Merging economics, environmental science, and local knowledge to inform lake decision-making

Freshwater lakes are increasingly threatened by cultural eutrophication, caused by human activities such as agriculture and sewage outflows that over-fertilize waterbodies with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, often triggering harmful algal blooms (HABs). Addressing these issues—which are both complex and costly—requires informed decision-making. Economic valuation of lake ecosystem services can contribute to informed decision-making by estimating the benefits of lake restoration and identifying acceptable trade-offs amongst ecosystem services—especially when designed using economics, environmental science, and local knowledge. We present a case study of collaboration with a community using an economic tool known as a discrete choice experiment survey to assess community preferences and willingness to pay for restoring a Canadian lake facing worsening water quality. Results show economic benefits of restoration far outweigh the costs, as well as strong preferences for non-use ecosystem services like biodiversity, highlighting the collective value placed on lake health in this community and contributing to targeted management efforts. These results contribute to the growing literature showing substantial benefits to society from restoring lakes, and showcase the value of drawing on multiple ways of knowing to guide environmental decision-making.