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Federal Agencies Work Group


Opportunities for Federal Action:
Economics in the Lake Champlain Basin

Promote healthy and diverse economic activity and sustainable development principles within the Lake Champlain Basin while improving water quality and conserving natural and cultural heritage resources on which the regional economy is based.

THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL ACTIONS

The economic impact of Federal agency actions in the Lake Champlain Basin occurs in two ways. In addition to the direct economic impact of Federal expenditures, the regional economy benefits from improvements in information, infrastructure and the environment as a result of Federal actions.

The total indirect economic impact of Federal activity in the Basin, while difficult to measure, clearly is substantial. For example, sea lamprey control is an integral component of the USFWS's commitment toward restoring landlocked Atlantic salmon and other native species to the Lake Champlain Basin. The control program also receives significant support through the Department of State-funded Great Lakes Fishery Commission, LCSG, LCBP and the States of New York and Vermont. Overall, the Lake Champlain sea lamprey control program contributes over $4 million directly to the regional economy, but is key to protecting a recreational fishery that, as estimated in 1997, contributes over $200 million annually.

Even the direct impact of Federal expenditures in the Basin is difficult to measure for several reasons. For example, no Federal agency routinely identifies its expenditures within a watershed boundary. Even if such data were readily available, expenditures to support headquarters or other outside staff that work all or part of the time on issues within the watershed aren’t usually quantified on a watershed basis. Neither are Federal technical and office equipment and vehicles, which are generally used partly to support work within a watershed.

Nevertheless, the direct significance of Federal expenditures in the Lake Champlain Basin is apparent from the following statistic: 92% (83 of 90) of the actions listed in Opportunities for Action identify Federal appropriations among the potential funding sources.
Federal appropriations
are identified for 92%
of the actions listed in
Opportunities for Action.

 

 

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