A cost-benefit analysis of water quality protection in the Catawba basin

dc.contributor.author

Eisen-Hecht, JI

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Kramer, RA

dc.date.accessioned

2013-04-18T18:27:39Z

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2002-01-01

dc.description.abstract

The primary objective of this study was to perform a cost-benefit analysis of maintaining the current level of water quality in the Catawba River basin. Economic benefits were estimated using a stated preference survey method designed to value respondents' willingness to pay for a management plan to protect water quality in the Catawba basin over time. From the surveys conducted with 1,085 area residents, we calculated an annual mean willingness to pay of $139 for the management plan, or more than $75.4 million for all taxpayers in the area. Over the five-year time horizon in which respondents were asked to pay for the management plan, this resulted in a total economic benefit of $340.1 million. The Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework model was used to estimate the amount of management activities needed to protect the current level of water quality in the basin over time. Based on the model results, the total cost of the management plan was calculated to be $244.8 million over a ten-year period. The resulting cost-benefit analysis indicated that the potential benefits of this management plan would outweigh the costs by more than $95 million.

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1093-474X

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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6644

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Wiley

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Journal of the American Water Resources Association

dc.title

A cost-benefit analysis of water quality protection in the Catawba basin

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Journal article

pubs.begin-page

453

pubs.end-page

465

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2

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

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Duke Science & Society

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Economics

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Environmental Sciences and Policy

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Global Health Institute

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Initiatives

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Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

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Nicholas School of the Environment

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Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

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University Institutes and Centers

pubs.publication-status

Published

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38

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