Dataset Submitted

A Community Survey to Explore Nature-Based Solutions in Refugio County, Texas

Authors: Diana Del Angel, Christine Hale, Arsum Pathak
Identified On: Jun 24 2025 21:06 UTC
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7266/b4skwjyb
UDI: HI.x801.000:0005
Project Information

Funded By:
National Academies of Sciences Gulf Research Program

Research Group:
Socio-Economics

Point of Contact

Diana Del Angel
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi / Harte Research Institute
diana.delangel@tamucc.edu

Theme keywords

Community Survey, environmental perceptions, ecosystem services, climate resilience, rural planning, survey data, natural infrastructure

Abstract:

This dataset captures community perspectives on nature-based solution (NBS) projects in Refugio County, Texas. Developed through a collaborative effort between the National Wildlife Federation, the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Refugio County leadership, and a local Community Advisory Committee, the survey aimed to inform future projects that reduce vulnerability to climate-related events while enhancing ecological and social benefits. Recognizing that natural spaces can strengthen social capital, improve public health, and support local economies, the survey sought to understand how residents value, use, and perceive their public natural spaces, as well as the ecosystem services and environmental concerns relevant to the community. Data were collected using the Qualtrics platform between March 6 and May 14, 2023. Outreach strategies included word of mouth, social media, local newspaper advertisements, and in-person promotion at the Refugio County Fair. The survey generated 139 responses and includes both closed- and open-ended questions. The dataset, provided in Excel format, contains cleaned raw responses and coded segments of qualitative data from open-ended items. This information supports local planning and decision-making around nature-based solutions tailored to community needs and priorities.The dataset includes a mix of quantitative and qualitative variables.

Suggested Citation:

Diana Del Angel, Christine Hale, Arsum Pathak. A Community Survey to Explore Nature-Based Solutions in Refugio County, Texas. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/b4skwjyb

Purpose:

The community survey was developed to quantify and broaden the understanding of community values, perceptions, and preferences related to environmental issues and nature-based solutions (NbS) in Refugio County, Texas. The primary objectives were to assess community concerns about environmental challenges such as flooding, sea level rise, severe storms, erosion, and wildfires; identify preferred NbS strategies; and understand how residents use and value public outdoor spaces. The survey also sought to gather input on potential solutions to these challenges and provide insights that could inform future planning and development decisions related to natural spaces in the county.

Data Parameters and Units:

age range (years), Income range (dollars), Household size (numeric), race/ethnicity (text), Resident of Regugio County (boolean), use of outdoor space (categorical), where is outdoor space used (text). natural features of importance (categorical), Important aspects (categorical), Environmental concerns (categorical), other comments (text)

Methods:

Survey development was a collaborative effort led by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Santos McBain Consulting, Refugio County leadership, and a Community Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee played a key role in shaping the content and structure of the survey. A pilot version of the instrument was reviewed by the committee, and revisions were made based on feedback received through meetings and email exchanges to ensure clarity, inclusivity, and relevance to local priorities. To promote equitable participation, the survey was offered in both English and Spanish. Outreach was conducted through multiple channels, including social media managed by HRI, the Regional Resilience Partnership, and project partners, as well as through a dedicated project webpage. The survey was also advertised in the local newspaper on March 24, 2023. Additional in-person promotion took place at the Refugio County Fair on March 26 and 27, where survey participants were offered food vouchers as a token of appreciation for their input. These diverse outreach strategies aimed to maximize participation and ensure a broad representation of community voices. The survey was administered using the Qualtrics platform and remained open from March 6 to May 14, 2023. It included a combination of closed- and open-ended questions and generated a total of 139 responses. Following data collection, responses were cleaned and anonymized. Open-ended responses were thematically coded and summarized using MAXQDA software to support qualitative analysis and to provide further insight into community perspectives.

Instruments:

Qualtrics is a web-based software