Darby Creek Refuge Economic and Fiscal Impact
Study
Why the study was
conducted:
Citizens in the Darby Creek region raised
questions about the economic and fiscal impacts of the proposed Darby Creek
Wildlife Refuge. In response to those questions, Ohio State University Extension
commissioned faculty in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and
Development Economics to examine and report on those issues.
Study
scope and details…
Study ran from Nov. 1, 1999
through July 26, 2000.
Economic effects of the
proposed Darby Creek Wildlife Refuge were estimated, focusing on changes in
regional income and employment.
Fiscal effects of the proposed
Darby Creek Wildlife Refuge were estimated, measuring anticipated changes in
revenues and expenditures of county governments.
Impact estimates came
from a computer model of the regional economy and the most recent available
economic and fiscal data.
Two “study regions” were used: (1) the Madison and Union county region where the project is located and (2) the
larger region of Delaware, Franklin, Pickaway, Fayette, Green, Clark, Champaign,
Logan, Hardin, and Marion.
Direct
impacts were estimated (examples: changes in farm sales and net farm income,
local purchases of goods and services by refuge visitors, etc.).
Indirect impacts were estimated (examples: changes in the
number of vehicles purchased by local agricultural supply firms).
Goals…
Give public and private
parties a tool for making decisions by identifying the likely outcomes and
measuring the range of those likely outcomes.
Provide an aid, but not a
substitute, for the decision-making process.
What
is reported:
What is NOT reported…
- A declaration of whether the
refuge is either good or bad.
- Any particular recommendations for action related
to the refuge debate.
Interaction
with stakeholders…
- About five months after the
study began, the research team met with stakeholders and presented the
economic and fiscal facts from which impact projections were later made. This
meeting helped establish the basic facts and assumptions while the study was in
progress. Where a fact could not be established firmly, it was addressed by
conducting sensitivity analyses to determine how much the study findings would
change if assumptions are altered.
- Stakeholders with additional
comments were welcome to submit them in writing to the research team.
Research team:
David
Kraybill (study director) and Elena Irwin conducted the study. Research
methods were reviewed by a technical advisory committee of faculty at The
Ohio State University.
Final Report (click on title below to download a pdf copy):
An Economic and Fiscal
Impact Study of the Proposed Little Darby National Wildlife Refuge
Released July 26, 2000
