MEASURING THE ECONOMIC-BENEFITS OF REMOVING DAMS AND RESTORING THE ELWHA RIVER - RESULTS OF A CONTINGENT VALUATION SURVEY

The contingent valuation method was used to obtain estimates of willin gness to pay for removing the two darns on the Elwha River on the Olym pic Peninsula in Washington State and restoring the ecosystem and the anadromous fishery. Using the dichotomous choice voter referendum form at, the mean annual value per household is $59 in Clallam County, $73 for the rest of Washington, and $68 for households in the rest of the United States. The aggregate benefits to residents of the State of Was hington is $138 million annually for 10 years and between $3 and $6 bi llion to ail U.S. households. These estimates suggest that the general public would be willing to pay to remove old darns that block salmon migration.