Tracy A. Boyer, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University

Track: Research Briefs

Abstract:

Streambank instability and resulting erosion is a severe problem throughout Oklahoma. Bank erosion and deposition processes are major sources of fine sediment loads to streams and downstream reservoirs. Two economic valuation studies were conducted on Illinois River Basin in northeastern Oklahoma. The first study estimated visitors’ recreation demand to the river using travel cost method. The data for this study was gathered from 489 on-site travel cost surveys in 2012. Results from the travel cost study indicated that the total annual estimated value to visitors of the river falls between $14,288,750 and $17,146,500 annually (2012 USD). These values represent the recreational floating use value of Illinois River. The main objective of the second study was to value and prioritize potential restoration goals in terms of ranking and assigning value to a series of attributes for the streambank restoration project in northeastern (NE) Oklahoma. These attributes include water clarity, improvement in in-stream habitat species, recreational use, and stream bank appearance. The data for this study was gathered through mail survey sent to 1,870 households in Oklahoma in 2012. A choice-based conjoint analysis approach was used to estimate households’ value for the aforementioned attributes of the Illinois River Basin including the Illinois River, Baron Fork, Tahlequah Creek, and Tyner Creek.