Maine is known for its beautiful outdoors, including vast forests and crystal-clear lakes. In fact, there are more than 6,000 lakes and ponds in the state, and while many would say those lakes are priceless, a new study from the University of Maine says they’re worth $14 billion. In 1997, a study valued Maine lakes at about $5 billion. The new project, supported by Senator George J. Mitchell’s Center for Sustainability Solutions, focused on 150 lakes in the state, compared to just 36 in the 1997 study. The study surveyed 768 Mainers about recreation in the lakes and the reasons why they would not visit them. The study also took into consideration the value of lakefront properties (compared to similar properties not located on the water), day trip recreation, water consumption and youth camps. The researchers also added data collected through the Maine Voluntary Lake Monitoring Program on water clarity — which is, as student researcher Melissa Genoter said, “the simplest indicator of quality” — to compare it to other information they were collecting. and see if the quality of the lake’s water affected its value. They found that even a moderate reduction in water quality would hinder the total annual value of recreational use by an estimated $33 million per year. “I think it’s important when we frame water quality issues to not use scare tactics to suggest that our lakes are rapidly degrading,” Genoter said. “It’s like, ‘We already have clean, healthy lakes that we’re very proud of. How do we keep them in that state?’” Susan Gallo, executive director of Maine Lakes, says studies like these give the lake protection community more resources to advocate for their preservation. “We will definitely use economic data as we move forward. move forward with future legislation,” Gallo said. “The figures generated by this report are already useful. I have sent the draft report and fact sheet to lake associations, watershed organizations and individuals. The figures are already being included in grant reports and funding requests to cities to illustrate that we are not just protecting water. “When we keep lakes clean, we protect our economy.” Genoter said she already sees ways the study can be expanded in the future. She would love to capture other variables that are a little less tangible, like the “existence value” of lakes (research currently underway at Colby College) and incorporate traditional voices into surveys. Her study also didn’t take winter sports into account as much, although the survey indicated that only 5% of people who used Maine lakes did so outside of May through October.
Maine is known for its beautiful outdoors, including vast forests and crystal-clear lakes. In fact, there are more than 6,000 lakes and ponds in the state, and while many would say those lakes are priceless, a new study from the University of Maine says those lakes are worth $14 billion.
In 1997, a study valued Maine lakes at about $5 billion.
The new project, supported by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, focused on 150 lakes in the state, compared to just 36 in the 1997 study. The study surveyed 768 Mainers about recreation in the lakes and the reasons why they would not visit them.
The study also took into consideration the value of lakefront properties (compared to similar properties not located on the water), day trip recreation, water consumption and youth camps.
The researchers also added data collected through the Maine Voluntary Lake Monitoring Program on water clarity — which is, as student researcher Melissa Genoter said, “the simplest indicator of (water) quality” — to compare them. with the other information they were collecting and see if the quality of the lake’s water affected its value.
They found that even a moderate reduction in water quality would hinder the total annual value of recreational use by approximately $33 million per year.
“I think it’s important when we raise water quality issues to not use scare tactics to suggest that our lakes are rapidly degrading,” Genoter said. “It’s like, ‘We already have clean, healthy lakes that we’re very proud of. How do we keep them in that state?’”
Susan Gallo, executive director of Maine Lakes, says studies like these give the lake protection community more resources to advocate for their preservation.
“We will definitely use the economic data as we move forward with future legislation,” Gallo said. “The figures generated by this report are already useful. I have sent the draft report and fact sheet to lake associations, watershed organizations and individuals. The figures are already being included in grant reports and funding requests to cities to illustrate that we are not just protecting water. “When we keep lakes clean, we are protecting our economy.”
Genoter said he already sees ways the study can be expanded in the future. He would love to capture other variables that are a little less tangible, like the “existence value” of lakes (research currently underway at Colby College) and incorporate traditional voices into surveys. His study also didn’t take winter sports into account as much, although the survey indicated that only 5% of people who used Maine lakes did so outside of May through October.
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