Kip Kendrick, Presiding Commissioner

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner

Roger B. Wilson

Boone County Government Center

801 E. Walnut St., Rm 333

Columbia, MO 65201-7732

(573) 886-4305 (573) 886-4311

Boone County
Commission

Boone County News Release

Return on Environment Study for the Greater Bonne Femme Watershed Demonstrates Significant Financial Impact

COLUMBIA, Mo. (July 16, 2025) - A recent study conducted by the Greater Bonne Femme Watershed Initiative demonstrates the impact of protected open space by converting benefits into dollars. Open space, such as public parks, trails, natural habitats, and farmland, is often seen as a recreational asset, but it is much more. The Return on Environment Study examined the value of natural resources, ecosystem services, and community sentiment. The study demonstrates that protected open space generates more than $836 million annually in savings, earnings, and avoided costs by translating these benefits into dollar amounts.

The Return on Environment Study (ROE) does not seek to replace the intrinsic or emotional value people associate with nature. However, providing monetary value to these natural system services provides a common language more people can understand and use to communicate. This tool can inform decisions concerning land use, economic development, safety, and utility costs. The environmental actions and decisions made today will shape the well-being of future generations. The ROE provides government officials, businesses, and residents with a clearer perspective on these areas' hidden value.

The Greater Bonne Femme Watershed encompasses an area from southern Columbia to northern Ashland and extends to the Missouri River. The watershed is home to many notable features, including Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Three Creeks Conservation Area, Outstanding State Resource Waters, caves, and agricultural lands.

The findings from the Return on Environment Study will shape the development of the Watershed Management Plan for the Greater Boone Femme Watershed, which outlines a path forward for restoring and protecting water resources within the Greater Bonne Femme Watershed for future generations. The plan will be available for public comment by the end of 2025. To read the Return on Environment Study and learn more about the Greater Bonne Femme Watershed Initiative, visit www.Cavewatershed.org.

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