Economic Value of Angling at a Reservoir with Low Visitation

Authors

Christopher J. Chinzinski, Texas Tech UniversityFollow
Kevin L. Pope, Texas Tech UniversityFollow
David B. Willis, Texas Tech UniversityFollow
Gene R. Wilde, Texas Tech University
Edwin J. Rossman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Date of this Version

2005

Citation

Chizinski, C. J., K. L. Pope, D. B. Willis, G. R. Wilde, and E. J. Rossman. 2005. Economic value of angling at a reservoir with low visitation. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25:98-104.

Comments

This article is a U.S. government work, and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

Abstract

A travel cost model was used to estimate the per-day consumer surplus for anglers at a reservoir (Lake Kemp, Texas) with low visitation. The average per-day consumer surplus for anglers was $61–122, depending on the wage rate fraction assigned to the opportunity cost of time. Although this consumer surplus value is small, anglers on the numerous smaller public and private water bodies may, in aggregate, generate a majority of the economic value for freshwater angling. Further, the marginal value per dollar spent managing small water bodies is probably large. Arguably, greater attention should be directed toward managing our nation’s numerous smaller water bodies.