The effect of legacy pollution information on landowner investments in water quality: lessons from economic experiments in the field and the lab

To address the legacy effects of human activity on water quality, it is helpful to understand how land managers make decisions that directly impact legacy sources of pollutantion generated by previous generations, as opposed to current practices. Using data from an economic field experiment, we examine the effect of information about the cause and relative quantity of streambank erosion on rural landowners' willingness to invest in stream restoration initiatives. Data from the field is supplemented with data from laboratory sessions in which students are presented with similar decision scenarios. We find that landowners assigned to legacy sediment sites characterized by high erosion rates relative to others in the community increased investment levels by 29%-40% of their budget in comparison to the control, with similar results observed among students. Our results suggest that informational outreach targeted to pollution hot spots, including those created by legacy sources, would significantly increase investments in mitigation efforts that improve water quality.

Automated summary

Providing information on the cause and quantity of erosion can lead to increased investment in stream restoration projects by landowners and students. Targeting informational outreach towards pollution hot spots, including those with legacy sources, can significantly boost efforts to improve water quality.