Fig 1 Responses to the question, ‘How important are the following characteristics to you when visiting ocean beaches?’
Fig 2. Responses to the question, ‘How important are the following characteristics to you when you visit ocean beaches?’
Fig 3. Responses to the question, ‘For how many years have you been visiting an ocean beach in New Hampshire/Maine?’
Fig 4. Select quotes from survey respondents about their experience visiting Maine and New Hampshire. (Spelling is presented in context, but emphasis is added)
Fig 5. Responses to the question, ‘In a typical year, how often do you visit an ocean beach to vacation, recreate or relax?’
Fig 6. Responses to the question, ‘What resources do you rely on when planning visits to coastal areas?’ Respondents were able to choose multiple resources.
Fig 7. Responses to the question, ‘In a typical year, how often do you visit an ocean beach to vacation, recreate or relax?’
Fig 8. Respondents share the seasons in which they visit ocean beaches in a typical year. Respondents were able to choose more than one season.
Fig 9. Responses to the question, ‘On a typical summer ocean beach visit, how much time do you spend on the beach?’, responses reported by demographic group.
Fig 10. Responses to the question, ‘During the last 10 years, in which of these U.S. States or Canadian provinces have you visited ocean beaches?'
Fig 11. Importance of coastal area characteristics by user group.
Fig 12. Importance of ocean beach characteristics by type of trip.
Fig 13. Responses to the question, ‘In general, how would you rate the water quality at Maine and New Hampshire beaches?’
Fig 14. Responses to the statement, ‘Please express your opinion by choosing the answer that matches the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement.’
Fig 15. Responses to the question, ‘Do you ever seek out information about beach safety?’
Fig 16. Responses to the question, ‘Where do you get information about beach safety?’ Only respondents who answered ‘Yes’ to ‘Do you seek out information on beach safety?’ were shown this question.
Fig 17. These are two examples of advisory signs that are posted on a beach if testing detects high bacteria levels in the water, indicating that contact with water poses a risk to human health. (On left: Maine Healthy Beaches’ example advisory sign. On right: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ example advisory sign.)
Fig 18. Responses to the question, ‘Have you ever visited an ocean beach and seen a sign advising you to limit your contact with ocean water?’
Fig 19. Two sample Maine Healthy Beaches informational signs, posted at beaches to notify the public of the factors impacting ocean water quality.
Fig 20. Responses to two questions asking if respondents would change their behavior or opinions of a beach if they saw signs indicating excellent or poor ocean water quality.
