Flathead Lake’s Economic Worth Estimated Between $6-$10 Billion

Putting a Dollar Amount on an Ecosystem

By Kate Downen, 7-25-06

The war between development and environment tends be too simplistic and trite in the Flathead these days. That's why, just maybe, a report by a UM economist may add a more interesting facet to the debate.

On July 5 the Bigfork Eagle published a story highlighting the work of Jack Stanford, director of the University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS). Stanford, who has done extensive work on the biology and ecosystem of the Crown of the Continent and its "Crown Jewel," Flathead Lake, said that a UM economist estimates Flathead Lake's economic worth between $6 and $10 million dollars.

This may be wishful thinking, but aww, heck: Could viewing Flathead Lake as both a precious, worth-fighting-for natural resource and an economic asset be the beginning of a bridge between the "development" and "environment" communities?

Have a look and decide for yourself; the article is worth a read.

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By Kate Downen, 7-25-06 | comments (2) | email story | print story

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Comments

By friendly check, 8-08-06

Headline says billions, second paragraph incorrectly says millions. Always worth checking when using these, I often find mistakes. Very different impression, so I thought I'd correct.

By kate, 8-08-06

billion it is. thanks for the check.

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Putting a Dollar Amount on an Ecosystem