IV-448 



Recreational loss would have to be measured in terms of how many 

 people don't swim or go boating in the Potomac River because it 

 is polluted. It is far easier to find out how many people dp_ go 

 there even if it is polluted; even these values are hard to find. 



The value of estuarine habitat is just as difficult to establish. 

 There are now about 5.5 million acres of important estuarine marsh 

 and wetland habitat remainina in the estuarine zone of the United 

 States. Perhaps each acre is not valuable by itself, but the total 

 habitat is irreplaceable. The problem of measuring the value can 

 be illustrated by this example: 



A poor worker had been given a loaf of bread for 

 his supper. On his way home he met along the road 

 several friends who each asked for a slice of bread. 

 Being generous, and since a single slice of bread is 

 a small thing, he gave each of them a slice. When he 

 arrived home he had only the wrappinq left. Since his 

 family couldn't eat that, they went supperless to bed. 



How valuable is a slice of bread? 

 How valuable is an acre of estuary? 



DAMAGE TO MARSH HABITAT 

 Delaware Bay 



The following example shows how, in the Delaware Bay system, there 



