Digital Commons Network^™

Chinese Tallow Long-Term Impact On Stand Dynamics In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest Following Vegetation Management, Nicklaus R. Langlois

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) is an invasive tree known to have negative impacts on bottomland hardwood forests. Chinese tallow is proficient in reproducing and surviving in bottomland hardwood forests because it is more flood and shade tolerant than most native trees. The long-term effectiveness of Chinese tallow control is an important topic to research as only a few long-term studies of Chinese tallow control have been conducted. A 10-year re-measurement of 22 paired plots installed in 2012 on the Pineywoods Mitigation Bank near Diboll, Texas following herbicide treatments examined Chinese tallow and native tree stand structure. Each …

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Bres No. 125 – Child Harold-2 Dump., Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Association Between Residential Distance To Airport And Blood Lead Levels In Children Under 6 Living In North Carolina, 1992–2015, Abdul-Nasah Soale

Faculty Scholarship

Even with progress in lead poisoning prevention, research has consistently shown there is no safe blood lead level (BLL) for children.1 Behavioral and cognitive deficits are associated with lead exposure, even at low levels.2 Unfortunately, many piston-engine aircraft are still fueled by leaded aviation gas (avgas). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 5.2 million people live within 500m of an airport where avgas is used.3 Our past research in six North Carolina (NC) counties indicates that children living within 500m of airports where avgas is used have ∼4% higher BLLs than children who lived beyond 2,000m (reference group); …

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Bres No. 49 – Old Glory., Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Bres No. 74 – West Gagnon Dump., Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Bres No. 121 – Travona Dump., Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Bmfou Berkeley Pit Waterfowl Protection Program - Request For Change, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Solar Photovoltaics As Climate Change Adaptations For Farmers In West Bengal, India: Barriers Within A Food-Water-Energy Nexus Approach, Emily Rochford

Capstone Collection

This capstone research project seeks to identify and address barriers to the use of solar photovoltaics (PV) as an adaptation method to climate change for farmers in West Bengal, India. These barriers are examined within the context of the food-water-energy nexus, particularly concerning the ability of many small holder farmers to produce their own food and sustain their livelihoods. Previous studies have examined both energy access and renewable energy development in West Bengal, and also the food-water-energy nexus in its application to climate change. However, there is minimal literature on how renewable energy development should be applied within the nexus …

Impact Of Land Use Dynamics On The Water Yields In The Gorgan River Basin, Masoomeh Yaghoobi, Aram Fathi, Shahryar Fazli, Wenzhao Li, Elham Haghshenas, Vahid Shokri Kuchak, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This research investigates the future dynamics of water yield services in the Gorgan River Basin in the North of Iran by analyzing land cover changes from 1990 to 2020, using Landsat images and predicting up to 2040 with the Land Change Modeler and InVEST model under three scenarios: continuation, conservation, and mitigation. The results indicate significant shifts in agricultural land impacted water yields, which fluctuated from 324.7 million cubic meters (MCM) in 1990 to 279.7 MCM in 2010, before rising to 320.1 MCM by 2020. The study uniquely assesses the effects of land use changes on water yields, projecting a …

Approval Letter For The Request For Change (Rfc) To The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Request For Change (Rfc)-Brw-2023-03 To The Final Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Smelter Area Mine Waste Remediation And Contaminated Groundwater Hydraulic Control Site Phase Iii Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Phase Iii) (Dated June 29, 2023)., Nikia Greene

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Atlantic Richfield Company Discharge System 2023 Data Quality Assessment Berkeley Pit And Discharge Pilot Project Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Npl Site Butte Mine Flooding Operable Unit, Wsp Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Beat The Heat: Community Perspectives Around Extreme Heat In Spokane, Wa, Post-2021 Northwest Heat Dome, Jason J. Lau, Brian G. Henning, Kate Tokareva, Kaitlan Ducken, Faisal S. Malik, Tania Busch Isaksen

