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Economics and Invasive Plant Management in Florida (summaries)

The economic value of Lake Tarpon, Florida and the impact of aquatic weeds.  A.l.Burruss Institute of Public Service, Kennesaw State University and the Department of Economics, Florida State University.  1998. 
Lake Tarpon, Florida is a natural resource that has impact on the Economic Impact Area (EIA) surrounding the lake of 10 miles by attracting visitors and providing value from outdoor recreation to all users.  Five elliptical zones were drawn around Lake Tarpon.  Zone 5, the most distant zone from the lake, has a radius of 50 miles from the lake.  Each zone was defined as a geographical market area served by Lake Tarpon with Zone 1 being the Economic Impact Area or a ten mile radius around the lake.  There are eight counties covered in Zones 1-5.  Within these five market areas, 976 phone contacts were made using a process of random selection of households and adults within the household.  Of the total contacts, 96 individuals used the natural resources of Lake Tarpon over the last 12 months (1997).   From the phone survey, it was determined that the aggregate average daily expenditure per party were $49.61 and $195.03 for Zone 1.  Using a standard economic base model, it is estimated that the overall regional multiplier is 1.6 for the EIA meaning that a tourist expenditure of $100 will create $160 in EIA sales via successive rounds of spending. 

When the multiplier is considered, it is estimated that spending of sales related to Lake Tarpon amounted to about $50.4 million in the EIA in 1997.  This generated nearly $9 million in wages and 711 jobs.  If Lake Tarpon were completely free of surface weeds due to increased state control activities, nearly one-third of the users would increase their visitation to the lake from one day to over 10 days per year.  Users from Zones 1-5 visit the lake, on average, about 7.7 days per year with the present aquatic weed situation.  Thus, it would appear that the use of Lake Tarpon and its user value might substantially increase with further reductions in aquatic weeds.

The economic value of Lake Jackson.  A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service, Kennesaw State College, and the Department of Economics, Florida State University.  1993.  Five concentric zones were drawn around Lake Jackson, Florida.  Zone 5, the distant zone from the lake, had a radius of 150 miles from the lake.  Each zone was defined as a geographical market area served by Lake Jackson with Zone 1 being Leon County.  Within these five market areas, 639 phone contacts were made using a random sample of non-business telephone numbers.  Of the total contacts, only 40 adults (18 years or older) used the natural resources of Lake Jackson over the last 12 months (1993).  From the phone survey, it was determined that the aggregate expenditures per party daily were $42.11 for Zone 1 (Leon County) and $175.17 for Zones 2-5 in 1993 dollars. 

It is estimated that Leon County's residents spent $2.672 million in Lake Jackson-related goods and services in 1993.  All other visitors to Lake Jackson are regarded as "tourists" to Leon County.  These lake tourists injected an estimated $4.908 million into the Leon County economy in 1993.  When the multiplier is considered, it is estimated that spending or sales related to Lake Jackson amounted to a little less than $10.3 million in Leon County in 1993.  This generated nearly $2 million in wages and almost 100 jobs.    

Last updated: June 27, 2008

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