The Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources, and the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed will be hosting a presentation by Dr. Robby Richardson regarding the economic impacts of shoreline muck, on November 4, at 3:00 p.m. at the Bay City State Recreation Area Visitors Center.

Dr. Richardson's presentation will review two general approaches that are commonly used by economists to examine the effects of changes in environmental quality of beaches and other natural resources.  He will also review case studies of the economic effects at beaches in other areas.   Dr. Richardson is an assistant professor in the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies at Michigan State University.  He holds a PhD in agricultural and resource economics.

This presentation continues the discussions regarding muck management in Saginaw Bay, a priority issue identified through the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative. 

Details of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative and additional information are available online at http://www.michigan.gov/deq under "Issues to Watch."

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq .

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"