Empirically estimating the role of water quality on participation and visitation in resevoir fishing : an application to the conservation reserve program

This thesis estimates the change in access value resulting from a change in quality of a recreational site. Data on reservoir fishing in east Tennessee are used to evaluate proposed changes in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). These changes will result in decreased fishing quality in downstream reservoirs. Demand curves for reservoir fishing are estimated using Heckman Selection models.

The empirical models show that measures of pollution and socioeconomic variables are statistically significant factors in the decision to go fishing. The visitation stage of the Heckman Selection model shows that the number of trips taken is dependent on travel cost to the site, the catch rate, and measures of angler avidity.

Losses to anglers resulting from CRP termination are estimated to be $9.25 per trip. With extension of CRP to only the most erosive land, angler losses are $5.60 per trip.