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<br />1533 <br /> <br />SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS AND ISSUES <br /> <br />INTERPRETATION <br /> <br />Sociological and economic issues about water quality, fisheries, and the like, need to be <br />distinguished from the environmental or biological aspects which are being addressed <br />separately in the larger study. The focus here is on the consequences, for example, of a <br />decrease in water quality "to people, their communities, and their overall quality of life." <br />Therefore, interpretation of these data involves categorizing issues (raw data) into sets of salient <br />social and economic consequences for the people affected. The issues associated with the <br />overall project have been grouped into the following categories: <br /> <br />. Impacts of Decreasing Water Quality <br /> <br />The ranking impacts pertaining to water quality are those that affect economic well being, <br />potential for growth, and quality of life issues. <br /> <br /> <br />related to TMDL <br /> <br />Score <br />13 <br />9 <br />2 <br />5 <br />3 <br />1 <br />5.5 <br /> <br />If water quality decreases, municipalities downriver, many of them already economically <br />depressed, will incur higher costs for water treatment. Crop yields may decrease in an <br />already fragile agricultural economy. The ability to attract new iridustry, much needed to <br />boost economies in those communities, will be impaired. The attractiveness of such <br />communities to potential new residents and young professionals (i.e. doctors, much needed <br />to improve the quality of life in some communities) may also be impaired if water quality <br />(taste, health issues) is seen as a problem. Decreased water quality would also affect <br />recreational opportunities and amenities important to quality of life. <br /> <br />. Impacts on Water Management <br /> <br />Greater storage capacity has the potential to improve organizational cooperation and <br />effectiveness of water management organizations. Belter water management tools would <br />provide easier management, benefiting agriculture and other users during drought periods, <br />as well as potentially easing some existing conflicts between different user groups. <br /> <br /> <br />Score <br />23 <br />3 <br />13 <br /> <br />Page 7 01 10 <br />