Banking on Nature: The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation
McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Description McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge supplies important feeding and resting habitat for migrating and wintering populations of waterfowl. Established in 1980, the 58,000 acre McFaddin NWR consists of the largest remaining freshwater marsh on the Texas Coast and thousands of acres of intermediate to brackish marsh. Bayous weave through a seemingly endless expanse of cordgrass, reptilian eyes at the water’s surface witness the ever-changing variety of waterfowl, and the call of the clapper rail reverberates through the marsh. For hundreds of years, many of the sights and sounds within this dynamic eco-system have gone untouched. Area Economy McFaddin NWR is located in Texas in the gulf coast region near the Louisiana border. Table 2-36 shows the area economy. The area population increased by 10 percent from 2001 to 2011, compared with a 20 percent increase for Texas and a 9 percent increase for the U.S. as a whole. Area employment increased by 14 percent from 2001 to 2011, with Texas showing a 20 percent increase and the U.S. a 6 percent increase. Per capita income in the area increased by 17 percent over the 2001-2011 period, while Texas,and the U.S. increased by 8 and 5 percent respectively. Table 2-36. McFaddin NWR: Summary of Area Economy, 2011 (Population & Employment in 000’s; Per Capita Income in 2011 dollars) Population
County
2011
Employment
Percent change 2001-2011
2011
Per Capita Income
Percent change 2001-2011
2011
Percent change 2001-2011
Chambers TX
35.6
33%
13.5
41%
$48,969
37%
Galveston TX
295.7
16%
139.0
19%
$43,444
12%
Jefferson TX
252.8
1%
155.9
9%
$38,712
19%
Area Total
584.1
10%
308.4
14%
$41,732
17%
25,674.7
20%
14,611.5
20%
$40,147
8%
311,591.9
9%
175,834.7
6%
$41,560
5%
Texas United States
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce November 2012. Activity Levels Table 2-37 shows the recreation visits for McFaddin NWR. The Refuge had 26,801 visits in 2011. The majority of visits were attributed to saltwater fishing activities. Residents accounted for 91 percent of all Refuge visits.
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