[Click Here to Return to Survey Page]   Results:      2009 Survey Questionnaire    The Lake Gaston Association Board has been working to fulfill our mission to "identify lake issues affecting our members and pursue resolution with the responsible organizations."     In our efforts to serve our members in the community as the "Primary Voice on Lake Issues," we polled our members for input to help the LGA with future actions.  The Questionnaire was mailed & emailed to 1,351 households & businesses. The questionnaire was available on-line for our members and non-member public.  We received 358 responses for a Response Rate of 26.5%.   Demographic Info:   Do you own a House, Land, or Business at Lake Gaston?  House = 91%  Land=2%  Business=0%  House & Business=3%  Multiple Properties=4%  No Answer=0% What is your County Location of Property?  Brunswick=10%  Halifax=11%  Mecklenburg=12%  Northampton=23%  Warren=41%  Multiple Properties=3%  No Answer=0%  If you own a house, do you live at the Lake full time or part time (vacation home)?   Full Time=48%  Part Time=50%  Land Only=1.5%  No Answer=.05%  What is the head of household’s age range?  21-40=1%  41-55= 13%  56-65=36%  66+=50%  No Answer=0%   Lake Gaston Association: LGA through member or public communications or the media, please rate the LGA on the success of our efforts (otherwise, you may select unsure).      Please rate the LGA's OVERALL effectiveness in supporting you.  Excellent=35%  Good=51%  Fair=7%  Poor=0%  Unsure=7%  No Answer=0% Please rate the LGA's effectiveness in these CATEGORIES:   (Note: Comments for each question are attached)                                                                                                AREA DEVELOPMENT (e.g., influence planned area development, monitor & support effective planning, zoning, lake area growth)  Excellent=16%  Good=51%  Fair=14%  Poor=1%  Unsure=18%  No Answer=0%      For Comments Related to this question Click Here   COMMUNICATIONS (e.g., inform members and public of issues, LGA activities, lake levels, member position on issues, outreach to press/radio/media, website)  Excellent=56%  Good=35%  Fair=4%  Poor=1%  Unsure=4%  No Answer=0% For Comments Related to this question Click Here   COMMUNITY SAFETY  (e.g., pursue legislation & law enforcement, support emergency medical response, fire protection, neighborhood watch programs)     Excellent=30%  Good=50%  Fair=7%  Poor=1%  Unsure=12%  No Answer=0% For Comments Related to this question Click Here   GOVERNMENT (e.g., influence/petition government to improve lake area services)  Excellent=23%  Good=40%  Fair=17%  Poor=7%  Unsure=13%  No Answer=0%   For Comments Related to this question Click Here   ENVIRONMENT / WATERSHED PROTECTION (e.g., monitor purity of water, lake levels, insect control, use of chemicals, protect lake's shoreline, fish and wildlife.  Excellent=30%  Good=49%  Fair=8%  Poor=4%  Unsure=9%  No Answer=0%   For Comments Related to this question Click Here   WATER SAFETY (e.g., support of boating safety, operations, buoy maintenance)  Excellent=39%  Good=45%  Fair=4%  Poor=2%  Unsure=10%  No Answer=0% For Comments Related to this question Click Here   INVASIVE AQUATIC WEEDS (e.g., support and/or influence Weed Control Council and Stakeholders Board, influence / appeal to government entities, educate the public)     Excellent=25%  Good=48%  Fair=14%  Poor=8%  Unsure=5%  No Answer=0% For Comments Related to this question Click Here     Please answer these specific questions:   Are you aware that dumping grass clippings, leaves, etc. into the lake is harmful to water quality and provides the nutrients for noxious weed and algae growth?  Yes = 94%  No=5%  No Answer=1%   Do you believe wave-driven shoreline erosion is a problem on Lake Gaston?  Yes=79%  No=18%  No Answer=3%    Is siltation from rainwater or construction run-off a concern to you?  Yes=76%  No=22%  No Answer=2%  Would you be willing to install a vegetative buffer on your property to prevent run-off?    Yes=60%  No=35%  No Answer=5% Does your Property Owners Association or neighborhood go in together to fund noxious weed control?  Yes=58%  No=37%  No Answer=5% Do you, individually, contract with a chemical applicator to treat noxious weeds on your shoreline?  Yes=18%  No=79%  No Answer=3% If you or your HOA pays for private treatment of your shoreline, how large of an area is treated for your property? (e.g. total acres treated)   26 responses (with 100 to 1000 sq. feet)  7 responses (with 1001-14,000 sq feet)  65 responses (1/4 - 10 acres)  5 responses (11-50 acres)  2 responses (51+ acres)  3 responses  (responses between 5-15 waterfront lots - not sure of footage)  1 response (60 waterfront lots - not sure of footage)  3 responses (responses by homes -  5 homes, 6 homes, 17 homes)  2 responses (entire Peahill Creek - not sure of footage)  8 responses (entire cove - not sure of footage)  18 responses (entire subdivision - not sure of footage) Are you satisfied with North Carolina's decision to only require Mandatory Boating Education for ages 25 years and below?  Yes= 60%  No= 37%  No Answer=3% What is your LGA Membership Status: Member= 92% Non-Member= 5% Former Member=2% No Answer=1% Member or not, what do you consider to be the greatest benefit of Membership?  For Results Click Here   Member or not, what do you consider to be the primary function of the LGA? For Results Click Here   If you are NOT a current LGA Member, please say why you have not joined or renewed?  For Results Click Here   Please tell us what your issues/areas of concern regarding owning property at Lake Gaston are by ranking the topics below - Rank in order from 1-10  (#1  being your area of greatest concern)   Results Shown in order of Greatest Concern Taxes Weed Control Lake Water Quality Emergency Services Law Enforcement Local Government Support Boater Safety Medical Care High Density Development Education Other - Click Here - (Please note that some of the general comments were truncated due to exceeding the maximum characters allocated for the comment field.)    General Comments - include suggestions for improvement - Click Here (Please note that some of the general comments were truncated due to exceeding the maximum characters allocated for the comment field.)