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Measuring regional economic impacts of streamflow depletions
Author(s) -
Leones Julie,
Colby Bonnie,
Cory Dennis,
Ryan Liz
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/96wr03973
Subject(s) - streamflow , environmental science , recreation , economic impact analysis , hydrology (agriculture) , streams , upstream (networking) , agriculture , water resource management , geography , agricultural economics , drainage basin , economics , geology , ecology , computer network , cartography , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , computer science , biology , microeconomics
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.