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The Implicit Price of Aquatic Grasses

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  • Dennis Guignet
  • Charles Griffiths
  • Heather Klemick
  • Patrick J. Walsh

Abstract

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay is well below half of its historic levels, largely due to excessive nutrient and sediment loads degrading water quality. SAV provides important ecosystem functions, many of which are beneficial to local residents. To understand the implicit value residents place on SAV and the ecosystem services it provides, we undertake a hedonic property value study using residential transactions in 11 Maryland counties adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. These data are matched to high-resolution maps of SAV coverage. We pose a quasi-experimental comparison and examine how the prices of homes near the waterfront vary with the presence of SAV. On average, waterfront and near-waterfront homes within 200 meters of the shore sell at about a 6.5% premium when SAV is present. Applying these estimates to the 185,000-acre SAV attainment goal suggests total property value gains on the order of $436 million.

Suggested Citation

  • Dennis Guignet & Charles Griffiths & Heather Klemick & Patrick J. Walsh, 2017. "The Implicit Price of Aquatic Grasses," Marine Resource Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 32(1), pages 21-41.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:mresec:doi:10.1086/689201
    DOI: 10.1086/689201
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    2. Dennis Guignet & Charles Griffiths & Heather Klemick & Patrick J. Walsh, 2017. "The Implicit Price of Aquatic Grasses," Marine Resource Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 32(1), pages 21-41.
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    11. P. Joan Poor & Kevin J. Boyle & Laura O. Taylor & Roy Bouchard, 2001. "Objective versus Subjective Measures of Water Clarity in Hedonic Property Value Models," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 77(4), pages 482-493.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dennis Guignet & Matthew T. Heberling & Michael Papenfus & Olivia Griot, 2022. "Property Values, Water Quality, and Benefit Transfer: A Nationwide Meta-analysis," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 98(2), pages 191-218.
    2. Guignet, Dennis & Jenkins, Robin R. & Belke, James & Mason, Henry, 2023. "The property value impacts of industrial chemical accidents," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    3. Matthew Burlingame & Dennis Guignet & Matthew Heberling & Michael Papenfus, 2023. "Using Benefit Transfer to Estimate Housing Value Increases from Improved Water Clarity," Working Papers 23-07, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    4. Kuwayama, Yusuke & Olmstead, Sheila & Zheng, Jiameng, 2022. "A more comprehensive estimate of the value of water quality," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    5. Matthew T. Heberling & Dennis Guignet & Michael Papenfus, 2022. "Water Quality and Hedonic Models: A MetaAnalysis of Commodity, Market, and Methodological Characteristics," Working Papers 22-06, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    6. Dennis Guignet & Charles Griffiths & Heather Klemick & Patrick J. Walsh, 2017. "The Implicit Price of Aquatic Grasses," Marine Resource Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 32(1), pages 21-41.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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