A new report, “Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands & Waters: A Valuable American Asset,” released by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), presents a view of how federally funded public lands and waterways fuel the U.S. economy.

The analysis, conducted by Southwick Associates, underscores that conserving and maintaining access to America’s natural resources for recreation is a good for business imperative and consistent, high-return investment for health and economic growth.

“Outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters isn’t just about life-changing experiences; it contributes to our economy in a major way and is one of our greatest investments in people and communities. When we care for these special places and keep them public, they give back tenfold, fueling local economies, strengthening rural businesses, improving public health, and connecting us to our shared outdoor heritage. This new report shows that access to outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters can sustain our nation’s well-being and prosperity for generations to come,” said Jessica Turner, president of ORR.

Outdoor recreation “generates $1.2 trillion in economic output and supports approximately 5 million U.S. jobs annually,” according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Key findings in the ORR report show:

  • $351 million is added to the U.S. economy daily from recreation on federally funded public lands and waterways, equivalent to hosting eight Super Bowls every month in terms of economic impact.
  • Through receipts, permits, entrance fees, leases, and other payments, outdoor recreation on federally funded public lands and waterways directly contributes at least $500 million annually to federal coffers.
  • Maintaining federally funded public lands and waterways for outdoor recreation is an investment that yields significant returns, including $128 billion in economic activity and nearly $6 billion in federal tax revenue, while also contributing to the physical and mental health of Americans.
  • Of the 5 million American jobs created by outdoor recreation, one in five depends on federally funded public lands and waterways.
  • Outdoor recreation on federally funded public lands and waterways is a sustainable and appreciable asset that delivers compounding returns for the U.S. economy, supports public health, and safeguards opportunities for future generations.

“Federal public lands and waters are the foundation of the outdoor recreation economy. We wanted to quantify what that really means, so this appreciating and sustainable asset can be considered on America’s balance sheet, said Whitney Porter Schwartz, senior vice president at ORR.

“What we found is that access to outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters contributes an average of $351 million to the economy every day. “The data underscores that conserving and maintaining access to these landscapes and waterways is not only a business imperative but also a consistent, high-return investment in the nation’s health and economic growth,” continued Schwartz.

To view the full report, go here.

Image courtesy The Lost Coast, King Range National Conservation Area, California