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Evaluating the Effects of River and Stream Restorations: Evidence from Recreational Fishing
- Land Economics
- University of Wisconsin Press
- Volume 96, Number 1, February 2020
- pp. 75-91
- Article
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ABSTRACT:
River restorations are increasingly used worldwide as conservation measures and environmental policy tools. Despite their popularity, there is a lack of compelling empirical evidence that river restorations achieve policy goals. Exploiting a unique dataset of fishing trips combined with structural, spatial, and temporal data on restorations, we study the effects of restorations on catch rate, a measurable ecosystem service, and then evaluate the welfare consequences of these changes. We provide robust evidence that restorations lead to persistent increases in catch rates that generate a monetary value of over $600,000 annually for a proposed set of future restorations. (JEL Q26, Q51)