Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Nature And Student Wellness At Grand Valley State University, Emma Cubitt

Honors Projects

This project discusses the importance of student mental wellness in relation to nature exposure. A pamphlet is provided to educate students on outdoor volunteer opportunities, as well as hiking trails within walking distance of campus.

Exploring The Effects Of Biases In Mark-Recapture Fish Abundance Estimation With Software Simulations, Christian Yap

Student Scholars Day Posters

Two-sample mark-recapture sampling is a common method used to estimate fish abundance. The idea is to capture and mark fish in an initial sample. The fish are then released to mix randomly with the whole population. A second sample is obtained, and the number of marked and unmarked fish is recorded. The Chapman estimator uses the number of fish marked in the first sample, the total number of fish captured in the second sample, and the number of recaptured fish to estimate abundance. The assumptions are: 1) the population is closed, meaning no immigration/emigration, and births/deaths occur, 2) all fish …

Using Gis To Analyze Graminoid And Shrub Composition Change From 1997 To 2017 At Atqasuk, Alaska, Rebecca Daigle

Student Scholars Day Posters

Shrubs are expanding across the Arctic due to longer growing seasons and rapidly increasing air temperatures. Likewise, graminoid height is increasing. Changes in community composition may impact critical feedback loops and result in trophic cascades. Here, we analyzed vegetation cover change at a long-term research site in Atqasuk, Alaska. We compared cover across forty-eight, one-square-meter plots between 1997 and 2017. Shrubs and graminoids increased significantly over time, while bryophytes decreased over time. Other functional groups were inconsistent or showed no trend. We mapped the shrub and graminoid vegetation change in order to examine cover trends within the context of the …

Spatial Analysis Of The Current And Potential Stormwater Management Practices On Grand Valley State University’S Allendale Campus, Kyle Hart

Honors Projects

Low impact development is an alternative to traditional urban design with the goal of reducing the amount of stormwater runoff generated from impermeable surfaces. Increased stormwater runoff can mobilize surface pollutants such as oil, road salt, and heavy metals, as well as accelerate the erosion and slope destabilization near natural waterways. Green infrastructure such as rain gardens and green roofs have been shown to remediate these pollutants and reduce the peak discharge of stormwater during storm events. This study evaluates the current stormwater management practices on the Allendale Campus of Grand Valley State University as well as provides management suggestions …

Lake Michigan Wind Assessment Analysis, 2012 And 2013, Charles R. Standridge Ph.D., David Zeitler, Aaron Clark, Tyson Spoelma, Erik E. Nordman, T. Arnold Boezaart, Jim Edmonson, Graham Howe, Guy Meadows, Aline Cotel, Frank Marsik

Peer Reviewed Articles

A study was conducted to address the wind energy potential over Lake Michigan to support a commercial wind farm. Lake Michigan is an inland sea in the upper mid-western United States. A laser wind sensor mounted on a floating platform was located at the mid-lake plateau in 2012 and about 10.5 kilometers from the eastern shoreline near Muskegon Michigan in 2013. Range gate heights for the laser wind sensor were centered at 75, 90, 105, 125, 150, and 175 meters. Wind speed and direction were measured once each second and aggregated into 10 minute averages. The two sample t-test and …

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2009 Vol 21. No 2, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Fundamentals For Using Geographic Information Science To Measure The Effectiveness Of Land Conservation Projects, Robert G. Pontius Jr., Shaily Menon, Joseph Duncan, Shalini Gupta

Other Scholarly Publications

Some humans spend a tremendous amount of effort to change landscapes from a “natural” state to a “developed” state for a variety of desirable economic uses, such as urban, agriculture, transportation, and mining. Others spend a tremendous amount of effort to prevent such development in order to conserve the landscapes for a variety of important environmental uses, such as biodiversity maintenance, carbon storage, water filtration, and landslide prevention. It would be efficient in theory if a society were to focus its development efforts at locations that give the largest economic utility per area developed, and to focus its conservation efforts …

Water Resources Review - Fall 2008, Vol 21, No. 1, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Riparian Owner's Guidebook For Watershed Management, Annis Water Resources Institute

Environmental Guidebooks and Model Ordinances

This guidebook can help riparian landowners manage and maintain their property to ensure the continued existence of safe, clean, and natural waterways. It can also provide a better understanding of problems facing our water supplies and what preventative and corrective action we as landowners can put into effect. The guidebook is divided by issues that affect water quality, with possible problems and best management practices (BMPs) mentioned for each topic.

