Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons^™

An Analysis Of Simulated Long-Term Soil Moisture Data For Three Land Uses Under Contrasting Hydroclimatic Conditions In The Northern Great Plains, Rezaul Mamood, Kenneth G. Hubbard

High Plains Regional Climate Center: Staff Publications

Soil moisture (SM) plays an important role in land surface and atmosphere interactions. It modifies energy balance near the surface and the rate of water cycling between land and atmosphere. The lack of observed SM data prohibits understanding of SM variations at climate scales under varying land uses. However, with simulation models it is possible to develop a long-term SM dataset and study these issues. In this paper a water balance model is used to provide a quantitative assessment of SM climatologies for three land uses, namely, irrigated corn, rain-fed corn, and grass, grown under three hydroclimatic regimes in Nebraska. …

An Agricultural Drought Risk-Assessment Model For Corn And Soybeans, Hong Wu, Kenneth G. Hubbard, Donald A. Wilhite

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society. Published by Wiley InterScience. Used by permis-sion.

Drought Monitoring Using Data Mining Techniques: A Case Study For Nebraska, Usa, Tsegaye Tadesse, Donald A. Wilhite, Sherri K. Harms, Michael J. Hayes, Steve Goddard

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Drought has an impact on many aspects of society. To help decision makers reduce the impacts of drought, it is important to improve our understanding of the characteristics and relationships of atmospheric and oceanic parameters that cause drought. In this study, the use of data mining techniques is introduced to find associations between drought and several oceanic and climatic indices that could help users in making knowledgeable decisions about drought responses before the drought actually occurs. Data mining techniques enable users to search for hidden patterns and find association rules for target data sets such as drought episodes. These techniques …

Land For Maine's Future Program: Increasing The Return On A Sound Public Investment, Richard Barringer, Hugh Coxe, Jack Kartez, Catherine Reilly, Jonathan Rubin

Economics and Finance

Maine is nowhere a more special place than in the quality of its landscape and the traditions of its land use. Among the mo st privately-owned of all the states, Maine’s natural diversity and beauty combine with its traditions of resource stewardship, open access, and appreciation of nature to distinguish it in the public mind and national imagination. In recent decades, however, these traditions have come under assault from the forces of economic and social change; and the people of Maine have responded. In 1986, Governor Joseph Brennan’s Special Commission on Outdoor Recreation recognized the growing threats to Maine’s natur …

2004 File Geodatabase Containing Photo Point Locations, Aerial Photos, And Flight Maps, City Of Tampa Department Of Sanitary Sewers Bay Study Group, Pete Reehling, Richard Mckenzie

Data Sets

The Bay Study Group was created by the City of Tampa in 1976 to monitor the effects of pollution abatement that occurred in Hillsborough Bay when the city’s wastewater treatment plant was upgraded from primary to advanced treatment in 1979. The Bay Study Group documented a remarkable restoration of water quality parameters and biological indicators in Hillsborough Bay from the mid 1980s until 2009, when it was disbanded. This zip Geodatabase file contains the photo point locations, aerial photos, and flight maps for the year 2004.

2004 File Geodatabase Containing Aerial Photos, Pete Reehling, Richard Mckenzie, City Of Tampa Department Of Sanitary Sewers Bay Study Group

Images

The Bay Study Group was created by the City of Tampa in 1976 to monitor the effects of pollution abatement that occurred in Hillsborough Bay when the city’s wastewater treatment plant was upgraded from primary to advanced treatment in 1979. The Bay Study Group documented a remarkable restoration of water quality parameters and biological indicators in Hillsborough Bay from the mid 1980s until 2009, when it was disbanded. This zip Geodatabase file contains the aerial photos for the year 2004.

A Comparison Of Aviris And Landsat For Land Use Classification At The Urban Fringe, Rutherford V. Platt, Alexander F.H. Goetz

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

In this study we tested whether AVIRIS data allowed for improved land use classification over synthetic Landsat ETM+ data for a location on the urban-rural fringe of Colorado. After processing the AVIRIS image and creating a synthetic Landsat image, we used standard classification and post-classification procedures to compare the data sources for land use mapping. We found that, for this location, AVIRIS holds modest, but real, advantages over Landsat for the classification of heterogeneous and vegetated land uses. Furthermore, this advantage comes almost entirely from the large number of sensor spectral bands rather than the high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).

