Economic analysis of the Mountain Fork River trout fishery in southeastern Oklahoma using travel cost method

cope and method of study. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) established a put-and-take trout stocking program at the Mountain Fork River (MFR) below Broken Bow Dam in southeastern Oklahoma beginning January 1, 1989. On a biweekly basis, 3850 rainbow trout are being stocked for trout fishing. An economic evaluation of the MFR trout fishery is required to assess feasibility of the project, to justify current and future public expenditures, and resource use. Nonmarket valuation method--travel cost method (TCM)--was employed to estimate the benefits of the MFR trout fishery. Required survey data for the empirical analysis were obtained via a series of survey measurements (pressure count, creel, and telephone). Costs of the project were identified and combined with the benefits to estimate an overall benefit-cost ratio for the fishery. Characteristic data of anglers were obtained.;Findings and conclusions. Individual observation TCM of the classical type model was used for the analysis. Annual number of trips has increased for each of the three years (1989-1991) and is currently at about 11,000 per year. Seasonal variation in angler trips is significant with anglers taking more trips in winter compared to other seasons. Costs of the MFR trout fishery include operation and maintenance of the project, release of cold water from the Broken Bow Lake, and prior fishing activities in the MFR below the Broken Bow Dam (opportunity costs of the project). The MFR trout fishery generated roughly...