Study title

The survey examined how people living along the Saarijärvi waterway assess the status and changes in the area's water bodies and the impact of these changes on people's lives. The residents of Kyyjärvi, Karstula, Saarijärvi and Uurainen municipalities participated in the survey. The survey was responded by 478 people, of which 200 were women and 273 men. The survey was funded by the Regional Council of Central Finland, the town of Saarijärvi and the municipalities of Karstula and Uurainen. The respondents were asked about their relationship with nature and water bodies. They were asked to assess changes in the status of their local water body over time and the impact of various factors on the status of the water body. Options included peat production, fish farming, drainage of forests and peatlands, industrial emissions, restoration and regulation of water systems, household sewage and fertilisation of fields. The respondents assessed the impact of possible changes on the state of lakes and rivers, lake and river water use, banks and plants, fish, etc. They also reported on how the changes have affected their recreational activities near water bodies or, for example, the use of lake water for domestic work. The respondents also told who should take care of the clean of water bodies, and what influence the residents have to improve the status of water bodies. They were asked about the role of civic activities in improving the status of water bodies and whether they themselves were involved in some form of civic activities. Background variables included the respondent's age, gender, education, employment sector, occupational group and whether the respondent lives permanently in the Saarijärvi route area.