EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Beginning Oct. 1, visitors to the Gila and Cibola national forests in New Mexico may encounter contract employees doing public surveys.
The survey is a Forest Service program designed to estimate how many people use national forests and grasslands for recreation, what activities they do while there and how satisfied people are when they visit.
Surveys may be done in developed and dispersed recreation sites and along forest service roads.
The surveys will be conducted through Sept. 30, 2026.
These surveys are conducted on a national forest every five years.
Contract employees will be out in all types of weather conditions, wearing bright orange vests and will 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.
Questions asked include: where you recreated on the forest; how many people traveled with you; how long you were on the forest; what other recreation sites you visited while on 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 by clicking here.
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