Digital Commons Network^™

The Bay Area Rail System: A Sustainable Network Or A Social Equity Phenomenon?, Whitney Libunao

Master's Projects and Capstones

Sustainable transportation, as it relates to sustainable development, aims to achieve economic stability, social equity, and environmental preservation via transit projects. However, gentrification processes and transit-oriented developments or TODs have attracted more households inward toward reinvested transit-centric areas. The San Francisco Bay Area, California has continued to see positive economic growth, with that, higher-income households inhabiting more centralized locations. Native low-income residents have started to feel displacement pressures on both a social and economic scale. Over time, displacement risk inevitably leads to residential displacement where low-income families are forced to relocate to distant, more affordable neighborhoods. As more distance separates …

Challenges Of Electrifying Medium And Heavy Duty Vehicles In California And How These Challenges Can Be Overcome, Tracy Tilley

Master's Projects and Capstones

California is electrifying medium and heavy vehicles (vehicles weighing over 8,500 pounds) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide environmental justice for disadvantaged communities. These vehicles are used for delivery, construction, refuse collection or long haul trucking. The three main challenges of electrification are infrastructure, policy and funding. To address these challenges, policy analysis was used to review California’s policies already in place for electrification of medium and heavy duty vehicles. Comparative analysis was used to look at policies in other countries and environmental programs for strategies to help electrification efforts.

California faces a lack of infrastructure of medium and …

Market Viability Of An Avoided Wildfire Ghg Emission Accounting Framework For California, Justine Bui

Master's Projects and Capstones

Forests in California and elsewhere are under an increasing threat of uncharacteristically large and severe wildfires. Fuel treatments, such as tree density reduction or prescribed burns, can alter wildfire behavior and potentially reduce risk. An environmental consulting group is currently developing a probability-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting framework that would provide tools to quantify GHG benefits of fuel treatments and help fund said treatments through carbon offset credits. This framework is being developed in collaboration with key stakeholders (such as public agencies, carbon offset registries, non-profit organizations, and the private sector) in the western United States. A market assessment …

Policy Changes Impact In Deforestation Of The Brazilian Amazon, Iara Silva Jaques

Master's Projects and Capstones

Since discovered and inhabited, the Brazilian Amazon has been explored and impacted negatively by human activities. The conversion of forest to pastureland and farmland, as well as mining activities, road opening, wood and ore extraction and fire are historically the main causes of environmental damages and forest loss in the region. This project overviewed the latest changes in environmental policy and practices towards environmental protection conducted by the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, since he took office in 2019, and analyzed the progress of deforestation in the recent years under the new federal administration. Geographic Information System analysis were used to …

A Comparison Of The Efficacy Of Methane-Oxidizing Alternative Daily Landfill Covers And Policy Recommendations For Landfill Regulatory Agencies, Eric Lara

Master's Projects and Capstones

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that has 28-36 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year timespan. Recent remote sensing research conducted by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Scientific Aviation has indicated that the working face of landfills are sectors of much higher methane emissions than previously considered. A working face location, which is the area of the landfill where daily waste is deposited, lacks the engineering controls present on the rest of the landfill. Controls such as gas collection and extraction wells and substantial covers to ensure surface integrity for methane leaks are …

Examining The Intersection Of Environmental Justice, Chronic Disease, And Pandemics; How A Mobile Health App Could Improve Health Outcomes And Inform Policy, Jessica Snow

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the intersection of environmental justice, chronic disease and illness, and pandemics. The inequitable distribution of polluting factories, landfills, and hazardous waste sites have been a long-standing concern in the field of environmental justice. Local zoning codes and land use policies have been tools for segregating people and concentrating pollution in low-income communities and communities of color. Many studies have found that pollution varies among racial and minority groups, and the burden of pollution is not one that is evenly shared. Communities of color and low income communities are disproportionately affected by air …

Clean Alternatives For Household Coal - Case Study: Izmir, Turkey, Yagiz Yar

Master's Projects and Capstones

Household coal consumption during the heating season affects Izmir’s air quality adversely to the point where air quality indicators show that pollution levels exceed limit concentration values that World Health Organization set for a habitable and healthy ambient air. The objective of this paper is to evaluate alternatives that utilize low-carbon emitting methods of domestic heating fueled by renewable energy sources and develop a model which would replace household coal. Research shows that 223,969 tonnes of coal were burned in households of Izmir in 2019 and analysis results show that 2.72 million MMBtu of heat energy was supplied to these …

