Impact of Water Quality at the Beach on Disadvantaged Communities in Rhode Island

Abstract

Urbanization and agriculture have degraded US coastal waters, causing beach closures and disparities in access to clean beaches. This study examines racial and income disparities in how water quality affects recreational beach use in the northeastern United States, using cell phone mobility data and satellite-derived water clarity measures. Results from a multiple-site zonal travel cost model show that improved water clarity increases beach visitation, with larger benefits accruing to more affluent, less diverse communities. These findings suggest that the recreational benefits of water quality improvements are inequitably distributed and have implications for policies prioritizing disadvantaged coastal communities.