Skip to main content

Public survey full results, Shoreline Master Program Update

Public survey full results, Shoreline Master Program Update

ยป Key survey findings

Question 1: On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 meaning "extremely important" and 1 meaning "not at all important", how important to you personally are King County shorelines, i.e. Puget Sound, lakes, and rivers in King County?

Answers:

Pie chart results to the survey question, How important to you personally are King County shorelines, i.e. Puget Sound, lakes, and rivers in King County?
  • 57.4% - 5, Extremely important
  • 23.3% - 4
  • 12.8% - 3
  • 3.3% - 2
  • 3.3% - 1, Not at all important

Question 2: How often do you visit shorelines in King County for recreation?

  • 16.3% - One or more times a week
  • 25.0% - One or more times a month, less than once a week
  • 33.3% - More than once a year, less than once a month
  • 19.5%- Once a year or less
  • 6.0% - Never
Question 3: How important to you is it to be able to do each of the following on marine shorelines, lakes, and rivers in King County? 5
Extremely important
4 3 2 1
Not at all important

Enjoy shoreline features, such as views or waterfront attractions

53.4% 22.0% 14.7% 5.3% 4.6%

Walk, hike, run, or bicycle on trails

48.0% 21.4% 13.8% 7.3% 9.5%

Picnic

34.1% 25.1% 20.3% 8.3% 12.3%

Go boating or sailing

27.6% 15.1% 15.8% 12.8% 28.6%

Fish

27.6% 9.8% 15.3% 12.3% 34.9%

Camp

27.5% 19.8% 19.8% 7.5% 25.5%

Swim

25.5% 17.7% 13.6% 14.1% 29.0%
Question 4: rating shoreline uses Strongly agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree

Protecting the environment and ecology of Puget Sound shorelines should be King County's top priority in shoreline management.

51.3% 30.6% 10.1% 5.1% 3.0%

Climate change and global warming will affect shorelines in King County in the next 40 years.

34.4% 29.1% 17.3% 10.0% 9.2%

Providing the public with access to more shoreline areas should be King County's top priority in shoreline management.

22.3% 30.2% 26.9% 14.0% 6.6%

At the present time, there are enough places in King County where the public has access to shoreline areas.

11.9% 26.0% 23.1% 25.5% 13.5%

Providing opportunities to extract and use natural resources, such as gravel or timber, should be King County's top priority in shoreline management.

8.1% 9.6% 20.8% 29.9% 31.7%
Question 5: rating shoreline priorities Strongly agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
It is more important to protect the environment and natural habitats than to build new businesses and homes on shorelines in King County. 49.9% 28.4% 11.6% 5.3% 4.8%
It is more important to provide the public with access to shorelines in King County than to protect the environment. 3.0% 5.6% 17.5% 38.8% 35.0%
It is more important to build new businesses and homes on King County shorelines than to provide the public with access to shoreline areas. 1.8% 7.1% 10.1% 36.5% 44.6%
Question 6: rating the effectiveness of ways to protect the environment and ecology of marine shorelines, lakes, and rivers in King County. 5
Extremely effective
4 3 2 1
Not at all effective

Fining property owners who violate shoreline protection laws

42.8% 20.1% 21.4% 8.5% 7.2%
Tax incentives for property owners who restore shorelines, allow public access to shorelines, or provide other public benefits 30.8% 27.9% 22.8% 9.5% 9.0%

Voluntary restoration of shorelines by property owners

27.1% 22.2% 28.4% 12.1% 10.1%

Educational information available online or in print from King County

23.6% 21.5% 32.9% 12.7% 9.3%

King County shoreline restoration programs, such as stewardship projects and grant programs

23.0% 29.4% 32.7% 8.9% 6.1%

Existing laws and permit requirements that relate to shoreline use and development

21.8% 21.0% 32.5% 12.0% 12.6%

Purchase of property on shorelines by King County or other government agencies

18.0% 19.6% 30.4% 13.7% 18.3%

Question 7: By law, King County is required to protect critical areas, such as wetlands and salmon habitats. The county does this by requiring new and development to be set back from the shoreline edge and allowing only certain land uses in these setback or buffer areas. Do you feel the county should continue to protect critical areas at this level, do more to protect critical areas, or do less to protect critical areas?

Answers:

Pie Chart survey results to the question - Do you feel the county should continue to protect critical areas at this level, do more to protect critical areas, or do less to protect critical areas?
  • 47.5% - Do more
  • 30.3% - Continue at the same level
  • 18.5% - Do less
  • 3.8% - Don't know

Question 8: Do you live on Puget Sound, a lake, river, or stream in King County.

  • 72.4% - No
  • 27.6% - Yes

Question 9: Do you own property on Puget Sound, a lake, river, or stream in King County

  • 72.4% - No
  • 27.6% - Yes

Question 10: Would you say that you live in an area that is more urban or more rural?

  • 55.0% - More rural
  • 30.5% - More urban
  • 14.5% - Equally urban and rural
expand_less