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The economic contribution of river recreation and tourism in the Little Yampa Canyon, Colorado

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dc.contributor.authorBurkard, Matthew, author
dc.contributor.authorThilmany, Dawn, advisor
dc.contributor.authorHill, Rebecca, committee member
dc.contributor.authorBayham, Jude, committee member
dc.contributor.authorGuo, Tian, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-01T11:23:55Z
dc.date.available2024-01-01T11:23:55Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractThe Yampa River is a key driver of outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities to the city of Craig, Colorado and the surrounding Moffat County, drawing in river-based recreators and tourists from surrounding areas. So, opportunities to enhance access are important to a region that seeks to further diversify its economic portfolio in light of broader transitions occurring in the energy and agriculture sector. A land acquisition proposal by the Bureau of Land Management seeks to expand public access to the Yampa River and the nearby recreation amenities and improving highway access to the current Little Yampa Canyon Special Recreation Management Area, while protecting additional wildlife habitat and fisheries. The purpose of this research is to collect and analyze outdoor recreation and tourism spending data from resident and non-resident recreators near Craig, Colorado to ascertain one set of potential benefits of such an investment. This research employs an intercept survey at key access points along the Yampa River near the proposed land acquisition to capture recreator information such as dollar amounts spent across common expenditure categories, typical recreation habits, user perceptions of current and proposed recreational resource access and qualities, and demographic information. This paper utilizes an input-output methodology via IMPLAN to produce economic contribution estimates using data received from intercept surveys to quantify both the baseline contribution of recreation near Craig, Colorado and the potential, additional expenditure Craig would receive with an increase in local and publicly accessible recreation opportunities provided through the BLM's land acquisition. This paper also performs a sensitivity analysis to estimate economic contributions at lower levels of participation as compared to an estimated typical year. Using spending data combined with user responses, this paper seeks to provide key insights into user perceptions for consideration in future policy and management decisions impacting Moffat County's recreation and tourism economy, with insights important to greater Northwest Colorado as well.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierBurkard_colostate_0053N_18060.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/237344
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjecteconomic development
dc.subjectinput output
dc.subjecttourism
dc.subjecteconomic impact
dc.subjecteconomic contribution
dc.subjectoutdoor recreation
dc.titleThe economic contribution of river recreation and tourism in the Little Yampa Canyon, Colorado
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineAgricultural and Resource Economics
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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