A Comprehensive Look At The Benefits Of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Of Native American Indigenous Communities For Fire Management Practices In Northern California, Christopher Mishima

Master's Projects and Capstones

Wildfires are currently ravaging California, destroying the land and the livelihood of many vulnerable communities. This research explores the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as a tool to aid in the fight against wildfires. Revitalization of Native American culture and traditional practices, such as prescribed burns, can transform current fire management practices. This research examined the connections among three aspects of fire management: Native American TEK, non-native ecological field studies and modelling, and current government fire policies and management practices. Through primary interviews and case studies, this research found that the Native American communities in the West have a …

Low-Carbon Rebuilding Strategies For California Communities Impacted By Wildfires, Tessa Grezdo

Master's Projects and Capstones

In recent years, California’s wildfires have intensified and communities that have been impacted by these wildfires are now beginning to rebuild. Materials that are both fire-resistant and low in embodied carbon should be used when rebuilding in fire-prone regions. Embodied carbon in buildings contributes to about 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To help California reach its climate mitigation and resilience goals, this study examined the utilization of low-carbon and fire-resistant building materials during the post-wildfire rebuilding process. Embodied emissions are significantly reduced when building designs incorporate low-carbon materials. This study examined low-carbon and fire-resistant exterior building materials that can …

Updating The Electronics Cycle: Improving Us E-Waste Management Practices, Martin Cooper

Master's Projects and Capstones

The United States is one of the largest producers of electronic waste (e-waste), partly due to a lack of federal legislation to regulate e-waste disposal and transport. Increased collection, recycling, and reuse of electronics can reduce pollution from hazardous metals and chemicals found in e-waste, lower the carbon footprint of the electronics industry, and protect the health of workers in the global waste management sector. This paper examines case studies of e-waste management strategies in European Union member nations and US states, and identifies ways to integrate those strategies in US federal and state policy. This paper finds that extended …

Energy Intensity Variation Among California Urban Water Supplies, Madeline Willett

Master's Projects and Capstones

Drought, population growth, and warmer temperatures will continue to strain and stress California's water supplies. Surface water and groundwater will not suffice as primary water supplies in the future. As California looks to build a more resilient water supply portfolio, the energy intensity of the water supplies in California could increase. This study examines 4 cities in California and their varied water supplies. Urban Water Management Plans (UWMP) are used to calculate the projected change in energy intensity of each city's supply. The results show that there is such variation in climate and water supply sources across California that there …

The Relationship Among Financial Institutions, Safeguards And Hydroelectric Dams In The Amazon, Amy Juelsgaard

Master's Projects and Capstones

Since 2015, the Amazon experienced an infrastructure boom with more than $70 billion in infrastructure projects planned in the coming years. Large-scale projects have resulted in detrimental environmental and social impacts in the region over the last fifty years. This paper uses policy analysis and case studies to examine the evolution of financial institutions and their safeguards over time and how this evolution has affected the environmental and social impacts of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon. The case studies of two hydroelectric projects, the Coca Codo Sinclair Dam in Ecuador and the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil, highlight that the …

Impacts Of Medusahead (Elymus Caput-Medusae L.) Management On Plant Communities In California’S Valley Grasslands, Nicole Carpenter

Master's Projects and Capstones

California’s valley grasslands are one of the most invaded ecosystems in the state. It is estimated that valley grasslands contain between 90 to 99% cover of non-native plants. The most recent wave of invasive plants has included medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae L.). Medusahead is an annual grass that matures two to four weeks later than most other grasses. Management of medusahead includes the use of herbicides, targeted grazing, prescribed burns, and mechanical control. The primary focus of most studies on the use of these management methods is on the control of medusahead rather than the impacts on non-target plants. This …

