Measuring regional economic impacts of streamflow depletions

Abstract

Abstract. Because of large upstream diversions for agriculture and an absence of policies to protect in-stream flows, flows in the Rio Grande near Taos, New Mexico, routinely are low by midsummer. The reach is a popular whitewater run in the southwestern United States when flows are adequate for river running. This article estimates the regional economic impacts attributable to summer streamflow depletions. Economic analysis indicates that while lower water levels affect the number of people coming to the region to raft on one river reach, low water levels had no effect on another nearby rafting area. Total expenditures and economic impacts were simulated for streamflows maintained at levels adequate for whitewater recreation throughout the summer season. These simulations indicate a 24% ($0.74 million) increase in rafting-linked expenditures and a 25% ($0.94 million) increase in value added from rafting, compared to actual 1992 expenditures and value added.

The estimation of ecosystem services' value in the region of Misi Rural Development Project: Results from a contingent valuation survey

“…The F statistic was used as a measure to estimate the overall statistical performance of the estimated linear regression equation. The coefficient of multiple determination (R 2 ) was also employed, similar to Bandara and Tisdell (2004), Leones et al (1997), to test up to what extent the variation in the explanatory variables used in the model were capable of explaining the variation of the dependent variable (Maddala, 1992). These measures indicate that the Model II had satisfactory explanatory power and fitted the data reasonably well.…”

The Economic Impact of Saltwater Sportfishing Harvest Restrictions in Alaska: An Empirical Analysis of Nonresident Anglers

“…Previous studies of economic impacts from recreation-related expenditures used fixed-price models such as IO and SAM models (Leones et al 1997;Hamel et al 2002;Criddle et al 2003). In the present study, we use a state-level CGE model for Alaska to calculate the impacts of changes in the nonresident anglers' expenditures.…”

Economic value of conserving river water quality: results from a contingent valuation survey in Yamuna river basin, India

“…the Grand river watershed by including both quantitative and qualitative dimensions in the study. In yet another interesting study, Leones et al (1997) have used the CVM for assessing the WTP for stream flow depletions by surveying rafter boat operators' income loss due to reduction in stream flows.…”