Regional Recreation Demand Models for Large Reservoirs: Database Development, Model Estimation, and Management Applications.
Abstract
This report documents the development and application of regional recreation demand models (RRDM) developed for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) multipurpose reservoirs. RRDMs are used to estimate the contribution of recreation resources to national economic development (NED) benefits. NED benefits from recreation are the consumer surplus estimated from the RRDM travel cost models. The report describes development of the database, estimation of the regional models using visitation, and reservoir and market area data for projects in the Corps' Nashville, Little Rock, and Sacramento districts. Using regression analysis, visitation rates vary with travel costs per visit, population from counties or origin, reservoir facilities, substitute water-based recreation opportunities, and demographic factors. Applications of the developed models estimated the per-visitor benefits at the reservoirs; economic benefits from holding water in storage for recreation and reservoir fluctuation; economic benefits from constructing additional recreation facilities; impact on visitation and benefits from charging or increasing fees; and impact of changing market area demographics (recreation use by ethnic and aging populations). Application or transfer of models estimated in one region to reservoirs in other regions (not included in RRDM development) showed robust results for transfer of average benefits and transfer of incremental values of added facilities. Transfer of predicted visitation estimates was adequate when conditions at the study and target reservoirs were similar.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA314498
Entities
People
- Brian A. Roach
- Frank A. Ward
- Jim E. Henerson
- Richard C Ready