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Managing Rivers in the Public Interest: Survey Methods to Assess Public Altitudes and Values Patrick Welle and Nomum Baer 1 Introduction River management decisions often impose trade-offs for various groups within the public that managers are to serve. Sound decision making requires lllat these trade-offs be confronted based on information regarding the public values Ihat are at stake. This study offers a conceptnal framework for defming public values and identifying groups wilhin Ihe population to whom Ihese values accrue. Survey melhods for assessing public values are discussed in Ihe context of a case study on Ihe Headwaters portion of Ihe Mississippi River. The infonnation was generated for the various management entities that have jurisdiction over Ihe flISt 400 miles of Ihe Mississippi River. This headwaters stretch of Ihe river is comprised of Ihe ftrst eight counties along Ihe river. Through a joint powers agreement, Ihese counties (shown in Figure I) form Ihe Mississippi Headwaters Board (MHB) which was created in 1980 to provide local control of the river. Included in Ihe regional concept for river management which nnderlies Ihe fonnation of Ihe MHB is a mission to foster cooperative agreements between jurisdictions and relevant agencies. In addition to the eight counties, some of the otller autllOrities involved wilh Ihe ftrst 400 miles of the Mississippi River are the State of Minnesota, particularly various divisions of the Department of Natwal Resources; the Leech Lake Indian Reservation; the Chippewa National Forest; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While a major management task of Ihe MHB is to implementlhe zoning ordinance, a comprehensive goal is to "preserve and protect the natural, cultural, scenic, scientiftc, and recreational values of Ihe Mississippi River." In order to foster cooperation in pursuit of the preservation and protection of recreational values, a Recreational Management Task Force was organized. The task force includes representatives from Ihe entities and agencies referred to above. This group detennined that Ihey needed additional infonnation to better achieve their goals. To establish a foundation for Ihe kind of social research which would be most beneftcial, the task force commissioned preliminary research to survey Ihe literature to: (I) identify the components of recreational values which would be relevant for the ftrst 400 miles of the Mississippi River, (2) facilitate Ihe recognition of key management issues which impact Ihese recreational values, and (3) swnmarize Ihe kinds of infonnation from social research Ihat could enhance Ihe quality of management decisions for Ihe river. The survey of Ihe literature laid Ihe groundwork for Ihe research design which is described below. It is noteworthy Ihat the research project was formulated Ihrongh a group process from the outset The task force held a great deal of ownership in Ihe process and its products, having numerous meetings to formulate research objectives and provide input at the stages throughout. Wbile Ihis process is consistent wilh good principles for designing and implementing research in general, it was especially crucial in Ihis case given the nature of the MHB and Ihe overlapping jurisdictions and agencies. TIle initiative taken by Ihe Recreational Management Task Force led to a well-focused approach to learning those things which would better inform management decisions. The research focused on three management questions: (I) How can we make sellSible land-use decisions?; (2) How can we manage and/or improve recreational infrastructure?; and (3) How can we favorably impact tourism and economic development? These Ihree over-arching questions were Ihe basis for the following research objectives. lBemidji State University, Bemidji MN 56601, Departnlents of Economics and Chemistry, respectively. Funding for tllis research was provided by Ihe Mississippi Headwaters Board, Chippewa National Forest, and Ihe ltasca County, MN Trails Task Force. The anlhors wish to Ihank Ihe staff of the Center for Social Research at Bemidji State University, particularly Ihe Director, Dr. Ivan Weir, for assistance. Research assistance was provided by Jeff Cordray, Brian Monk, and Becky Johnson. The Minnesota Department of Natwal Resources, Chippewa National Forest. Cellular 2000, Bemidji State University, and nnmerous individuals and businesses provided equipment. logistical support. or assistance with the self-administered survey.