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

Extreme heat events are the leading weather-related causes of death in the United States. Despite heat familiarity in eastern Washington, at least 19 heat-related deaths occurred in Spokane County during the 2021 “heat dome” in the Northwest. To assess heat concerns among vulnerable groups and identify cooling access barriers, surveys were conducted with Spokane County residents from July to November 2022. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression characterized perceptions of heat, access to home cooling, and interest in public cooling for vulnerable populations. A total of 1477 adults completed the survey. Demographics were comparable to the Spokane County US Census: …

Mapping Urban Tree Canopy Using Publicly Available Satellite Data, Rosemary Mcguinness

Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the need for accessible, cost-effective tools for quantifying spatial and temporal changes in tree canopy cover in urban areas. Urban tree canopy provides a wide range of ecosystem services, including lowering air temperatures, reducing pollution, and mitigating stormwater runoff. Cities around the world have placed the expansion of their urban forests at the center of their sustainability goals. Consistent and timely data on urban tree canopy is essential for urban greening initiatives to succeed. Existing methods of accessing information about urban tree canopy are highly technical, costly, and labor-intensive, while the freely available source of tree canopy …

Impact Of Climate Change And Restoration On Phosphorus Loading In An Impaired Wetland, Katherine M. Lucas

Masters Theses

Restoring wetlands can increase biodiversity and water quality in both the wetland and connecting ecosystems; however, failing to consider past land uses can result in negative water quality effects. Prior agricultural practices at a coastal wetland restoration site in West Michigan have caused high legacy phosphorus (P) concentrations in sediments, as well as high P levels in the water column. Sediment dredging is being considered as a restoration tool to control internal phosphorus loading (IPL). In addition, climate warming is resulting in increases in both mean temperature and temperature extremes, which may affect IPL. I examined the effects of both …

Gps Accuracy Of Smartphones For Crowdsourcing Research, Derron L. Dike

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

ABSTRACT GPS Accuracy of Smartphones for Crowdsourcing Research Derron Dike Utilizing crowdsourcing with smartphones as a method for field data collection can contribute an array of data for scientific studies and land management applications. This study used crowdsourcing to examine smartphone built-in GPS performance for providing location-specific information with potential forestry applications. The usability of smartphones for GPS data collection in forestry studies or other practical applications is dependent on the level of accuracy required for those applications. A Smartphone Accuracy Trial was designed to test the GPS accuracy performance of current smartphones. Participants used the ArcGIS Field Maps application …

Renewable Energy Perception And Policy Implementation In Rural Communities: Case Studies In The Ohio And Tennessee River Valleys, Madeline Petty

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Utility-scale renewable energy development allows clean energy production to fulfill energy demand and mitigate climate change. Development of utility-scale renewable energies such as wind and solar energy requires expansive tracts of land, typically found in rural areas. Rural center communities in the United States (U.S.) exhibit unique characteristics and ideologies that influence individuals’ perceptions of renewable energy about climate change. This research aimed to understand rural residents’ perception of renewable energy by surveying six rural center communities with varying levels of renewable energy. Surveys were distributed electronically to residents in these communities via mailers, digital ads, flyers, press releases, and …

Evaluating Stormwater Erosion Prevention And Sediment Control Best Management Practices Using High-Resolution Rainfall Monitoring And Field-Based Assessment Tools, Brittany Pekara

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Advancing stormwater management methods and technology is critical as runoff from impermeable surfaces increases with urbanization and development. Stormwater runoff is highly susceptible to contamination from non-point source pollution and causing flood impacts following rain events, which varies spatially and temporally in an urban landscape. To counteract the impacts of contamination and drainage issues, Best Management Practices (BMPs) are implemented to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff; however, the unpredictable nature of storm events can make methods for effectively monitoring impacts difficult in trying to capture first flush inputs, flood threats, and sedimentation sources. This research utilizes a highresolution rainfall …

Rotary Spading To Ameliorate Soil Water Repellence, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

One-off deep cultivation can reduce the severity of soil water repellence by mixing some of the repellent topsoil into the wettable subsoil and bringing wettable subsoil to the surface.

Rotary spading or deep cultivation increases water infiltration by providing pathways for water entry; diluting the water repellent soil with non-repellent soil; increasing the breakdown of soil organic matter causing water repellence; in some soil types, spading and other deep cultivation can lift subsoil with higher clay content to the surface.

