The Environmental Protection Agency has released a new fact sheet that highlights examples from existing peer-reviewed literature and studies as part of its Healthy Watersheds initiative describing the economic benefits of protecting healthy watersheds . EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Initiative is intended to protect the Nation’s remaining healthy watersheds, prevent them from becoming impaired and accelerate restoration successes. It encourages interested states to take a strategic, systems approach to protecting healthy watersheds that recognizes the dynamic and interconnected nature of aquatic ecosystems. The fact sheet describes studies that demonstrate how protecting healthy watersheds can reduce capital costs for water treatment plants and reduce damages to property and infrastructure caused by flooding, thereby avoiding future costs. Examples in the fact sheet also show that protecting healthy watersheds can generate revenue through property value premiums, recreation and tourism. This fact sheet directs readers to important resources to learn more about the substantial efforts to monetize ecosystem services from across the country. It also is a resource for those doing outreach to promote the protection of healthy watersheds. 

The fact sheet is available at:  http://www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds.