The Economic Contribution of Recreation in the Middle Colorado Watershed

This is a 2018 economic impact report by Earth Economics for the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, quantifying the value of outdoor recreation (hiking, rafting, hunting, fishing, etc.) within the Middle Colorado River Watershed. It finds that recreation activity generates roughly $139 million in annual spending, supporting about 972 jobs, $43 million in GDP contribution, and $6 million in state and local tax revenue for Garfield County — with river-based recreation alone accounting for a notable subset of those totals (~$32 million spent, 321 jobs, $15 million GDP).