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Economic Effects of Wildfire Risk Reduction and Source Water Protection Projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado

Open-File Report 2019-1108
Prepared in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191108

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Abstract

Investments in landscape-scale restoration and fuels management projects can protect publicly managed trusts, enhance public health and safety, and help to preserve the many environmental goods and services enjoyed by the public. These investments can also support jobs and generate business sales activities within nearby local economies. This report investigates how investments made by the Rio Grande Water Fund (RGWF) on wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado affect local economic activity. To implement these projects, the RGWF spent a total of $855,000 in 2018 on contractors located in the Western States regional economy. Including direct and secondary effects, these expenditures supported an estimated 22 jobs, $1,089,000 in labor income, $1,324,000 in value added, and $1,907,000 in economic output in the 17 Western States economy. The majority (73 percent or $623,000) of these expenditures were made by hiring local businesses operating within a 13-county region in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado that comprises the RGWF project area. Including direct and secondary effects, local expenditures support an estimate 15 jobs, $676,000 in labor income, $791,000 in value added, and $1,120,000 in economic output within the 13-county RGWF project area. These results demonstrate how investments in wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects can support jobs and livelihoods, small businesses, and rural economies in the Mountain West.

Suggested Citation

Huber, C., Cullinane Thomas, C., Meldrum, J.R., Meier, R., and Bassett, S., 2019, Economic effects of wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1108, 8 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191108.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Results
  • Conclusions
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Economic effects of wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2019-1108
DOI 10.3133/ofr20191108
Year Published 2019
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description iv, 8 p.
Country United States
State Colorado, New Mexico
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details