Thanks to Sera Janson Zegre, Project Manager from Downstream Strategies who asked us to distribute this call to action.

I am writing to ask for your help with an important study seeking to calculate the economic benefits of water-based recreation on the North Branch of the Potomac.

Background:
Sponsored by Garrett County, Maryland (fiscal agent), Appalachian Regional Commission, Maryland Department of the Environment, and Maryland Division of Natural Resources, this research seeks to calculate the local economic benefits generated from water-based recreation on the North Branch Potomac River, made possible by the clean-up of acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned mine lands in Garrett and Allegany counties. Results will inform future funding decisions so that remediation continues. We are surveying different user groups (e.g., boaters, anglers) of the North Branch to determine how much they value the clean water.

Request:
We need boaters and anglers to complete a short (10 minute) survey; it doesn’t matter if you’ve been to the area or not.

If you’d like to participate, please email sera@downstreamstrategies.com and provide the following:

(1) your email address (to which we will send an individualized, randomized link to the online survey),

(2) where you heard about this survey

Your email will only be used for the purposes of this survey. Your survey response will be kept confidential; participation is voluntary.

Thanks in advance to those who are interested!

Sera Janson Zegre, Downstream Strategies
www.downstreamstrategies.com

Note: This survey will end on August 31, 2010