The households represented a wide range of socio-economic characteristics. Survey respondents were provided with background information including the current condition of the river and possible costs and benefits of restoration. Respondents were asked if they supported or opposed the restoration. Their maximum willingness to pay either for the restoration, or to keep the river in its current condition was solicited. Moreover, this support extended to a willingness to pay considerable amounts of money for the restoration.
People clearly have high values for nonmarket and even nonuse environmental resources.
Without a means to estimate their economic value, these significant amenities will be ignored and thus not protected. Consequently, economic valuation has a crucial role to play in preserving and restoring priceless environmental resources. We conclude that a carefully designed contingent valuation survey is a promising method for bringing nonmarket economic values into the cost-benefit analysis of restoring the West River salt marsh.