What Do Riparian Landowners Know and Want? Survey Results from the Headwaters of the Potomac River

The purpose of this study was to examine riparian owner concerns, land uses, and interests in protecting river/stream quality. In collaboration with local watershed organizations, mail surveys were used to collect information from riparian landowners. Descriptive statistics and probit models were utilized to analyze survey data. Study findings revealed that trash is a consistent concern of riparian owners and that owner interest in watershed organization activities is high. Furthermore, results showed that there is generally a low interest in stream improvement projects among the surveyed individuals. Respondent characteristics that increased improvement interests included agricultural or idle land uses, higher education level, concern about stream pollution, and expressed interest watershed organization activities. Availability of government cost share was found to increase landowner interest in conducting more than one stream improvement project.