Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2007ME147B

Measuring and Incorporating Stakeholder Values into River Restoration Decisions: A Socio-economic Analysis

Institute: Maine
Year Established: 2007 Start Date: 2008-05-01 End Date: 2009-04-30
Total Federal Funds: $53,176 Total Non-Federal Funds: $94,445

Principal Investigators: Lynne Lewis, Kathleen Bell, Curtis Bohlen

Project Summary: This project addresses social and economic values of river restoration along the Penobscot River, focusing on values derived by property owners who are significant stakeholders in river restoration. A hedonic property value study explores the impact of river attributes and dam locations on property values. Survey research allows for further characterization of the impact of these characteristics on property values and for collection of additional information describing social and economic values of the river not expected to be reflected in property values. Research tasks are designed to improve our understanding of a select group of stakeholders (landowners and residents) as well as to provide valuable information to these stakeholders about the economic impact of dams. In addition, the proposed research will benefit broader stakeholder groups by generating knowledge of lesser understood attitudes towards and perceptions of river restoration. Consideration of the social and economic impacts of river restoration will complement ongoing studies of the ecological impacts. Of particular significance is the potential of this research to inform the Penobscot River Restoration Project.