Work

Valuing the Upper Floridan Aquifer: Exploring public preferences for ecosystem service values and problem framing to support aquifer conservation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The Upper Floridan Aquifer (UFA) provides critical water resources and ecosystem services across Florida and Georgia but faces mounting threats from over-extraction, pollution, and climate variability. To address these challenges, this study assesses public willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical Best Management Practices (BMP) incentive program designed to conserve the UFA by improving water quality, ecosystem health, and water availability for future generations. Using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) and latent class analysis, we measure preferences for key ecosystem services and explore the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and moral framing (fairness and loyalty) on WTP. Results indicate strong public support for human-centered benefits of the BMP program, particularly positive economic impacts for producers and water quantity improvements, with mean WTP values of $129.65 and $104.75, respectively. Latent class analysis reveals three distinct preference groups, highlighting the importance of tailored policy communication strategies to address cost sensitivity, ecological priorities, and socio-demographic variations. Moral framing significantly increased engagement, with fairness and loyalty frames reducing opt-out rates, but reduced the WTP for all program attributes. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers and water managers to design socially supported BMP programs that cater to the appropriate audiences. • Public support for BMP programs in the UFA includes strong WTP for water quantity and producer economic benefits. • Moral framing (fairness and loyalty) reduced opt-out rates but decreased WTP for all program attributes. • Strongest WTP found for producer economic impacts, with a focus on sustainable aquifer conservation. • Results highlight the importance of tailored communication strategies to engage diverse stakeholder groups.

Source: Journal of Environmental Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128026

Authors: Kotryna Klizentyte, John Lai, Sadie Hundemer, Andres Susaeta, Damian C. Adams

Institutions: University of Florida, Oregon State University

Language: English

Topic: Economic and Environmental Valuation

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750