From the Chester River Association: clean river and its use equals grand economic benefits!
October 16, 2012 by FofFC
Filed under Chesapeake Bay, Protecting Waterways, Reading Material, Spread the Word!
In this political climate of environmental regulations = job loss and poor economy, the Chester River Association recently completed a study that suggests otherwise. Add it to your repertoire of studies to whip out when speaking with legislators/staff/others about the need for clean water regulations!
The Chester River Association commissioned Sage Policy Group to study the economic contributions of the Chester River to our local economy. Sage measured the economic impacts of recreational fishing and boating, waterfowl hunting, annual events on the river, commercial fishing, marina operations, and property values. Read full Chester River Association’s 2012 Economic Impact Study of the Chester River, and some cool facts:
- The Chester River supports 893 jobs in Kent and Queen Anne’s County and $26.7 million in annual labor income.
- Visitors to annual events on the Chester, such as Downrigging and Tea Party, spend $15.4 million every year.
- Recreational fishermen and boaters on the Chester spend $3.6 million every year on trips and equipment.
- The nine marinas on the river support 47 jobs.
- The Chester generates $86.2 million in local economic activity annually.
These, and other, findings show that the Chester River is an economic driver in Kent and Queen Anne’s County. People spend money on river-related activities; what would happen to their spending behavior, the local jobs they support, and the money put into our local economy, if the river were to decline in health? There are high costs associated with Bay cleanup initiatives, but the consequences of not cleaning up are high as well: local jobs and our local economy.
