The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine, Orono.
- Virtual attendance: Zoom connection information will be posted shortly.
Speaker: Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor, School of Forest Resources, University of Maine
Over the past 25 years, the Great Lakes and Ponds of Maine have faced challenges such as development, invasive species, and climate change, prompting a reassessment of their economic value to effectively guide conservation efforts. In response, we conducted a comprehensive economic assessment focused on recreation, water consumption, youth camps, and the impact of water quality on lakefront property values. We estimated that the total net economic value of Maine’s Lakes is nearly $14 billion. An accompanying survey on perceptions of lake water quality highlighted the importance of water clarity in recreation choices, with the average visitor indicating that they choose to visit lakes with water quality that is more than safe for swimming. The survey also highlighted that visitors have positive perceptions of Maine’s lake water quality, but costs and lack of accessibility create barriers to using lakes. Given these findings, our study emphasizes the need for Maine’s water bodies to be managed in a sustainable way that accounts for public perceptions of lakes and preserves or improves their water quality.
Adam Daigneault is the EL Giddings Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics in the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources. He is a natural resource economist who develops models to value ecosystem services and assess the socioeconomic impacts of environmental and land use policy on the natural resource sectors.
