiar with the Blue Ridge SWCD programs? Mark only one oval

Yes

Somewhat

Question Title

* 3. If yes, how did you learn about the Blue Ridge SWCD and its' programs? (Check all that apply).

Website

Office visit

Mailing/post card

Word of Mouth

Outreach/public event

My kids

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. As a general constituent, how could the Blue Ride SWCD better serve you? What services/programs etc. might we assist with or possibly provide?

Question Title

* 5. Would you be interested in any of the following programs? (Check all that apply)

Rain Barrel Workshop

Compost Workshop

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)

Agriculture Best Management Practices

Information seminar: conservation topics

Envirothon

K-12 Environmental Education

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. What other programs would you like to see the Blue Ridge SWCD offer in the future? Please be specific

Question Title

* 7. Rank the following natural resource concerns in relation to local water quality (1 being most important). Mark only one oval per row.

	1	2	3	4
Youth environmental education (Envirothon, Youth Conservation Camp, Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, classroom presentations, field trips, etc.)	Youth environmental education (Envirothon, Youth Conservation Camp, Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, classroom presentations, field trips, etc.) 1	Youth environmental education (Envirothon, Youth Conservation Camp, Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, classroom presentations, field trips, etc.) 2	Youth environmental education (Envirothon, Youth Conservation Camp, Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, classroom presentations, field trips, etc.) 3	Youth environmental education (Envirothon, Youth Conservation Camp, Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, classroom presentations, field trips, etc.) 4
Community outreach and environmental education (county fairs, Rain Barrel & Compost workshops, etc.)	Community outreach and environmental education (county fairs, Rain Barrel & Compost workshops, etc.) 1	Community outreach and environmental education (county fairs, Rain Barrel & Compost workshops, etc.) 2	Community outreach and environmental education (county fairs, Rain Barrel & Compost workshops, etc.) 3	Community outreach and environmental education (county fairs, Rain Barrel & Compost workshops, etc.) 4
Agricultural conservation efforts that improve soil & water quality (stream fencing, cover crops, waste management, etc.)	Agricultural conservation efforts that improve soil & water quality (stream fencing, cover crops, waste management, etc.) 1	Agricultural conservation efforts that improve soil & water quality (stream fencing, cover crops, waste management, etc.) 2	Agricultural conservation efforts that improve soil & water quality (stream fencing, cover crops, waste management, etc.) 3	Agricultural conservation efforts that improve soil & water quality (stream fencing, cover crops, waste management, etc.) 4
Urban residential conservation and stormwater management (rain gardens, rain water harvesting, pet waste education, conservation landscaping, septic program, lawn fertilizer reduction, etc.	Urban residential conservation and stormwater management (rain gardens, rain water harvesting, pet waste education, conservation landscaping, septic program, lawn fertilizer reduction, etc. 1	Urban residential conservation and stormwater management (rain gardens, rain water harvesting, pet waste education, conservation landscaping, septic program, lawn fertilizer reduction, etc. 2	Urban residential conservation and stormwater management (rain gardens, rain water harvesting, pet waste education, conservation landscaping, septic program, lawn fertilizer reduction, etc. 3	Urban residential conservation and stormwater management (rain gardens, rain water harvesting, pet waste education, conservation landscaping, septic program, lawn fertilizer reduction, etc. 4

Question Title

* 8. Check which backyard conservation practices you would be interested in implementing on your property * (Check all that apply)

Turf grass conversion to native plants

Rain Water harvesting/rain barrels

Composting

Permeable pavement/impervious surface removal

Lawn soil testing and fertilizer application

None

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. If you have not attended a Blue Ridge SWCD Board Meeting before, why not? Mark only one oval

I didn't know they were open to the public

I was unaware of the meeting dates

I am not interested in attending

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. How would you like to receive information about the Blue Ridge SWCD and our programs? Rank the options below (1 being the best way to share information with you)* Mark only one oval per row

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Website	Website 1	Website 2	Website 3	Website 4	Website 5	Website 6
E-mail	E-mail 1	E-mail 2	E-mail 3	E-mail 4	E-mail 5	E-mail 6
Mailing/postcard	Mailing/postcard 1	Mailing/postcard 2	Mailing/postcard 3	Mailing/postcard 4	Mailing/postcard 5	Mailing/postcard 6
Community outreach event	Community outreach event 1	Community outreach event 2	Community outreach event 3	Community outreach event 4	Community outreach event 5	Community outreach event 6
Newspaper ads	Newspaper ads 1	Newspaper ads 2	Newspaper ads 3	Newspaper ads 4	Newspaper ads 5	Newspaper ads 6
Facebook	Facebook 1	Facebook 2	Facebook 3	Facebook 4	Facebook 5	Facebook 6

Question Title

* 11. Rank the following environmental concerns in relation to local water quality. (1 being the most important)* Mark only one oval per row

	1	2	3	4	5
Stormwater runoff	Stormwater runoff 1	Stormwater runoff 2	Stormwater runoff 3	Stormwater runoff 4	Stormwater runoff 5
Lawn fertilizer misuse	Lawn fertilizer misuse 1	Lawn fertilizer misuse 2	Lawn fertilizer misuse 3	Lawn fertilizer misuse 4	Lawn fertilizer misuse 5
Uncollected pet waste	Uncollected pet waste 1	Uncollected pet waste 2	Uncollected pet waste 3	Uncollected pet waste 4	Uncollected pet waste 5
Septic issues (failing systems, straight pipes)	Septic issues (failing systems, straight pipes) 1	Septic issues (failing systems, straight pipes) 2	Septic issues (failing systems, straight pipes) 3	Septic issues (failing systems, straight pipes) 4	Septic issues (failing systems, straight pipes) 5
Agricultural runoff	Agricultural runoff 1	Agricultural runoff 2	Agricultural runoff 3	Agricultural runoff 4	Agricultural runoff 5
Lack of environmentally conscious citizens	Lack of environmentally conscious citizens 1	Lack of environmentally conscious citizens 2	Lack of environmentally conscious citizens 3	Lack of environmentally conscious citizens 4	Lack of environmentally conscious citizens 5

Question Title

* 12. Please provide additional comments and/or suggestions related to the Blue Ridge SWCD's soil and water conservation efforts.

Question Title

* 13. For a chance to win one of three $75.00 drawings, please provide the following information:

Name

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number

Question Title

* 14. Thank you for completing this General Constituent Survey. If you entered an opportunity to win one of three $75 drawings, the winner will be notified at the conclusion of the survey period.