Deep cultivation increases the risk of wind and water erosion. To minimise the risk of erosion, follow the guidelines on …

A Flood Of Consequences In Louisville, Kentucky: Using Hgis To Track Refugees Impacted By The 1937 Ohio River Flood, Trevor Harry

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Ohio River flood of 1937 was the most devastating flood in the recorded history of the Ohio River Valley and is commonly referred to as the “Great Flood of 1937”. In January 1937, after nearly two months of continuous precipitation, over 60% of the city of Louisville, Kentucky, was flooded and at least 23,000 residents were displaced. The purpose of this research was to document, map, and compare the pre-flood residential locations, evacuation destinations, and post-flood residential locations of African American and White Louisville refugees from the 1937 Ohio River flood. Socioeconomic information from the manuscript versions of the …

Contaminant Transport Mechanisms And Source Tracking In Karst Groundwater Systems Under Agricultural Land Use, Shreya Pandey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Karst areas in general face severe groundwater contamination problems that can degrade their water quality. In comparison to other landscapes, groundwater within karst regions is more susceptible to contamination. The situation gets worse when agriculture is practiced in these karst regions, because the nutrients and bacteria like nitrates and E. coli (Escherichia coli) are released into the groundwater systems which contaminate the water quality of those karst groundwater systems. This research aims to study the impacts of these contaminants, specifically nitrates and E. coli., by identifying the contaminant transport mechanisms and source tracking of these contaminants in the groundwater under …

Comprehensive Climate Vulnerability Assessment Of A Regional Karst Landscape For Hazard Mitigation Planning, Kara Brunot

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Climate change is the global phenomena affecting all sectors of society by creating conditions more conducive for the occurrence of extreme weather events. It is projected that the intensity and frequency of events will increase. Flooding, in particular, is projected to increase in frequency due to more intense precipitation events. Karst landscapes are especially vulnerable to climate change impacts because of their unique hydrology and geology. Karst flooding is most likely to occur from prolonged or intense rain events, which climate change will likely make more feasible. Areas are disproportionately affected by climate change due to population demographics and environmental …

Perceptions And Visual Awareness Of Urban Karst Flooding To Inform Preparedness Planning And Management Actions, Grace Hermann

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Awareness and perception of flooding can heavily affect how an individual or community prepares for flooding. Flood awareness can be affected by factors like past flood experience and demographics. Flood experience and demographics can affect flood awareness differently based on factors including the types and cause of flooding. Flooding in karst landscapes can vary from other types of flooding and neither perception nor awareness of karst flooding has been directly studied before. This study explored both expert and non-expert flood awareness and perception and flood policies in a karst landscape through interviews with experts, surveys, and cognitive mapping activities. The …

Development And Application Of The Sinkhole Hazard Risk Index To Inform Karst Policy And Mitigation Planning, Meghan Puente

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sinkholes are geologic hazards that occur in karst landscapes and can be highly destructive and costly. Sinkhole mitigation plans and development policies are nonexistent at the federal level within the United States and vary significantly at the state level. The lack of a unified standard for sinkhole mitigation planning is partly due to a lack of available data and resources needed to assess sinkhole risk. While there are established sinkhole assessments within the literature, they focus more on the detection and prediction of sinkholes rather than a holistic approach to risk assessment. The goal of this study is to create …

Landuse And Microplastic Transport In Karst Groundwater Of South-Central Kentucky, Katie Norman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Groundwater in karst areas is susceptible to contamination from various sources of pollution. Microplastics are a prevalent source of pollution entering groundwater. This study examines karst groundwater in three areas of investigation. One point of interest is an area that is impacted by urban activities, the Lost River Groundwater Basin, which includes water drainage from the City of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Another study location is Great Onyx (GO) Spring, which is a part of the Great Onyx Groundwater Basin located in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, and that is relatively unimpacted by urban activities. The third point of interest is …

