The survey of 192 residents around Sebago Lake found that: - Respondents were most concerned about recreation, boating regulations, and invasive species. - They strongly agreed that the lake is important and should be protected, and that invasive species pose a threat. - The data provides insights into residents' perceptions of environmental issues and willingness to support management practices, which can help tailor management strategies and educational messaging.

1. Stakeholder perceptions of changes across Sebago Lake: lessons from survey data
Jennifer Leonard1, Paul Bourget2, and Abraham Dailey3
Environmental Science1; Geography-Anthropology2; Community Planning & Development3 University of Southern Maine
Faculty Mentor: Firooza Pavri, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Southern Maine
Introduction Survey Results: Gauging Perceptions on Environmental & Management Issues
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
Shoreline property owners are
the eyes, ears, and voices for
the lake they live on. Viable
freshwater resources provide
communities a baseline for
critical economic and ecologic
support. Rapid development
changes within the watersheds
of lake systems influence water
quality and their capacity to
meet present and future needs.
The Sebago Lake watershed
has been identified as one in
the top five most vulnerable
watersheds of the northeastern
United States due to
development activity from the
large proportion of privately
A lake use and management survey was mailed to 192 residents and
stakeholders across towns that adjoin Sebago Lake, includes Naples,
Casco, Raymond, Windham, Standish, Sebago. The 192 surveyed were
selected randomly from a mailing list of 960 individuals provided by the
Portland Water District. We received 59 responses, representing a 30.73%
response rate.
43 males and 15 females responded to the survey with the greatest
number of respondents from the 61-70 year age range (Chart 1). 93% of the
respondents had lived in the area for at least 5 years or more. 24
respondents had lived in the area for over 25 years, while 33 had lived under
25 (Chart 2). Respondents identified using Sebago Lake for a variety of
recreational activities and also as a source of public water supply (Chart 3).
Supported by National Science Foundation award #EPS-0904155 to Maine EPSCoR at the
University of Maine.
Figure 1. Sebago Lake watershed
Environmental Perception
Stakeholder Survey
In general survey data reveal the facts, imply where more facts are
needed, and can be used as baselines to know the environmental
perception ‘climate’ to aide managerial strategies.
Survey data helps to draw a circle connecting shoreline property
owners, lake users, resource managers, and environmental perceptions
(EP) into greater community awareness. Strategies can be weighed in
response to survey results, ensuring water quality, and best managerial
practices for watershed systems. For example, information from Chart 3
can identify which audience of leisure lake users can be targeted for
proactive managerial strategies that control water quality. Examples of
steward behaviors can be published to these audiences to influence EP
and generate voluntary public acceptance and reachable futures through
peer influencing.
In fact, use of publishing consistent educational messaging through a
multitude of mediums such as web platforms, mobile apps, citizen
newsletters, local commerce coupon leaflets, town annual reports, etc.
provide effective means for strengthening an EP that brings the communal
watershed factors into alignment.
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doi:10.1080/15256480.2011.614554.
Bonniface, L., & Henley, N. (2008). 'A drop in the bucket': Collective efficacy perceptions and environmental behaviour. Australian Journal Of Social Issues, 43(3), 345-358.
Brabec, E., Schulte, S., Richards, P. 2002. Impervious surfaces and water quality: a review of current literature and its implications for watershed planning. Journal of Planning
Literature, 16(4), p. 499-514.
Fath, B. D., & Beck, M. B. (2005). Elucidating public perceptions of environmental behavior: a case study of Lake Lanier. Environmental Modelling & Software, 20(4), 485-498.
doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2004.02.007.
García-Mira, R., Real, J., & Romay, J. (2005). Temporal and spatial dimensions in the perception of environmental problems: An investigation of the concept of environmental
hyperopia. International Journal Of Psychology, 40(1), 5-10. doi:10.1080/00207590444000078.
Jorgensen, B. S., & Stedman, R. C. (2006). A comparative analysis of predictors of sense of place dimensions: Attachment to, dependence on, and identification with
lakeshore properties. Journal Of Environmental Management, 79(3), 316-327. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2005.08.003.
Portland Water District (PWD). 2008. Sebago Lake: State of the lake 2008 report. Portland, ME: Portland Water District. Retrieved from
<http://www.pwd.org/pdf/water_resources/stateofthelake2009.pdf> Last accessed March 8, 2011.
Portland Water District. (2012). About us. Retrieved from: http://www.pwd.org/about/about.php.
Shaw, B.R., Radler, B.T., & Haack, J. (2011). Exploring the utility of the stages of change model to promote natural shorelines. Lake and Reserovir Management, 27, 310-320.
doi:10.1080/07438141.2011.610916.
Stedman, R. C., & Hammer, R. B. (2006). Environmental Perception in a Rapidly Growing, Amenity-Rich Region: The Effects of Lakeshore Development on Perceived Water
Quality in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Society & Natural Resources, 19(2), 137-151. doi:10.1080/08941920500394733.
USGS 2010. Maps, imagery, and publications. Retrieved from <http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/aerial.html> Last accessed November 22, 2010.
