This study undertakes an economic welfare analysis using a cost-benefit framework that assesses the total impacts to societal welfare. Using the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Rouge River Watershed: Scenario Modeling and Analysis Report, 2007 as a case study and a total economic value (TEV) framework as the valuation approach, the costs and benefits of two future land development scenarios – sustainable communities and full build-out – are analyzed. These results are extrapolated to the Golden Horseshoe area and then used to estimate the impacts of the two development scenarios on Lake Ontario.

(Note: Click on “Assessing the Economic value of Protecting the Great Lakes Ecosystem” to be directed to the document)