Chis Huber is an economist whose work focuses on the economic valuation of nonmarketed natural resources and regional economic impact modeling.
Chris’ research spans a variety of topics, including ecosystem services, ecological restoration, outdoor recreation, water resources, Wilderness, natural hazards, and preferences and values held by Tribal communities. Primary research methods include the use of socioeconomic surveys, focus groups, and benefit transfer methods. Chris has worked with partners both within and outside of the Department of the Interior, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and nonprofit organizations.
Education
- M.S. Colorado State University, Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2012
- B.S. Colorado State University, Agricultural Economics, 2010
Science and Products
About the Social and Economic Analysis (SEA) Branch
Economic Implications of Sagebrush Treatment and Restoration Practices Across the Great Basin and Wyoming
Economics and Ecosystem Services
Tools for Public Land Managers
Jobs and Business Activity
Economics of Outdoor Recreation
Economics of Invasive Species
Value of Science
Wildlife Economics
Economics of Ecological Restoration
Economics of Wildland Fire
Water Economics
Economic benefits supported by surface water in eastern Oregon’s Harney Basin
Economic assessment of surface water in the Harney Basin, Oregon
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report
Valuing tourism to a historic World War II national memorial
Economic impacts of Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative Conservation projects in Wyoming
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Economic effects of wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
Value of migratory bird recreation at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2017 annual report
Methods of environmental valuation
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Science
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About the Social and Economic Analysis (SEA) Branch
The Social and Economic Analysis (SEA) branch is an interdisciplinary group of scientists whose primary functions are to conduct both theoretical and applied social science research, provide technical assistance, and offer training to support the development of skills in natural resource management activities.Economic Implications of Sagebrush Treatment and Restoration Practices Across the Great Basin and Wyoming
USGS and Colorado State University researchers are conducting analyses and predictions of sagebrush recovery in the Great Basin and Wyoming and assess the role of weather, soils, and reseeding treatments.Economics and Ecosystem Services
Federal policymakers and land managers are accountable to the public for how they use public resources and for the outcomes of policy and management decisions. Through a variety of economic analyses and custom modeling, SEA economists evaluate how investments and management decisions affect individuals, local communities, and society as a whole.Tools for Public Land Managers
Fort Collins Science Center Economists support numerous web applications that convey information and data to specific audiences. An important aspect of many of these tools is to connect practitioners and other stakeholders to resources.Jobs and Business Activity
Department of the Interior programs and activities generate and support jobs and business activity in local economies.Economics of Outdoor Recreation
Planning and managing recreation areas is a series of choices, and not a day goes by that that manager doesn’t face a question, which at its roots, is often economic.Economics of Invasive Species
In managing invasive species, land managers and policy makers need information to help allocate scarce resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.Value of Science
The science conducted across the USGS affects the well-being of hundreds of millions of Americans. However, it is challenging to quantify the value of this science, and better understanding and communication of this value is often needed.Wildlife Economics
From the benefits of tourism and hunting, to the protection of rare and endangered species, economics can play an important role in understanding humans’ relationship with wildlife.Economics of Ecological Restoration
Beyond the impacts to jobs and business activities, economics can play an important role in understanding the return on project investments by studying the benefits of project outcomes to society.Economics of Wildland Fire
In recent decades, wildfires have increased in size and intensity, and the fire season has lengthened. This and other factors have increased wildfire suppression costs and risks to human health and safety. SEA economists investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources, and property.Water Economics
Water is associated with numerous ecosystem services, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values. - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 31
Economic benefits supported by surface water in eastern Oregon’s Harney Basin
The Harney Basin is a closed river basin in southeastern Oregon. Surface water in the basin is used for a variety of social, economic, and ecological benefits. While some surface water uses compete with one another, others are complementary or jointly produce multiple beneficial outcomes. The objective of this study is to conduct a baseline economic assessment of surface water in the Basin as it rEconomic assessment of surface water in the Harney Basin, Oregon
Executive SummaryThe Harney Basin is a closed river basin in southeastern Oregon. Surface water in the basin is used for a variety of social, economic, and ecological benefits. While some surface water uses compete with one another, others are complementary or jointly produce multiple beneficial outcomes. The objective of this study is to conduct an economic assessment of surface water in the basiU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2007 as a collaborative interagency partnership to develop and implement science-based conservation actions. During the past 11 years, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implement a long-term (more than 10 years) science-basValuing tourism to a historic World War II national memorial
This study contributes to the existing literature on valuing visitation to an important cultural heritage site. Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii remembers and honors those that served the United States in the Pacific battles of World War II. Although historic and cultural monuments and memorials comprise a substantial portion of the U.S. National Park System, there is little research intoEconomic impacts of Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative Conservation projects in Wyoming
Executive SummaryThis report estimates the economic impacts on the Wyoming economy from investments made by the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) on conservation and restoration projects. The WLCI has been working in southwestern Wyoming since 2007 to coordinate science and management decisions among government and private entities that invest in conservation projects aimed at restoSustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Federal agencies need credible scientific information to determine the production and value of ecosystem services in an efficient and timely manner. The U.S. Geological Survey addresses this scientific information need through the Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative project. The project has relied on U.S. Geological Survey expertise related to water, fisheries, advanced modeling, and econoEconomic effects of wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
Investments in landscape-scale restoration and fuels management projects can protect publicly managed trusts, enhance public health and safety, and help to preserve the many environmental goods and services enjoyed by the public. These investments can also support jobs and generate business sales activities within nearby local economies. This report investigates how investments made by the Rio GraValue of migratory bird recreation at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico
Each fall, thousands of Rocky Mountain Sandhill Cranes and other migratory birds congregate at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley in search of wintering habitat. As such, this refuge is known as one of the premier destinations for bird viewing and photography in the United States. Using contingent valuation data, this case study quantifies the value asU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2017 annual report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2008 to address the scientific and conservation questions associated with land use changes because of energy development and other factors in southwest Wyoming. Over the past decade, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implemMethods of environmental valuation
Commensurate valuation of market and nonmarket public goods allows for a more valid benefit-cost analysis. Economic methods for valuing nonmarket public goods include actual behavior-based revealed preference methods, such as the hedonic property method for urban-suburban public goods and travel cost models for outdoor recreation. For valuing proposed public goods for which there is no current behNon-USGS Publications**
Keske, C.M.H., T. Iverson, G. Graff, S. Evans, L. Hans, A. Brandess, C. Huber. 2010. “Designing a Technology-Neutral, Benefit-Pricing Policy for the Electric Power Sector in Colorado.” Prepared for the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office by Colorado States University, Grant#: 10-136. December. https://instaar.colorado.edu/uploads/publications/keske-et-al-2010-geo-tech-report.pdf.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.