Environmental Perception (EP) is a term coined by Human Geographers
and used with interdisciplinary behavior sciences to better understand and
explain human involvement with issues across time and space. Using
surveys to capture EP help decision makers know the makeup of beliefs,
emotions, and behaviors from citizens located in watershed towns. These
kinds of qualitative data can be quantified using Likert scale, Doxey Irridex
models, Cultural Theory, Stages of Change (aka Transtheoretical Model),
and INDSCAL model. Data collected from surveys and analyzed by these
models reveal how EP hinge on
• sense of place
• existing conditions
• lake accessibility
• consumptive uses
• peer influences
• attitudes toward lake managers
• attitudes toward reachable futures
• consistent and frequent educational messaging
(Jorgensen et al., 2006; Garcia-Mira et al., 2005; Fath et al., 2005;
Shaw et al., 2011; Stedman et al., 2006; and Bonniface et al., 2008).
Survey results are used to:
• effectively incorporate best management practices (BMP) for
shoreline property owners and resource managers
• save money and resources by responding directly to issues of
concern
• rebuild or fortify environmental perceptions through education or
synthesizing existing community resources
• show comparative analysis with other watersheds or communities.
The survey data provided both quantitative and qualitative indicators
of environmental and management issues concerning Sebago Lake. As
Chart 4 indicates, respondents identified recreation, boating regulations,
and invasive species as serious concerns. While these were not entirely
unexpected, the repeated identification of invasive species as a pressing
issue of concern draws attention to this important component that can have
serious implications for ecosystem health. It also reveals the importance in
EP due from the success or lack of educational messaging.
owned land (Barnes et al. 2009). Sebago Lake serves drinking water
to 190,000 people across 11 communities (PWD, 2012). Surveys
created for stakeholders collect data about perceived lake health and its
temporal changes by capturing:
• general attitudes
• current behavior and habits
• willingness to adopt conservation practices
• hopes and fears of management practices.
Surveys are also tools for introducing to the public:
• awareness of issues needing greater concern
• choices for alternatives that preserve water quality
• sense in behaviors influencing water quality
• sense of being consultants for management procedures.
Survey results can illustrate factors of importance and uncertainties for
resource managers. These details can then be used by the managers
to create tailor fitted action plans particular to the lake community
surveyed (Fath et al., 2005; Shaw et al., 2001; Bonniface et al., 2008;
Bonimy 2011; and Garcia-Mira et al., 2005).
This study uses survey data to document residents’ perceptions of
changes to the economic and environmental landscape surrounding
Sebago Lake and their support for conservation priorities. The mail in
survey was administered to 192 residents across towns that surround
the Lake. Basic descriptive statistics are used to assess the results of
the data gathered. We gauge residents’ perceptions of changes to the
landscape and their willingness to adopt conservation practices.
Through this study we gain an improved understanding of the
perceptions of resident stakeholders toward environmental and lake
management and also what they perceive to be the greatest challenges
facing the Lake today.
Chart 1. Age of surveyed respondents Chart 2. Respondents’ length of residence
Chart 3. Use of Sebago Lake
Chart 4. Stakeholder identified issues of concern across Sebago Lake
The survey also provided data on respondents’ perceptions of
environmental and lake management issues. Table 1 lists attitudinal data
concerning these issues. Respondents’ attitudes are expressed using a 5-
point Likert Scale where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree.
Data suggest that respondents felt strongly about the importance of the
lake as a resource and about preserving its quality. Chief concerns that
influence this resource include restricting developments along Sebago Lake
and allowing citizen groups to allow in shaping management plans. This
peer stakeholder stance is well supported in the literature as the primary
and preventive means for ecological and cost efficiencies for managers of
water quality.
While survey respondents agree on its protection, there is a greater
spread in attitude about whether this resource is managed well by state,
local and non-governmental agencies. Even so, 54% agree or strongly
agree that management by local and state agencies has been executed
well. Moreover, 73% agree or strongly agree that citizen groups play an
important role in shaping lake management strategies.
Q. Perceptions &
Attitudes
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Neither
disagree
or agree
Agree
Strongly
Agree
1 Protection of natural
areas in and around
the Lake benefits
recreation
2
(3%)
7
(12%)
6
(10%)
17
(31%)
23
(42%)
2 Restrictions on
development
immediately along
Sebago Lake help
preserve its water
quality
0
(0%)
5
(9%)
4
(7.5%)
19
(36%)
25
(47%)
3 Sebago Lake is an
important resource for
Mainers that should be
protected
1
(1%)
1
(1%)
0
(0%)
19
(33%)
38
(64%)
4 Invasive species pose a
threat to Sebago Lake
0
(0%)
1
(1%)
5
(8%)
22
(39%)
28
(50%)
5 There should be fewer
restrictions on
recreational use of the
Lake
12
(21%)
18
(32%)
13
(23%)
6
(1%)
7
(1.2%)
6 Overall, Sebago Lake is
managed well by state,
local, and
non-governmental
agencies
7
(13%)
8
(15%)
9
(17%)
26
(49%)
3
(5%)
7 Citizen groups (such as
Friends of Sebago Lake
or others) play a role in
shaping lake
management
strategies
1
(2%)
0
(0%)
11
(23%)
29
(61%)
6
(12%)
Table 1. Respondents’ perceptions and attitudes
Permanent invasive species
notice
Notice of restrictive access