Polls Page - Idaho Sprawl

A random poll of 1,000+ Idaho “likely voters” found what citizens would like to protect and what they would change after the state’s population has nearly doubled since 1990. (Full poll results).

Government data show that the United States now has about one-third less cropland for each American than it did 30 years ago. How important is it to protect U.S. farmland from development so the United States is able to produce enough food to feed Americans in the future?

In Idaho, approximately 3.3 million acres of farmland are irrigated, and irrigation is crucial to food production in the state. Cities and towns compete for scarce water with agriculture. Should water used to irrigate farmland be diverted to support additional human population growth in Idaho?

Three of Idaho's aquifers are classified as sole source aquifers. These aquifers are the only or principal source of drinking water for residents in those regions. How important is it to protect Idaho’s sole-source aquifers from over-pumping and depletion?

A study of government data found that three-quarters (77%) of the loss of Idaho’s open space, natural habitat, and farmland to development in recent decades was related to the state's rapid population growth. Would continuing this level of population growth into the future make Idaho better, worse or not much different?

The population of Idaho has nearly doubled since 1990. Would you prefer that the Idaho population continue to grow rapidly, that it grow more slowly, that it stay about the same size, or that it become smaller?

One way for Idaho communities to handle continued population growth without losing as much open space, natural habitat, and farmland is to change zoning and other regulations to funnel more current and future residents into apartments and condo buildings instead of single-family houses with yards. Do you strongly favor that change, somewhat favor it, somewhat oppose it or strongly oppose it?

A major source of Idaho’s population growth is people moving in from other states, especially places like California. Should local and state governments in Idaho make it more difficult for people to move to Idaho from other states by restricting development?

Another major source of Idaho population growth is immigration from other countries. Should the federal government reduce annual immigration to slow down Idaho’s population growth, keep immigration and population growth at the current level, or increase annual immigration and population growth?

One potential way of controlling new growth is by limiting the number of new hook-ups to sewage lines and wastewater treatment plants. Do you favor using this as a tool to manage or control growth?

Residential development (building subdivisions) to perpetually accommodate new population growth imposes economic costs on the existing residents of municipalities. Do you favor paying higher property taxes to perpetually accommodate new residents in your community?

sprawling

IDAHO

Government data show that the United States now has about one-third less cropland for each American than it did 30 years ago. How important is it to protect U.S. farmland from development so the United States is able to produce enough food to feed Americans in the future?

In Idaho, approximately 3.3 million acres of farmland are irrigated, and irrigation is crucial to food production in the state. Cities and towns compete for scarce water with agriculture. Should water used to irrigate farmland be diverted to support additional human population growth in Idaho?

Three of Idaho's aquifers are classified as sole source aquifers. These aquifers are the only or principal source of drinking water for residents in those regions. How important is it to protect Idaho’s sole-source aquifers from over-pumping and depletion?

The population of Idaho has nearly doubled since 1990. Would you prefer that the Idaho population continue to grow rapidly, that it grow more slowly, that it stay about the same size, or that it become smaller?

Has Idaho developed its open lands into cities, housing, and highways too much, too little, or about as much as it should?

A major source of Idaho’s population growth is people moving in from other states, especially places like California. Should local and state governments in Idaho make it more difficult for people to move to Idaho from other states by restricting development?

Another major source of Idaho population growth is immigration from other countries. Should the federal government reduce annual immigration to slow down Idaho’s population growth, keep immigration and population growth at the current level, or increase annual immigration and population growth?

One potential way of controlling new growth is by limiting the number of new hook-ups to sewage lines and wastewater treatment plants. Do you favor using this as a tool to manage or control growth?

Residential development (building subdivisions) to perpetually accommodate new population growth imposes economic costs on the existing residents of municipalities. Do you favor paying higher property taxes to perpetually accommodate new residents in your community?

Where would you prefer to live – in a major city, the suburbs, a small city, a town or a rural area?

Two Decades of NumbersUSA Studies on Population Growth and Urban Sprawl

STUDIES

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