Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2008MI117B

The returns on investments in the establishment of riparian buffers for water quality remediation in Michigan's inland lakes

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2008 Start Date: 2008-03-01 End Date: 2009-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $15,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $34,015

Principal Investigators: Kendra Cheruvelil, Daniel Kramer

Project Summary: Currently, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MI-DEQ) is drafting new rules that will implement scientifically defensible nutrient standards for all of Michigan inland lakes (11,000 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with an area of at least 5 acres) and streams (over 36,000 miles of rivers and streams). These standards will serve as a framework within which the MI-DEQ can assess the state of Michigans waterbodies, protect those with excellent water quality, and better manage those with poor water quality. As part of the process of getting these new rules passed into law, the MI-DEQ must provide evidence of the economic, social, and environmental benefits associated with the implementation of these nutrient standards. Although most people agree with the idea that Michigans inland lakes and streams are important, it is often more difficult to achieve consensus about the magnitude of their importance. Kramer and Cheruvelil are currently working on a state-wide economic hedonic valuation study of Michigans inland lakes and streams. Here, we propose to integrate the results of our valuation study with a predictive water quality model and a cost model of implementing riparian buffers to improve water quality. Together, these coupled models provide complete information on the returns on investments in the establishment of riparian buffers to improve water quality. This study will allow for better public understanding of the importance of Michigans inland water resources and will provide a common currency for communication between scientists, policy-makers, and managers.