2026 Tri-Valley Community Priorities Poll
In March 2026, TVC partnered with Lake Research Partners, a national public opinion research firm based in California, to conduct a public poll to learn what Tri-Valley residents care about most.
Poll respondents shared their thoughts on the issues closest to home: open space, agriculture, wildlife protection, nature education, and housing, as well as what they love about living here.
The results and insights from this poll give a greater understanding of what matters to Tri-Valley residents and allows TVC to keep growing and meet the needs of the communities we serve.
80% of Tri-Valley Residents Prioritize Open Space
Respondents agree that open space is the most important element to have in their community.
80%
Say open space
is a top priority
77%
Value access to
public nature trails
72%
Prioritize protection
of wildlife
Other top priorities related to land use include:
Agriculture – 65%
Youth Nature Education – 65%
Agricultural Tourism – 49%
What Makes the Tri-Valley Special?
When asked to describe in their own words what the top things were that make the region special, respondents said:
Open Lands
Safety and Security
Sense of Community and Friendliness
Why Protect Open Space?
68%
Say that open space and other conservation priorities are more important overall than providing more housing
76%
Agree that letting development extend beyond cities risks losing open space, parks, and agriculture that define our communities
71%
Prefer preserving open lands, habitat, and natural beauty over developing new business and industries
The top reasons respondents give for protecting open space focus on preventing overdevelopment and preserving the rural character of the region (21%) and maintaining quality of life/health/wellbeing (19%) followed by wildlife and habitat protection (18%), ethical and moral imperative of conservation (15%), and recreation and public access (14%).
Even when compared with other top issues, respondents sided strongly with the need to preserve open lands.
Our Path Forward
TVC launched a strategic planning process in 2025 to clarify our role and chart a path forward as the region continues to evolve. The plan is designed to address challenges while making the most of opportunities to protect the land that residents value most.
Insights and data from this survey will be used to inform our annual Strategic Plan, ensuring our conservation efforts match the community's highest priorities.
Methodology
The survey was conducted by Lake Research Partners (LRP), a national public opinion and political strategy research firm founded in 1995. LRP works with a wide range of advocacy groups, non-profits, government agencies, companies, and foundations, as well as dozens of elected officials at all levels of the electoral process. The firm is national in scope, with offices in Washington, D.C. and California.
The poll was conducted from March 5-10, 2026, by live telephone and text-to-online interview in both English and Spanish. It included 500 registered voters in the Tri-Valley (zip codes 94506, 94550, 94551, 94566, 94568, 94582, and 94588) and an additional over-sample of 100 registered voters in the City of Livermore.
The poll included ranked choice, “forced-choice,” and open ended questions. Forced choice questions in polling are critical for forcing respondents to express a clear opinion, eliminating "neutral" or "don't know" options to generate actionable data. By requiring a selection, they increase the likelihood of capturing true preferences and encouraging deeper consideration of trade-offs.
To ensure the results accurately reflect the diverse makeup of the electorate, researchers adjusted the data to match the true proportions of the population, including age, gender, geography, and party affiliation, ensuring a statistically representative snapshot of the voting public.