Septic System Owner's Guidebook For System Performance, Annis Water Resources Institute

Environmental Guidebooks and Model Ordinances

This guidebook can help onsite system owners understand and care for their septic systems by explaining their basic components and function, techniques for caring for them, and where the waste goes when it is removed from the system.

Muskegon River Transition / Implementation Final Report, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly At Ferris State University, Annis Water Resources Institute

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA) in partnership with the Annis Water Resources Institute of Grand Valley State University (AWRI) was awarded funds for the Muskegon River Transition/Implementation 1 project (# 2003-0032). The grant period began on September 27, 2004 and was extended nine months until June 30th, 2007. The goals of this project were to update the Muskegon River Watershed Management Plan to meet the EPA’s newest requirements and reduce the negative impact that thermal pollution, excessive nutrients, and sediment have on the cold and warm water fisheries, as well as for other indigenous aquatic organisms of the Muskegon …

Water Resources Review - Summer 2007 Vol 20. No 1, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2007, Vol. 20, No. 2, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Review - Summer 2006 Vol 19 No 1, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2006, Vol. 19, No. 2, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Review - Summer 2005 Vol 18, No 1, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2005, Vol. 18, No. 2, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Lower Grand River Watershed Management Plan, Fishbeck, Thompson, Car & Huber, Inc.

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

A Watershed Management Plan (WMP) considers many aspects of water usage and functions, and coordinates them into a comprehensive plan for managing the activities that govern how our natural resources are utilized or viewed. A WMP is developed to provide direction and prioritize how resources are used for the management, protection, or restoration of a watershed. A watershed approach is ideal for managing water resources since they cross jurisdictions and political boundaries. Often this fluid nature of water is overlooked or taken for granted. Water flows over the ground and picks up pollutants before reaching a lake, stream, wetland, or …

Water Resources Review - Summer 2004 Vol 17 No 1, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2004, Vol. 17, No. 2, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Buck Creek Watershed Management Plan, Annis Water Resources Institute

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

The water quality goals are based on improving or restoring the designated uses of the Watershed and attaining compliance with the E. coli TMDL established in Buck Creek. The following long-term goals for the Watershed have been determined:

● Improve or restore the coldwater and coolwater fisheries
● Improve and protect the safety and enjoyment of fishing, canoeing, and swimming
● Improve or restore the warmwater fishery
● Improve and protect the habitats for other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife
The short-term objectives to reduce sediment in the Watershed are:

● Stabilize stream flows to moderate hydrology and increase base …

Water Resources Review - Summer 2003 Vol 16, No 1, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Sand Creek Watershed Project / Sand Creek Watershed Management Plan, Annis Water Research Institute

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

The overall goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to improve and protect the designated uses of the watershed. In order to achieve this overall goal and attain compliance with the TMDL established in Sand Creek, four goals have been established and prioritized. The primary goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to restore or improve the cold water fishery. The secondary goal of the project is to protect and improve the habitats of native aquatic life and wildlife. Both goals can be achieved by reducing the amount of known pollutants affecting both of these uses. Pollutant reduction …

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2003, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2002, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Review - Fall 2002 Vol 15 No 2, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems & Septage Management For Individual Homes And Small Communities, James R. Hegarty

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

The purpose of this paper is two-fold:

To identify alternatives and/or improvements to conventional septic systems for residential sewage collection and treatment for small communities and residential developments.

To research existing ordinances that require on-going management of residential and community septic systems, disposal of septage, and develop a model septic system and septage management ordinance that can apply to Kent County communities.

It is hoped that this study’s recommendations will be adopted in Kent County. Eventually, Kent County’s model program can be used to effect statewide implementation of responsible environmental policies that will improve our environment and public health. The …

Septage Disposal Ordinance For Kent County, Annis Water Resources Institute

Environmental Guidebooks and Model Ordinances

Septage Disposal Ordinance for Kent County

Ordinance To Provide Inspection And Maintenance Of On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems And On-Site Water Supply Systems, Annis Water Resources Institute

Environmental Guidebooks and Model Ordinances

Ordinance to Provide Inspection and Maintenance of On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems and On-Site Water Supply Systems

Water Resources Review - Spring 2002 Vol 15 No 1, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.