Investigation Into The Use Of Bait Stations For The Control Of The European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) In The Urban Bushland Reserve Of Bold Park, Perth, Western Australia, Malin Kordes

Theses : Honours

European rabbits in Australia have a significant impact on the environment and the economy. It is therefore necessary to implement control programs. In rural areas a number of methods including warren ripping and poisoning are frequently used. In urban areas though, rabbit control is not as easily accomplished because the use of many control methods is not appropriate. For example, the poison 1080 often cannot be used due to public health concerns and warren ripping cannot be used in conservation areas. Poisoning with pindone, an anticoagulant, is therefore one of few options available to the managers of urban reserves. However, …

Environmental Gradients, Community Boundaries, And Disturbance The Darlingtonia Fens Of Southwestern Oregon, Deborah A. Tolman

Dissertations and Theses

The Darlingtonia fens, found on serpentine soils in southern Oregon, are distinct communities that frequently undergo dramatic changes in size and shape in response to a wide array of environmental factors. Since few systems demonstrate a balance among high water tables, shallow soils, the presence of heavy metals, and limited nutrients, conservative efforts have been made to preserve them. This dissertation investigates the role of fire on nutrient cycling and succession in three separate fens, each a different time since fire. I specifically analyze the spatial distributions of soil properties, the physical and ecological characteristics of ecotones between Jeffrey pine …

The Effects Of Environmentally Relevant Doses Of Perchlorate (Clo4-) On Rana Pipiens Metamorphosis And Development, Andrea N. Golli

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of perchlorate on the development and growth of Rana pipiens. Ammonium perchlorate is a rocket fuel oxidizer that is known to interfere with the function of the thyroid gland and some of the highest United States surface water concentration exists in the Las Vegas Wash, NV. Perchlorate not only blocks the body’s ability to incorporate iodine into T3 and T4 hormones through the sodium iodine symporter system, but also depletes the thyroid glands’ internal stores of iodine. Many of the steps that regulate metamorphosis in amphibians …

Groundwater Trends In The Kent-Frankland Sub-Region, Arjen Ryder

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions. Kent-Frankland covers the catchments of the Frankland, Gordon and Kent' Rivers. Approximately two-thirds (450,000 ha) has been cleared for agriculture. This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management on agricultural land.

Soil-landscape zones are spatial units based on geology and geomorphology. Since most groundwater processes in WA are controlled by the geologic and regolith properties, these zones can be used for allocating hydrological attributes, such as groundwater characteristics and trends. The hydrological …

Groundwater Trends In The Albany Hinterland Sub-Region, Arjen Ryder

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions The Albany Hinterland is in the western portion (see Figure 1). It is bounded by the Pallinup River in the east. Stirling Ranges to the north and the Kent River catchment boundary in the west. Two-thirds (580.000 ha) of the sub-region has been cleared for agriculture This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management within the agricultural land

Soil-landscape zones are spatial units based on geology and geomorphology. Since most groundwater processes …

Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Response To Wetland Acidification On The Swan Coastal Plain, Jill Woodhouse

Theses : Honours

Wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) are acidifying because extended drying periods have exposed and oxidised sulphidic sediments creating sulphuric acid and lowering wetland pH. This appears to be the ecological equivalent of both Northern Hemisphere acid rain in lakes and streams, and acid mine drainage. This research aims to describe the characteristic acidic macroinvertebrate faunal assemblage of the SCP by identifying acidophobic and acidophilic taxa, and to examine their potential as indicators of acidification for routine biological monitoring. Four linked approaches were used in the study - analysis of a database, investigation of acidified wetland case studies, wetland …

Colorado College State Of The Rockies Report Card, Walter E. Hecox, F. Patrick Holmes

Publications (SD)

No abstract provided.

Impacts At The Coast: Climate Change Influences On Lake Huron's Water Levels At Oliphant (Ontario), Kevin Tupman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Since 1998, climate change induced low water levels in the Great Lakes have caused environmental and socioeconomic impacts along most of the Great Lakes' shorelines. According to recent climate change research involving different water level scenarios, climate change over the next century may continue to cause water levels in the Great Lakes to decline. Such impacts may include wider shorelines, drying of coastal wetlands, and navigation hazards that may result in increased dredging activities. These impacts will have a strong influence on new shoreline management policies and planning. To better understand potential future impacts, a specific methodology was developed to …

Natural History Of The Mole Salamander Ambystoma Talpoideum In Virginia, Michael Scott Hayslett

Theses & Honors Papers

The Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) has been known from Virginia for over two decades, but no intensive research on this state-rare species had been pursued prior to this project. Various aspects of mole salamander natural history were studied over a seven-year period throughout a seven-county area of central Virginia. New state distribution records for the species were recorded from Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Nelson, and Pittsylvania Counties. These records include a range of extension with the most northern occurrence known for this species in the United States.

