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Quantifying flood mitigation services: The economic value of Otter Creek wetlands and floodplains to Middlebury, VT

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  • Watson, Keri B.
  • Ricketts, Taylor
  • Galford, Gillian
  • Polasky, Stephen
  • O'Niel-Dunne, Jarlath

Abstract

Functioning ecosystems can buffer communities from many negative impacts of a changing climate. Flooding, in particular, is one of the most damaging natural disasters globally and is projected to increase in many regions. However, estimating the value of “green infrastructure” in mitigating downstream floods remains a challenge. We estimate the economic value of flood mitigation by the Otter Creek floodplains and wetlands to Middlebury, VT, for Tropical Storm Irene and nine other floods. We used first principles to simulate hydrographs for scenarios with and without flood mitigation by upstream wetlands and floodplains. We then mapped flood extents for each scenario and calculated monetary damages to inundated structures. Our analysis indicates damage reductions of 84–95% for Tropical Storm Irene and 54–78% averaged across all 10 events. We estimate that the annual value of flood mitigation services provided to Middlebury, VT, exceeds $126,000 and may be as high as $450,000. Economic impacts of this magnitude stress the importance of floodplain and wetland conservation, warrant the consideration of ecosystem services in land use decisions, and make a compelling case for the role of green infrastructure in building resilience to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Watson, Keri B. & Ricketts, Taylor & Galford, Gillian & Polasky, Stephen & O'Niel-Dunne, Jarlath, 2016. "Quantifying flood mitigation services: The economic value of Otter Creek wetlands and floodplains to Middlebury, VT," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 16-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:130:y:2016:i:c:p:16-24
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.05.015
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    Cited by:

    1. Pattison-Williams, John K. & Pomeroy, John W. & Badiou, Pascal & Gabor, Shane, 2018. "Wetlands, Flood Control and Ecosystem Services in the Smith Creek Drainage Basin: A Case Study in Saskatchewan, Canada," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 36-47.
    2. repec:ags:aaea22:335440 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Seung Kyum Kim & Paul Joosse & Mia M. Bennett & Terry Gevelt, 2020. "Impacts of green infrastructure on flood risk perceptions in Hong Kong," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2277-2299, October.
    4. repec:ags:aaea22:335675 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Villegas, Laura, 2019. "Integrating Econometric Models of Land Use Change with Models of Ecosystem Services and Landscape Simulations to Guide Coastal Management and Planning for Flood Control," EfD Discussion Paper 19-13, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    6. Christine Carmichael & Cecilia Danks & Christine Vatovec, 2019. "Green Infrastructure Solutions to Health Impacts of Climate Change: Perspectives of Affected Residents in Detroit, Michigan, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    7. repec:ags:aaea22:335462 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Alamanos, Angelos & Koundouri, Phoebe, 2022. "Economics of Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Water Resource Planning and Management," MPRA Paper 122046, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Krzysztof Kud, 2018. "Biomasa lak legowych jako integrator polityki energetycznej, przestrzennej oraz wodnej (Biomass of riparian meadows as an integrator of energy policy, spatial and water)," Research Reports, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(28), pages 80-89.
    10. Seung Kyum Kim, 2020. "The Economic Effects of Climate Change Adaptation Measures: Evidence from Miami-Dade County and New York City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, February.
    11. Sonter, Laura J. & Johnson, Justin A. & Nicholson, Charles C. & Richardson, Leif L. & Watson, Keri B. & Ricketts, Taylor H., 2017. "Multi-site interactions: Understanding the offsite impacts of land use change on the use and supply of ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 158-164.
    12. Rebecca M Diehl & Jesse D Gourevitch & Stephanie Drago & Beverley C Wemple, 2021. "Improving flood hazard datasets using a low-complexity, probabilistic floodplain mapping approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, March.
    13. Yun Tang & Arturo S. Leon & M. L. Kavvas, 2020. "Impact of Dynamic Storage Management of Wetlands and Shallow Ponds on Watershed-scale Flood Control," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(4), pages 1305-1318, March.
    14. Xu, Zixuan & Ma, Jinfeng & Zheng, Hua & Wang, Lijing & Ying, Lingxiao & Li, Ruonan & Yang, Yanzheng, 2024. "Quantification of the flood mitigation ecosystem service by coupling hydrological and hydrodynamic models," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    15. Martínez-García, Víctor & Martínez-Paz, José M. & Alcon, Francisco, 2022. "The economic value of flood risk regulation by agroecosystems at semiarid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    16. Alexander J. Miller & Mauricio E. Arias & Sergio Alvarez, 2021. "Built environment and agricultural value at risk from Hurricane Irma flooding in Florida (USA)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 109(2), pages 1327-1348, November.

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