The Environmental and Economic Impacts of Moorage Marinas on the West Coast

Recreational marinas are growing rapidly on the West Coast but fall outside usual planning, economic, and environmental research disciplines. This interdisciplinary study will calculate the net economic impacts of moorage marinas in Southern California and Western Washington and investigate environmental externalities. It will use GIS to correlate marina locations and NOAA Mussel Watch data on pollution and other impacts back to 1986. The economic and environmental impacts will then be compared for baseline and alternative scenarios, helping regulators and coastal communities develop smart, well-informed marina policies.