Drift fence/pitfall trap studies were conducted on three ponds in two …

The Translocation Of Golden Perch, Murray Cod And Australian Bass, Into And Within Western Australia, For The Purposes Of Recreational Stocking, Domestic Stocking And Commercial And Non-Commercial Aquaculture. A Discussion Paper., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This discussion paper has been prepared to provide information to assist in assessment of the possible impact of the translocation of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) and Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) into and within Western Australia, for the purposes of recreational stocking, domestic stocking, commercial and non-commercial aquaculture. In assessing the translocation of any aquatic species, economic and social benefits must be balanced with biological and environmental risks.

Effect Of Heavy Metals On Bacteria, Elena Vratonjic

Theses and Dissertations

Heavy metals have become devastating environmental contaminants due to their widespread use in the manufacture of electronics, plastics, batteries and dyes. The discharge of heavy metals into the environment has caused concern about their effects on the ecosystem. Many metals are essential for growth in small amounts. However, at higher concentrations heavy metals are toxic because they bind to organic compounds. This accounts for their effects on some important parts of the cell structure, like their ability to denature protein molecules. The initial objective of this study was to find out the growth rate of E.coli and M.roseus in the …

Status And Trends In Water Quality And Living Resources In The Virginia Chesapeake Bay: York River (1985-2002), Daniel M. Dauer, Harold G. Marshall, John R. Donat, Michael F. Lane, Suzanne Doughten, Frederick A. Hoffman

Status and Trends for Virginia Chesapeake Bay

The Virginia Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries continue to show some environmental trends indicating progress toward restoration of a more balanced and healthy ecosystem. However, the Bay system remains degraded and some areas and indicators show continuing degradation. Progress in reducing nutrient inputs has made demonstrable improvements and we expect that continued progress toward nutrient reduction goals, along with appropriate fisheries management and chemical contaminant controls, will result in additional improvements to the Bay. An overall summary of findings for the major VA Bay tributaries (i.e. James, York, and Rappahannock Rivers) is bulleted below while the remainder of this …

Status And Trends In Water Quality And Living Resources In The Virginia Chesapeake Bay: Rappahannock River (1985-2002), Daniel M. Dauer, Harold G. Marshall, John R. Donat, Michael F. Lane, Suzanne Doughten, Frederick A. Hoffman

Status and Trends for Virginia Chesapeake Bay

The Virginia Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries continue to show some environmental trends indicating progress toward restoration of a more balanced and healthy ecosystem. However, the Bay system remains degraded and some areas and indicators show continuing degradation. Progress in reducing nutrient inputs has made demonstrable improvements and we expect that continued progress toward nutrient reduction goals, along with appropriate fisheries management and chemical contaminant controls, will result in additional improvements to the Bay. An overall summary of findings for the major VA Bay tributaries (i.e. James, York and Rappahannock Rivers) is bulleted below while the remainder of this …

Status And Trends In Water Quality And Living Resources In The Virginia Chesapeake Bay: James River (1985-2002), Daniel M. Dauer, Harold G. Marshall, John R. Donat, Michael F. Lane, Suzanne C. Doughten, Frederick A. Hoffman

Status and Trends for Virginia Chesapeake Bay

The Virginia Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries continue to show some environmental trends indicating progress toward restoration of a more balanced and healthy ecosystem. However, the Bay system remains degraded and some areas and indicators show continuing degradation. Progress in reducing nutrient inputs has made demonstrable improvements and we expect that continued progress toward nutrient reduction goals, along with appropriate fisheries management and chemical contaminant controls, will result in additional improvements to the Bay. An overall summary of findings for the major VA Bay tributaries (i.e. James, York, and Rappahannock Rivers) is bulleted below while the remainder of this …

Survey Of Health Effects Among Residents Adjacent To A National Priority List Site In Ssouthwest Virginia., Danette Haywood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Saltville Waste Disposal Site is a National Priority List site used during the 77- year operation (1895–1972) of an electrolytic chlorine and caustic soda plant. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine disease prevalence among Saltville Medical Center (SMC) patients. Diseases associated with chronic exposures to mercury, arsenic, and lead were reviewed in patient records and these data were analyzed. Ratios of illness observed at the SMC were compared to health studies of similar environmental exposures and disease prevalence among residents of neighboring communities. Prevalence ratios were calculated for residents and non-residents of Saltville who were SMC patients. Saltville …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (2002), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

