Steven Piper

Estimating changes in recreational fishing participation from national water quality policies

The complete evaluation of the offsite effects of national policies or programs that affect levels of agricultural nonpoint source pollution requires linking extensive water quality changes to changes in recreational activity. A sequential decision model is specified to describe an individuals decisions about fishing. A participation model for recreational fishing that includes a water quality index reflecting regional water quality is developed and estimated as a logit model with national level data. A visitation model for those who decide to fish that also includes the water quality index is estimated using ordinary least squares. The water quality index is found to be significant in the participation model but not in the visitation model. Together, the two models provide a means of estimating how changes in water quality might influence the number of recreation days devoted to fishing. The model is used to estimate changes in fishing participation for the Conservation Reserve Program.

Household willingness to pay for improved rural water supplies: A comparison of four sites

The estimated willingness to pay for improved rural water supplies at four sites in the western United States ranges from

The recreational benefits from an improvement in water quality at Oakwood Lakes and Lake Poinsett, South Dakota.

4.43 to

Assessing the financial and economic feasibility of rural water system improvements

17.29 per household per month. These results are similar to other rural water supply studies. The modeling results and comparison with previous studies indicate that the contingent valuation method can provide useful estimates of rural water supply benefits. This analysis provides information useful to private and public officials who must determine where limited funds should be spent for water supply improvements. Water suppliers and government analysts who do not have the resources to complete site specific valuation studies can use general benefit criteria and site specific factors presented in the analysis to target areas for water supply improvements. The range of benefits presented in the analysis can be used to help determine an acceptable level of costs for a proposed water supply project.

Evaluating the accuracy of the benefit transfer method: a rural water supply application in the USA.

Excess nutrients from agricultural runoff have led to accelerated algae growth in Oakwood Lakes and Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, resulting in impaired recreational use of the lakes. Partially in response to the algae problem, an agricultural land use improvement program is currently underway to reduce lake nutrients. The travel cost method is used to estimate the recreational benefits from reduced algae growth at the lakes. Total recreational benefits from a reduction in algae growth are estimated to be about

CRP: What economic benefits?

3.5 million annually.

Impact of water quality on municipal water price and residential water demand and implications for water supply benefits

Financial feasibility of a rural water supply improvement is based on the ability of households to pay for it and economic feasibility on willingness to pay, or benefit, compared to costs. A simple household budgeting methodology is presented which can be used to estimate the ability to pay of water users for a water supply improvement. The contingent valuation method and benefit transfer techniques can be used to estimate rural water supply benefits. Using these procedures, the desirability of investing in rural water improvements is analyzed for a particular application. These methodologies can help policy-makers assess the viability of proposed water supply projects.