Socioeconomic Value of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Delaware

Abstract

The Chesapeake Bay watershed in Delaware (1) contributes over $2 billion in annual economic activity from benefits associated with water quality, water supply, ecotourism, recreation, agriculture, forest, open space, and navigation, (2) provides annual ecosystem value of natural goods and services of $3.4 billion (in 2010 dollars) with a net present value (NPV) of $109.6 billion over a perpetual lifetime, and (3) is directly/indirectly responsible for 47,000 jobs with $1.2 billion in annual salaries.