A study of the macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed was initiated in summer 1999. This report presents the data from the fourth year of sampling in 2002. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. ( 2) To conduct trend analyses on long-term data at 14 fixed-point stations to relate temporal trends in the benthic communities to changes in water and/or sediment quality. Trend analyses will …

Decision Process For Identification Of Estuarine Benthic Impairments, Roberto J. Llansó, Jon H. Volstad, Daniel M. Dauer

Benthic Applications

To meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act, the States of Maryland and Virginia are in the process of developing biological criteria for evaluating estuarine waters. The Chesapeake Bay Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) is the basis for these biological criteria. As an initial step, a Workgroup developed an interim framework for the application of the B-IBI to the States’ water quality inventory report (305b report) and list of impaired waters (303d list). The Workgroup included representatives of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), USEPA …

The Fourth Tampa Bay Area Scientific Information Symposium Basis 4, S. F. Treat

Reports

We have observed large fluctuations in Tampa Bay fish populations over the last decade, and these changes may be associated with the environment, management practices, or other factors. Staff of the Florida Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute began developing the Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) program in 1988 and have monitored fish populations in Tampa Bay continuously since 1989. Various types of sampling gear have been utilized during the history of FIM, but 21.3-m bag seines have been used since the beginning of the program. This small seine is effective at capturing juveniles of many economically …

Data Summary From The Tampa Bay Interagency Seagrass Monitoring Program Through The Year 2002, Walt Avery, Roger Johansson

Reports

Results regarding seagrass species abundance, distribution, and zonation over time are presented for the 1997-2002 period in Hillsborough Bay (HB, Figures 15-26) and the 1998-2002 period for Old Tampa Bay (OTB, Figures 3-14), Middle Tampa Bay (MTB, Figures 28-40), Lower Tampa Bay, including Terra Ceia Bay (LTB, Figures 42-56), and Boca Ciega Bay (BCB, Figures 58-68). For each transect, results are presented in a graphic format illustrating annual species composition, abundance, and distribution. Seagrass abundance is presented as percent coverage within a square meter using the Braun Blanquet coverage class system.

Annual Report To The Pastoral Lands Board Of Western Australia: 2002 / 2003 Financial Year, Rod Williams, Sandra Van Vreeswyk, Philip Thomas

Natural resources published reports

The Department of Agriculture has prepared this Annual Report for the Pastoral Lands Board of Western Australia for the financial year 2002 – 2003. The report details trends in a number of indicators of importance to Western Australia’s rangelands.

The Department of Agriculture’s activities to the Board are outlined and environmental indicators are presented at the regional and property scales. New methodologies of pastoral lease inspections incorporating a categorisation model are also introduced. The integrated assessment processes incorporating rangeland resource and condition surveys, pastoral lease inspection processes, and WARMS provides land users with a sound information base from which informed …

Experimental Halodule Wrightii And Syringodium Filforme Transplanting In Hillsborough Bay, Florida, Walt Avery, Roger Johansson

Reports

Discusses several transplant efforts in Hillsborough Bay, Florida using Halodule wrightii and Syringodium filiforme that we at the City of Tampa, Bay Study Group were involved in during the late 1980s. Acknowledgement of several people who put a lot of time into the project: My co-author Roger Johansson, Mr. Gene Pinson, one of our biologists with Bay Study, and Andy Squires, who was a biologist with Bay Study during the 80s and is now an environmental manager with Pinellas County.

Model State Land Use Legislation For New England, New England Environmental Finance Center, Muskie School Of Public Service

Legislation

Sprawl is neither the ordained nor the inevitable outcome upon the New England landscape. A coordinated response to sprawl by the public and private sectors is possible, and could dramatically improve land use patterns and reduce the cost of local government. For the New England states, such a response would include, among other elements, legislation to eliminate existing gaps in the land use laws of each state – gaps that presently encourage or sanction sprawling development. It would also include incentives for municipalities to think beyond their borders and to act with greater efficiency and effect. It is the purpose …

Wildlife-Human Interactions In National Parks In Canada And The Usa, Dr. Alistair J. Bath, Jody W. Enck, National Park Service, U.S. Department Of The Interior

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The chance to view wildlife draws millions of visitors each year to the national parks of North America. The combination of a large number of people and abundant wildlife leads to a variety of wildlife-human interactions. In this paper we explore the nature of those wildlife-human interactions, theoretical frameworks social scientists are using to understand those interactions, and approaches used by national parks across North America to manage those interactions.