Citation:

Angradi, T., J. Launspach, AND M. Wick. Human well-being and natural capital indicators for Great Lakes waterfront revitalization. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH. International Association for Great Lakes Research, Ann Arbor, MI, 48(4):1104-1120, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2022.04.016

Impact/Purpose:

This research product provides a rationale for and evidence supporting the use of existing natural capital and human well-being data for designing and assessing waterfront revitalization and related projects in the Great Lakes. This information will be useful to communities, practitioners, and agencies responsible for sustainable waterfront revitalization. This is the first attempt we are aware of to examine the use of non-economic objective data as indicators of revitalization outcomes.

Description:

Revitalization of natural capital amenities at the Great Lakes waterfront can result from sediment remediation, habitat restoration, climate resilience projects, brownfield reuse, economic redevelopment and other efforts. Practical indicators are needed to assess the cultural, health, and socioeconomic benefits of these investments. We compiled US census-tract scale data for five Great Lakes communities: Duluth/Superior, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Cleveland. We downloaded data from the US Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and non-governmental organizations. We compiled a final set of 19 human well-being (HWB) metrics and 26 metrics representing attributes of natural and seminatural amenities (natural capital). We rated the reliability of metrics according to their consistency of correlations with metrics of the other type (HWB vs. natural capital) at the census-tract scale, how often they were correlated in the expected direction, strength of correlations, and other attributes. Among the highest rated HWB indicators were measures of mean health, mental health, home ownership, home value, life success, and educational attainment. Highest rated natural capital metrics included tree cover and impervious surface metrics, walkability, density of recreational amenities, and shoreline type. Two sociodemographic covariates, household income and population density, had a strong influence on the strength of associations between HWB and natural capital and must be included in any assessment of change in HWB benefits at the waterfront. Our findings are a starting point for applying already available HWB and natural capital indicators in a waterfront revitalization context.

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