Preferred Water Resource Information Sources and Learning Opportunities in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

Core Ideas This study evaluated how public information sources for water resource information have changed between 2002 and 2017. Three identical survey questions assessed public information sources in 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. The Internet was the information source with the greatest increase in public use over this 15‐year period, increasing from 14.8% in 2002 to 63.0% in 2017. Both formal education level and age of respondents affected their preferred information source choice. The American public is overwhelmed by the amount of water resource information that they are exposed to every day. The purpose of this 15‐year study was to determine the information sources that are most widely used by the public and relate this information to water educators. A mail‐based survey process assessed: (1) public‐preferred water information sources, (2) public‐preferred learning opportunities, and (3) events that cause people to change their minds about a water issue. The same survey process was conducted in 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017 in the four Pacific Northwest states. All four surveys received a response exceeding 50%, resulting in a sampling error of less than 5%. In 2002 newspapers, television, and environmental agencies were the major water information sources used by the public. Only 14.8% of survey respondents considered the Internet a major water information source in 2002; however, by 2017 over 60% of adults were using the Internet for water information. The demographic factors of age and education level affected the usage of information sources. Visiting a website was not considered an important learning opportunity in 2002 (11.5%); however, by 2017 over 80% of the public considered visiting a website as their best learning opportunity for water information. Visiting websites also eclipsed reading printed fact sheets as the most popular learning opportunity by 2017. This study is important because it shows educators the best way to reach the public in the Pacific Northwest with water resource information.