How Can Event Attribution Science Underpin Financial Decisions On Loss And Damage?, Dim Coumou, Paola A. Arias, Ana Bastos, Charlotte Kendra Z. Gotangco Gonzales, Gabriele C. Hegerl, Pandora Hope, Christopher Jack, Friederike Otto, Fahad Saeed, Olivia Serdeczny, Theodore G. Shepherd, Robert Vautard

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

With climate extremes hitting nations across the globe, disproportionately burdening vulnerable developing countries, the prompt operation of the Loss and Damage fund is of paramount importance. As decisions on resource disbursement at the international level, and investment strategies at the national level, loom, the climate science community’s role in providing fair and effective evidence is crucial. Attribution science can provide useful information for decision makers, but both ethical implications and deep uncertainty cannot be ignored. Considering these aspects, we articulate a vision that integrates established attribution methods and multiple lines of evidence within a coherent logical framework.

Developing A Controlled Traffic (Tramline) Farming System, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is a farming system built on permanent wheel tracks where the crop zone and traffic lanes are permanently separated. It can improve profitability and sustainability.

Implements for seeding, spraying, spreading and harvesting have a particular span, or multiple of it, and all wheel tracks are confined to specific traffic lanes.

CTF increases profit by more yield, better grain quality, improved operation timeliness, and reduced costs. The environment can improve, with less nutrient leaching, less water erosion, better water infiltration, and less greenhouse gas emission. Implementation needs a clear, long-term plan, and prioritisation of soil health.

Another …

The Destructive Work Of Restoration: Fishing Communities Facing Territorialization In Turag River, Efadul Huq, Mohammad Azaz

Environmental Science and Policy: Faculty Publications

Urban river restoration efforts are growing worldwide. Along with restoring and conserving rivers, riverside land is slated for public recreation, property development, and infrastructure for adaptation to climate change. Riverine landscapes, embedded in larger watershed ecosystems and claimed by multiple communities, are sites of contested planning in contemporary cities. In this paper, we advance the scholarship on contestation over control and access of urban rivers and floodplains by analyzing the role of river restorative legislation and water-centered planning in managing Turag, an urban river in Bangladesh. While river degradation in urbanizing regions is often ascribed to lack of regulatory controls …

Value Of Macroalgae As Habitat In A Eutrophic Coastal Bay, Dominika Polchowska

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Eutrophication is a phenomenon caused by changes in nutrient loading that results in harmful algal blooms, an overgrowth of macroalgae, altered aquatic benthic invertebrate communities, and loss of ecosystem functions. Barnegat Bay, NJ is a highly eutrophic system that has experienced a substantial loss of seagrass beds with subsequent expansion of drift macroalgae. Although considered poor quality, these algal beds represent valuable habitat for many benthic invertebrates. This research assesses the value of macroalgae as a habitat for macrofauna in regions where macroalgae are the dominant “vegetation.” Benthic drift algal samples were collected during June and August 2023 to reflect …

Assessing The Invasive Clinging Jellyfish: Where Are All The Polyps?, Angela Chemidlin

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Researching invasive species is vital to the health of ecosystems. Any invasion can place an ecosystem at risk of deterioration through increased competition with native species, food web changes, and community dynamic alterations. Clinging jellyfish (Gonionemus vertens) have recently emerged as a nuisance invader in New Jersey. They pose an additional threat to humans because they possess both paralysis venoms, which cause muscle seizures and intense pain, and neurotoxins that can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms. Jellyfish possess a complex life history involving sexually reproducing medusae and a cryptic asexual polyp stage. Medusae blooms occur during May and June, but locating their …

An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of Freshwater Wetlands With A Focus On Ecosystem Functions And Services, Michael Viteritto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, though they only occupy a very small portion of the planet’s surface. They are highly sensitive ecosystems that have been undergoing an extended period of loss because of anthropogenic stress. Freshwater wetlands number among the most numerous on the planet, and in the United States they make up the overwhelming majority of wetland area. Geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) are not directly connected to other surface water in a watershed. Freshwater wetlands provide a number of beneficial ecosystem services including climate control, erosion protection, nutrient removal and storage, flood control, food …