Groups, ANR squabble over dam releases

It will take more than a life jacket and paddle to navigate through the choppy waters ahead for local whitewater groups and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

[FriendsoftheWest River org]

Video Link Discussing Changes in Flow in regards to Summer and Fall Releases
http://friendsofthewestriver.org/westrivervid...
Periodic changes in flow are what occurs when it rains. Thanks for taking a moment to review the video.

[Come on]

"The events generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in the region, according to an economic impact study sponsored by American Whitewater and other advocacy groups."

Is it strange that studies sponsored (paid for) by opposition groups such as these or VPIRG, VT Energy Partnership, etc. always seem to produce just the exact supporting information that they are looking for?

[FriendsoftheWest River org]

Please go FriendsOfTheWestRiver.org and download the full economic impact statement for your review. It is the only actual study completed on the West River by any of the groups involved. It has a 95% confidence interval.

Michael Crane AICP of Crane Associates, Burlington VT (http://www.craneassociates.us/index.html ) a well-known regional expert in river recreation planning and community and economic development, prepared the economic impact analysis of the value of West River boating releases in 2005. The study examined the economic contribution boaters make to the local economy and the economic losses resulting from the recent reduction of paddling releases. The analysis studied a one day release in September of 2003 and concluded:

Direct spending in the region amounts to $190,798 for the one-day event. With an economic multiplier of .53, the total economic impacts to the region of the one-day release in September 2003 was $292,092. In addition, there are 5 total jobs supported by the one-day release. A two-day release would contribute a total of $440,065 to the economy and support 7.4 total jobs. The economic loss of reducing the release by one day is $147,973 amounting to a 34% reduction in revenue to the local economy. The total economic loss to the local economy since the first reduction of paddling days in 1990 is 5.6 million dollars. This loss is sustained by the local economy indefinitely until the release is returned to the original schedule or the resource provides another benefit of equal or greater value. With no changes to the release, the local economy will loose over 7 million dollars over the next ten years. The financial benefit of returning to the traditional release schedule of 3 weekends is over $1.3 million dollars per year or $15.7 million over the next ten years.

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