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Recreation
River recreation, besides being life-enhancing,
creates an economic value for counties fortunate enough to
have a river system in their purview. Recreational benefits
are often more important to local communities than jobs from
river construction (or desecration) projects for electrical
production or for urban enhancement. Rivers serve as
magnets for tourists seeking fishing, swimming, boating,
inspiration for art and nature study. In 1988,
recreation and leisure was the third largest industry in
California. More than $30 billion per year is spent by
Californians on recreation and leisure. This amounts
to approximately 12 percent or one of every eight dollars,
of total personal consumption expenditures in the state
according to the California Department of Parks and
Recreation. The San Joaquin River Parkway and
Conservation Trust in Fresno with its "Evening On The River"
event raised $10,000. The San Antonio Riverwalk is the
keystone of the tourist industry in San Antonio, Texas and
accounts for $1.2 billion income annually. A poll
commissioned by the President's Commission on Americans
Outdoors showed that natural beauty was the single most
important criteria for tourists in selecting a outdoor
recreational site. On North Carolina's Nantahala River
river rafters generated $1.8 million in local spending and
in Florida, 70 canoe outfits generated $38.5 million in
1986. Is indisputable that there is economic benefit
of river recreation enhancement, furthermore, between 60 to
90% of the American public has shown that it is willing to
be taxed to support preservation of wilderness areas. |