Daniel Phaneuf, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, recently received $741,864 in funding for a project titled “Valuing Water Quality Improvements in Nationwide Ecosystems: Total Value Based on the Biological Condition Gradient” from the EPA Water Quality Benefits Grants program. The EPA awarded $3 million in grants for research to estimate the benefits of water quality improvements on under-studied regions, underrepresented waterbody types, and environmental justice valuation.  

Project summary (from EPA): The study seeks to provide insight on the extent of the market, willingness to pay (WTP), and whether WTP differences exist between local and regional scales. The project also seeks to develop data and models to quantify a “Biological Condition Gradient (BCG)” in watersheds by using stated and revealed preference surveys across the country. Biological index data from state, tribal, and local environmental agencies will be assembled to predict place-specific baseline BCG scores and integrate these into the survey protocols. Once completed, the researchers will apply the benefit functions from surveys in a national Integrated Assessment Modeling (IAM) framework to consider the efficiency and distributional consequences of potential policy actions.