A Comparison of Non-Market Approaches in Determining the Benefits of Remediation at a Great Lakes Area of Concern Eighteenmile Creek, Niagara County New York

Abstract

Valuations of environmental resources often require the use of non-market approaches. In this paper, three common non-market methods are employed to valuate restoration of Eighteenmile Creek, a Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC) located in upstate New York. Using a survey of recreational anglers who visit the stream, we determine that travel cost and contingent valuation methods are consistent in their estimation of consumer surplus increases with site remediation. Implementation of a hedonic property approach indicates that the increases in property values with site remediation as determined in similar AOC studies may not occur at Eighteenmile Creek.