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Natural Resource Economics Commons

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Central Washington University

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Full-Text Articles in Natural Resource Economics

Understanding The Cost Of Catastrophe: Wildfire Suppression Costs Drivers By Fire Size Class, Stephanie Overla Jan 2026

Understanding The Cost Of Catastrophe: Wildfire Suppression Costs Drivers By Fire Size Class, Stephanie Overla

All Master's Theses

While most wildfires burn less than 100 acres, the western United States experiences much larger fires annually, placing increasing pressure on suppression resources. Changes in weather patterns, fuel composition, and the spatial complexity of human development have rapidly altered historic fire regimes, increasing both the frequency of large wildfires and the challenges of managing them. This study compares two wildfire classes—Fires of Unusual Size (FOUS, >90,000 acres with at least one rapid growth event), and Large Fires (LF, 25,000–90,000 acres), —to identify differences in how size- and growth-based fire classes influence wildfire suppression costs. Suppression cost data for 60 …


The Economic Impacts Of Soil Remediation Efforts At Lead Arsenate Contaminated Sites In Yakima County: A Hedonic Approach, Seth Urbanski Jan 2020

The Economic Impacts Of Soil Remediation Efforts At Lead Arsenate Contaminated Sites In Yakima County: A Hedonic Approach, Seth Urbanski

All Master's Theses

Area-wide lead-arsenate contamination stemming from the widespread use of pesticides in the early 1900s poses a serious health risk to the residents of Yakima, Washington. Soil testing for contaminants resulted in the Department of Ecology funding the remediation of 6 elementary schools in Yakima, Washington where unsafe levels of lead and arsenic were found in the topsoil. This study will evaluate the impact that these remediation projects have had on nearby real estate values through the use of GIS analysis and multivariate hedonic pricing models. We expect to find a negative price effect on real estate values following the announcement …


An Analysis Of The Socioeconomic Impacts Resulting From The Ellsworth Creek Preserve In Pacific County, Washington, Andrea Elizabeth Watson Jan 2015

An Analysis Of The Socioeconomic Impacts Resulting From The Ellsworth Creek Preserve In Pacific County, Washington, Andrea Elizabeth Watson

All Master's Theses

The Ellsworth Creek Preserve is an environmental restoration project owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and located in Pacific County, Washington State. This study utilized a multi-method approach, including social science ethnographic research methods and economic modeling, with the aim of understanding how Pacific County has been impacted by the presence of the preserve. As non-governmental organizations such as TNC continue to expand their influence, it is important to understand the potential impacts that these organizations and their actions may have on local communities. The results of this research contribute to understanding the reasons for community support or …


Experiments To Measure The Effects Of Timber Harvesting Equipment On Surface Lithic Scatters, Douglas J. Baughman Jan 2013

Experiments To Measure The Effects Of Timber Harvesting Equipment On Surface Lithic Scatters, Douglas J. Baughman

All Master's Theses

The importance of cultural resource preservation cannot be overstated; however local economies are at least as important. Due to conservative archaeological site protection practices in Region 5 of the United States Forest Service, the economy of Northeastern California is being adversely affected. In an attempt to help the Forest Service make more informed management decisions and improve the Northeastern California economy, I undertook experiments on the effects of timber harvesting on lithic scatters on Modoc National Forest. The experiments involved placement of 225 glass tiles (proxy lithics) in each of three plots subject to vehicle traffic and log dragging by …


Industrial Policy And Renewable Energy: Trade Conflicts, Robert J. Carbaugh, Max St. Brown Jun 2012

Industrial Policy And Renewable Energy: Trade Conflicts, Robert J. Carbaugh, Max St. Brown

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Business

Governments use industrial policy to promote the development of new industries and the creation and adoption of new technologies. Such policy involves subsidies granted to producers and consumers, usually for the purpose of correcting a market failure. Concerning renewable energies such as wind energy and solar energy, China, the United States, and the European Union provide extensive support to producers and consumers. This support has resulted in trade frictions among these nations. This paper discusses the relationship between industrial policy and trade disputes in renewable energy.


Building Social Capital In Forest Communities: Analysis Of New Mexico's Collaborative Forest Restorative Program, Tyler Prante, Jennifer A. Thacher, Daniel W. Mccollum, Robert P. Berrens Oct 2007

Building Social Capital In Forest Communities: Analysis Of New Mexico's Collaborative Forest Restorative Program, Tyler Prante, Jennifer A. Thacher, Daniel W. Mccollum, Robert P. Berrens

Economics Faculty Scholarship

In part because of its emphasis on building social capital, the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program (CFRP) in New Mexico represents a unique experiment in public lands management. This study uses logit probability modeling to investigate what factors determined CFRP funding, which totaled $26 million between 2001 and 2006. Results reveal program preferences for projects that encourage collaboration and improve forest health, especially in poor counties. Negative determinants of funding include measures of small-diameter material utilization and whether a project takes place across multiple land jurisdictions. There is no evidence of bias toward funding any particular applicant type or land jurisdiction.