MSU Extension Michigan Sea Grant

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The objectives of this project were to determine the scope of recreation occurring on coastal Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), understand and characterize visitors and visitor use, and determine the economic impact of WMA visitors.

The WMAs of interest included five state-owned WMAs and one federally owned National Wildlife Refuge (hereafter WMAs). The areas are located in southeastern Michigan from Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay region south to western Lake Erie. Data, including trip expenditures, was collected via intercept surveys completed in spring (March 26 – May 27, 2018), summer (June 11 – August 19, 2018), and fall (September 4 – November 24, 2018). A total of 701 surveys were completed. Visitor estimates were calculated and used to determine economic impacts using IMPLAN, a standard economic impact simulation model.

Demographics of WMA visitors differed by season and area. WMA visitors were mostly White (> 82%), male (> 76%), and college educated (> 47%). The average age of visitors during spring, summer, and fall was between 45-50 years old and Facebook was the social media platform used most by visitors (>58%). Primary recreational activities were similar across WMAs with the predominant activity being fishing in the spring and summer, and waterfowl hunting in the fall.  Time spent on the WMA differed by season with visitors spending the most time on WMAs in the fall. Most WMA visitors were returning users that had visited in the past 12 months (>74%).

Average visitor expenditures differed by area and ranged from approximately $19 to $40 per trip. These dollars generated economic multiplier effects that collectively ranged from an estimated $110,913 and $360,208 in new expenditures in their respective local economies. These results demonstrate that WMAs are providing economic benefits to local communities that could be increased through strategic partnerships between wildlife agencies and local communities that result in increased use of WMA and visits to local communities.

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