Although the Hocking River Valley in Southeast Ohio is a popular destination for boaters and fishers, there are concerns that water quality problems from acid mine drainage and other point and nonpoint source run-off may limit recreational activity. To explore this possibility, a survey of boaters and fishers in Southeastern Ohio was conducted in 2000. The purpose of the survey was to assess how individuals in these groups use water resources in the Hocking River Valley, to estimate the economic value of these types of recreation in Hocking River Valley, and to estimate how improving water quality might increase economic value for fishers and boaters and for local businesses. This fact sheet provides general results on the study.

In general, boaters take more trips per year than fishers, have higher income, and spend more in the local economy. However, 60% of the boaters engage in fishing while on trips, and many fishers (nearly 50%) use boats. The average boat length is 16 feet. These results suggest that there are opportunities to attract individuals to take more trips each year to the Hocking River Valley. Boaters and fishers who visit this region take between 20 and 25 trips per year. Only 20- 25% of the total trips are actualy within the Hocking River Valley. On overnight trips, 42% of boaters tend to camp, and 18% stay in hotels. In contrast, 63% of fishers tend to camp, with a similar proportion, 17%, staying in hotels.

There are two measures for calculating the value of boating and fishing. Economic impacts are the money that boaters and fishers spend in the local economy on their trips. This is money that these individuals leave behind for local businesses. The survey indicates that visitors mostly buy beverages and gas on their recreational trips, although fishers do appear to spend money locally on bait, tackle, and gear. Boaters spend approximately $1.0 million per year in the local economy and fishers spend three times that, approximately $3.2 million in the local economy.

A different measure is economic value, which captures the value the boaters and fishers themselves place on the trip. Economic value is the value of satisfaction these individuals get from their trips. Our estimates suggest that each one-day trip is worth $12.54 for fishers, and $11.69 for boaters. Under existing water quality conditions, this amounts to approximately $0.4 million per year in economic value for fishers in the region, and $1.4 million for boaters.

These results suggest that both boaters and fishers are sensitive to water quality, and that they will change their trips if water quality improves. Fishers are more sensitive to potential changes in water quality, as expected. Fishers indicated that they would take an additional 2.3 trips per year for an approximate 10% (small) improvement in water quality, and an additional 4.7 trips per year for a 100% (large) improvement in water quality. Boaters indicated that they would take 1.4 and 2.5 additional trips per year for the same improvements, respectively.

More trips means more expenditures in the local economy. The results suggest that fishers would spend approximately $3.3 million more per year under a small improvement, and $9.2 million more per year under a large improvement in water quality. Boaters would spend approximately $0.5 million more per year in the local economy under small improvement in water quality, and $1.2 million more per year under a large improvement.

The economic value of trips for the fishers and boaters would also increase. Fishers would gain approximately $0.7 million per year in satisfaction for a small improvement and $1.3 million per year for a large improvement. Boaters would gain approximately $0.1 million per year for a small improvement in water quality, and $0.2 for a large improvement.