Hamilton, MT — Beginning this fall, you may see Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) employees working in developed and dispersed recreation sites and along Forest Service roads.  They will be wearing bright orange vests and be near signs that say, “Traffic Survey Ahead.”  These folks are wanting to talk with you about your visit to the national forest.  All information you give is confidential and the survey is voluntary.

National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) Program surveys are conducted every five years.  The surveys will be conducted on the BNF from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.  The information is useful for forest planning and local community tourism.  It provides forest managers with an estimate of how many people recreate on federal lands and what activities they engage in while there.  Other important information includes how satisfied people were with their visit and the economic impact of recreation on the local economy.

The survey takes about 10 minutes and some of the questions include where you recreated on the forest, how long you visited, and how satisfied you were with the facilities and services provided.  About a third of visitors will be asked to complete a confidential survey on recreation spending during their trip.

Although the survey is voluntary, the BNF is encouraging visitors to participate.  Whether you live here in the Bitterroot or are visiting from outside the area, we want to hear from you!  For more information, contact Recreation Manager Erica Strayer at (406) 821-3913.

Additional information about the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program can be found at  https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum .  Stay in touch with us at www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot.

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