Socio-Economic Impacts of EPA Investments in Priority Great Lakes Watersheds
AMP Insights recently completed a socio-economic analysis of EPA investments aimed at improving water quality in four priority watersheds in the Great Lakes Basin as part of a program evaluation effort undertaken by the Great Lakes Commission, contracted to the EPA. The goal of the analysis was to determine how EPA investments in water quality projects in four watersheds: 1) the Saginaw, 2) the Maumee, 3) the Lower Fox, and 4) the Genesee impacted the local economy, perceptions, and behavior related to agricultural best management practices for water quality improvements.
AMP’s study found that the EPA investments produced an average economic impact of 1.5 times the original investment, resulting in the generation of approximately $50 million in increased economic activity and 135-221 part- or full-time jobs. The AMP report also provided recommendations for improved and extended data collection during the next round of EPA funding that could be used to expand and strengthen the study of behavior change and cost-effectiveness resulting from the projects implemented with the EPA investments.