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Despite Westerners' concerns over gas prices, the cost of living, and water shortages, support for conservation efforts remains high across the region, according to the 13th annual Conservation in the West Poll from the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project.
The bipartisan poll, which is considered the gold standard for public opinion research on conservation measures, surveyed more than 3,400 people in eight Western states. Across the West, more than two thirds of respondents said that reducing the need for oil and gas and expanding renewable energy was a bigger priority than expanding production of oil, gas, and coal.
Two thirds of Western voters said that drought and inadequate water supplies are a serious problem. Four out of five voters in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah say the Colorado River is at risk and in need of urgent action.
The poll also revealed a need for more education about which sectors of the economy use the most water. Colorado Public Radio notes that in Colorado, the largest share of voters polled, 35 percent, believe industry and business use the most water in the state. In fact, agriculture uses by far the most water in Colorado—86 percent—but only 34 percent of Colorado respondents correctly identified that farmers and ranchers are the biggest water users.
“I think it does highlight an area where there’s room for public education,” said Dave Metz with FM3 research, part of the State of the Rockies polling team. “Given how critical public concern is about water shortages, understanding how water is currently used is helpful in making decisions about what policies we need to enact to ensure that we have sustainable supplies for all of these sectors moving forward.”
Similar misconceptions held up across most states in the survey. In only three states—Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—did a slim majority of respondents correctly identify farmers and ranchers as the biggest water users in their state.
The Conservation in the West Poll also showed growing support for the "30x30" initiative to protect American lands and waters. E&E News reports that 82 percent of voters said they support the conservation goal, and 84 percent said they want to see more national monuments, parks, and wildlife refuges that protect historic sites or preserve recreational areas.
You can read the full poll results and look back at previous years at the Colorado College State of the Rockies website.
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Then there’s the challenge of deep-pocketed industries and other interest groups — such as fossil fuel companies and anti-public lands activists — drowning out the voices of regular people. [Pollster Lori] Weigel told me she used to keep a quote on her wall from a legislator who had trouble believing the results of a survey she’d conducted: ‘Well, no one that I talk to every day has said this.’