Effects Of Land Use On Riparian Corridors In Sonoma County, Marina Davies

Master's Projects and Capstones

Riparian corridor protection through zoning ordinances is a common best management practice to protect riparian ecosystems and function. These zoning ordinances protect riparian ecosystems by establishing setback distances where land use activities are prohibited. While management of protected riparian corridors are widely studied, recommendations for riparian corridor width vary and are often site specific. The variability of corridor widths presents a challenge to riparian corridor implementation, in addition to balancing economic needs with natural resource protection. This study evaluates the effects of land use on riparian corridors and compares the Riparian Corridor Combining Zone ordinance in Sonoma County to other …

Evaluating The Success Of Compensatory Wetland Mitigation In The California Coastal Zone, Tommy Alexander

Master's Projects and Capstones

Compensatory mitigation is a practice whereby a government agency requires the creation, restoration, enhancement, or preservation of ecological resources to offset unavoidable adverse impacts to environmentally sensitive habitat caused by some form of development. Compensatory wetland mitigation programs have slowed the rate of wetland loss in California and elsewhere, but they have largely failed to offset impacts with a sufficient amount of functional mitigation acreage. In California, more than 90% of the state’s historical wetlands have been drained, diked, filled, or dredged over the past 100 years. This report evaluates the success of compensatory wetland mitigation required by the California …

A Review Of Methods To Better Predict And Reduce The Risk Of Hurricane Damage To The Energy Sector, Zackary Litalien

Master's Projects and Capstones

In the event of a hurricane, electricity is the most important utility as it provides heat, water, food, light, communication, and medical care to communities. Research predicts an increase in frequency and strength of hurricanes with time due to climate change, which requires communities and electric utility companies to be prepared for the inevitable. This paper assesses existing methods of hurricane preparation and restoration of the electric power grid in hurricane prone locations with regards to the electric utility companies and electric distribution systems. In this study, I perform a comparative analysis between different methods of planning and forecasting electrical …

A Review Of The Methods And Metrics In Research, Implementation, And Management Of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture, Cassandra Erickson

Master's Projects and Capstones

As seafood demand rises with the growing population, methods of providing sustainable and reliable protein are needed. Wild fishery stocks have decreased so aquaculture is seen as the way to meet these growing demands. The aquaculture industry has continued to grow 8.3% every year since 1970 primarily through using intensive cultivation of a single species creating negative effects on the marine environment. An increase in nutrients from these intensive cultivations can lead to eutrophication, a decrease in oxygen, and alter the ecosystem structure and biodiversity. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) aims to offset the increased input of nutrients through fish farming …

Bull Kelp (Nereocystic Lutkeana) Restoration And Management In Northern California, Olivia Johnson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Northern California’s coastal marine ecosystems support one of the most productive and biodiverse habitats on the planet. Bull kelp forests (Nereocystic lutkeana) form habitats for an abundance of marine mammals, sea bird, fish, and invertebrates. In recent years, compounding ecological and climatic factors have disrupted the balance of the bull kelp forests and led to an unprecedented loss of bull kelp biomass and canopy cover. These areas that are typically teeming with marine life have shifted into a stable state of sea urchin barrens due to over grazing of bull kelp by purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus pupuratus). These sea urchin …

A Comparison Of Fuel Reduction Methods For Wildfire Risk Management And Climate Change Resiliency In Mixed Conifer Forests In The Sierra Nevada, Heather Navle

Master's Projects and Capstones

Wildfires in the mixed conifer forests of California’s Sierra Nevada have been a common and natural disturbance for thousands of years, historically occurring every 3 to 30 years. The flora and fauna of the mixed conifer forest have evolved to depend on low to moderate severity wildfires for reproduction, foraging, and habitat. However, the Sierra Nevada has experienced dramatic environmental changes over the past ~150 years as a result of three main factors: wildfire suppression, climate change, and habitat loss. Because of the threat wildfires pose to human lives, property and timber harvest, they have been suppressed to an extent …

The Impact Of Extreme Heat On Environmental Justice Communities In California: Assessing Equity In Climate Action Plans, Karishma S. Becha

Master's Projects and Capstones

Climate change projections suggest extreme heat events will be more frequent over the next few decades. Extreme heat has both negative environmental and social impacts as it affects energy security, public health by increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and stresses food and crop supply through prolonged droughts. The impacts of extreme heat will also disproportionately affect communities of low economic status. Because of this, there is a need for better climate action plans that can adapt to and mitigate the impacts brought upon by extreme heat that does not disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. This research analyzed local government Climate …