Cost–Benefit Analysis of Soil Degradation and Restoration - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 245

TABLE 10.3
Farmland Soil Erosion Downstream Impacts: Some Ohio Research Results

$/ton Sediment a $ Off-Site Impacts/Year b

Type and Number of Receptor/
Environmental “Sinks” Analyzed I L I M I H I L I M I H

1. State park lakes ( n -46)

a. Lost boater value ( n -46) 0.009 0.54 13.18 $4 $245 $5975

b. Dredging costs ( n -11) 1.32 1.42 1.61 600 645 730

2. Lake Erie harbors ( n -9)

a. Dredging costs 2.49 3.20 5.67 1130 1450 2570

3. Ohio River

a. Dredging costs 1.96 2.78 3.93 890 1260 1780

4. Drainage ditches ( n -6 counties)

a. Dredging costs 2.06 2805 c

5. Water treatment costs ( n -12) 0.35 160

a Multiply by 0.1 to get $/metric ton of gross erosion.
b Assumes 202 acres of row crops with average gross erosion of 3T under conventional tillage. The
assumed value for T is 11.2 metric tons/ha/year, which by definition is sustainable. Sediment delivery
ratio of 10% (average). Multiply by 0.1 to get the downstream cost/year for each additional ton of gross
erosion from this 202-ha hypothetical farm.
c Sediment delivery ratio -30%.

cost of lost recreation, dredging, etc., then control rather than cleanup strategies gen-
erate more net benefits to society. The reverse may be true in some situations.
In addition to the foregoing analyses of agricultural soil erosion and related
downstream impacts in Ohio, another study looked at the impact of coal surface
mining erosion and acid spoils on downstream lakeside property and lake-based
recreation utilizing hedonic pricing and travel cost models, respectively. This study
by Hitzhusen et al. (1997) also estimated the potential lake-based property and rec-
reation benefits from increased reclamation of existing coal surface mines utiliz-
ing fluidized gas desulfurization (FGD) waste or by-product from scrubbers on coal
burning power installations.
The study did a paired comparison of Piedmont and Leesville Lakes in Eastern, Ohio,
which were surface mine impacted and nonimpacted, respectively. The main finding is
that reclamation of coal surface mines upstream from Piedmont Lake would result in
increased downstream residential property values of $73,159 and an increase in annual
lake-based recreation of $256,345. Although these benefits alone will not cover the full
costs of upstream surface mine reclamation, they are a good start.

10.4.4 oSU S tUdieS on o hio d ownStreaM B enefitS of Crp (C aSe 4)
10.4.4.1 Methods and Results of Studies
The US CRP was established by the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish 10- to
15-year contracts with agricultural producers and landowners to retire highly erodible