A new report adds to a growing stack of studies showing that public lands can have a huge impact on local economies. Chris Mehl is with the nonprofit research group Headwaters Economics, and author of a report that analyzed the employment picture in Grand County, which encompasses Moab, as well as Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
"We found that almost half, 47 percent of private jobs in the county are supported by tourism and recreation on these public lands, like the national parks, the forest service land, the BLM land," Mehl said.
Mehl said his research found that the booming tourism and recreation sectors have also driven job gains and earnings in other sectors. He said job growth increased over 50 percent in healthcare, finance and insurance, between 2001 and 2013. He said during the same period, per capita income rose from about $28,000 to $40,000 a year.
Mehl said a key challenge facing Grand County leaders is how to best invest in infrastructure and services that will continue to grow and diversify the economy.
"Expand the airport. Look to continuing ed., maybe a community college or some classes for adult retraining or education, to try and lock this in and continue to expand so it's not just tourism and recreation-based,” Mehl said.
He adds that the economic benefits tied to public lands reach beyond the Moab area. Citing research from the National Parks Conservation Association, Mehl said that in 2013, national parks throughout Utah attracted nearly 9 million visitors, who spent nearly $600 million, which supported more than 9,000 private-sector jobs.