Measuring the unmeasurable

Abstract

Engineers and economists encounter measurement problems in valuing environmental tradeoffs when designing and evaluating plans and projects. Natural scientists face a different but similar dilemma - assessing quantitative and intangible values of ecosystems. Non-monetary goods and services don't have assigned monetary values. It is difficult to determine within any degree of confidence the 'real' monetary values of non-marketed goods and services, especially the ecological, cultural, and aesthetic attributes of natural and cultural resources. Some resources could be priceless. Economists, engineers, and ecologists should observe two rules during a planning or decision process that involves resources that are difficult to measure. Recognize that you can't optimize. Optimization under the best circumstances is only theoretical. The search for the ideal is the enemy of the better. Efforts can be better used to determine how change can benefit society. Avoid the critical zone. The critical zone is that range of use rates where it is technically, biologically, or economically difficult to reverse depletion or damage to the resource. The Corps should avoid actions that cause the attributes of resources to become threatened. Avoidance of the critical zone is a rule to implement the directive in the National Environmental Policy Act to avoid actions that may cause irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources.