Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) released a new public opinion poll that shows majorities of likely voters in the battleground states of Colorado and Nevada say issues involving public lands, water and wildlife are important factors in deciding whom they support.
The poll, which was released ahead of next week’s Republican presidential debate in Boulder, CO, found 84 percent of likely voters in Colorado and 77 percent in Nevada say public lands, waters and wildlife issues are important in deciding whether to support a public official.
“The road to the White House runs through Colorado and Nevada, and candidates from both parties running for president, the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate or state legislatures should review OIA’s polling data to gain a better understanding of how important issues involving America’s public lands, waters and wildlife are to voters in those key western states,” OIA said in a statement released Thursday. “Investing in outdoor recreation on national public lands is not only smart economics, it is smart politics.”
Rec economy message getting through loud and clear
The poll also shows most voters in Colorado and Nevada believe outdoor recreation and access to national public lands help the economy and are essential to the quality of life in their state.
The survey found that nearly nine in 10 voters in Colorado and more than eight in 10 in Nevada participate in outdoor recreation on public lands, with three-quarters of those surveyed stating that these places belong to all Americans, not the individual states in which they are located.
“The polling data confirms what we’ve always believed,” said Amy Roberts, executive director of OIA. “People in Colorado and Nevada, but really all across the West and around the country, regardless of political affiliation, know that outdoor recreation and access to national parks, national forests and national monuments are key to quality of life, job creation and healthy economies in their states. It’s no wonder that an overwhelming majority of voters are in favor of protecting these places and will support candidates who share these beliefs.”
Further, majorities across the political spectrum in Colorado and Nevada are opposed to proposals that would give state governments control over America's public lands, sometimes referred to as “state takeover.” Voters in both states also believe that these places have a positive impact on protecting our nation’s history and heritage.
The poll was conducted Oct. 610, 2015, by Public Opinion Strategies, one of the nation’s leading public opinion research firms, and included 500 Republican, Democratic, and independent likely voters in each state.
“The survey results show the strong connection that voters in these critical swing states have with national public lands and outdoor recreation,” said Lori Weigel, partner at Public Opinion Strategies. “They recognize the economic contribution that public lands and outdoor recreation make in their state, and want their state to encourage this sector of the economy.”
Voters in both Colorado and Nevada agreed that their states should invest more in jobs and businesses related to outdoor recreation and tourism, even above those in the oil and gas and mining industries in both states, the health care industry in Colorado and gaming industry in Nevada.
OIA research has estimated consumer spending on outdoor recreation contributes $13.2 billion to Colorado’s economy and $14.9 billion to Nevada’s, as well as billions more in salaries and wages in each state, according to OIA estimates. Additionally, access to outdoor recreation supports 125,000 jobs in Colorado and 148,000 jobs in Nevada.
“We chose to base our business in Colorado because of the state’s natural beauty, the abundance of public land nearby and the quality of outdoor recreation all around us,” said Tom Barney, CEO of Cortez-based Osprey Packs. “These places inspire the Osprey team every day and help us build the best products for our customers to get outside.”
“Whether it’s exploring the wild places in northern or southern Nevada or visiting new national monuments like Basin and Range, we have amazing opportunities for our employees and customers alike to lead a healthy active lifestyle here,” said Ron Hunter, Patagonia Activism Manager in Reno. “It's great to see Nevadans agree about the importance of protecting these places today and for future generations of Americans.” Patagonia employs more than 400 people at its facility in Reno.
OIA's Public Lands Poll Topline Report can be downloaded here.
