JOURNAL OF APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
Property Owners’ Willingness to Pay for Water Quality Improvements:
Contingent Valuation Estimates in Two Central Minnesota Watersheds
Author(s): Patrick G. Welle, James B. Hodgson
Citation: Patrick G. Welle, James B. Hodgson, (2011) "Property Owners’ Willingness to Pay for Water Quality Improvements: Contingent Valuation Estimates in Two Central Minnesota Watersheds," Journal of Applied Business and Economics, Vol. 12, Iss. 1, pp. 81 - 94
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
Improved lake water quality yields environmental benefits that translate into economic benefits.
This study estimates the economic value of these benefits by assessing the willingness-to-pay
(WTP) of property owners for restoring lakes in two watersheds in Minnesota using the
contingent valuation method (CVM). Alternative models generated a range of WTP estimates,
with the means for one watershed clustered in the $200 to $300 range, while the other watershed
ranged from $11 to $17. Differences between lakeshore and non-lakeshore property ownership
patterns, recreational use, and other socio-economic and watershed characteristics were
significant influences on WTP.