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2018

  • Outdoor Recreation as a Sustainable Export Industry: A Case Study of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), conservation management and high visitation leads to a substantial regional economic impact. Region visitors were estimated to have spent more than $56 million in the three counties surrounding the BWCAW counties in 2016. The total economic output was $78 million and 1,100 full- and part-time jobs. Read more

  • The Economic Impact of Snowmobiling in Utah

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Utah, snowmobile use generates substantial economic activity that is concentrated in the population centers along the Wasatch Front and accrues largely to equipment, gasoline, and food retailers. Snowmobile registrations have been steady over the past two decades while the state’s population has grown, showing a decline in participation rates across the state. Read more

  • The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation and the Whitefish Trail in Whitefish, Montana

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Whitefish, Montana, outdoor recreation is the most important reason why residents stay and visitors come to the community. On the Whitefish Trail, 22,000 annual uses by visitors (30% of total use) generates $3.6 million in spending and supports 68 jobs. Read more

  • Trail Usage and Value: A Helena, MT Case Study

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Helena, Montana, an 80-mile hiking and mountain biking trail system attracts more than 63,000 trail users during the summer. Seven in 10 users are residents, but visitors who use the trail system account for $4 million in spending, support 60 jobs, and generate $185,000 in state and local taxes. Read more

  • Recreation Equity: Is the Forest Service Serving Its Diverse Publics?

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Across the U.S., racial and ethnic minorities visit national forests much less than white counterparts from neighboring counties. This disparity is the most pronounced in areas with the highest share of minorities living nearby, suggesting a significant need for creative outreach efforts. Read more

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