Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2006
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Agricultural and Resource Economics
Committee Chair
Alan R. Collins.
Abstract
The Opequon watershed is in northern Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. In both states, Opequon Creek is classified as impaired due to violation of the bacteria standard and the narrative General Standard. Both states are using Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans to improve water quality. As part of the TMDL process, a contingent valuation survey was developed which would measure the benefits of improved water quality in Opequon watershed. Five thousand surveys were mailed to households in West Virginia and Virginia. Median willingness-to-pay (WTP) values were estimated from grouped tobit models. For in-state water quality improvements, Virginia households were found to have an annual WTP of {dollar}48 and West Virginia households were found to have an annual WTP of {dollar}32. For out-of-state clean-up, households in both states were found to have a one-time WTP of {dollar}18. Total benefits of improved water quality most likely range between {dollar}3.7 and {dollar}5.1 million.
Recommended Citation
Benson, Matthew C., "An economic valuation of improved water quality in Opequon watershed" (2006). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 2447.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/2447