Natural Resources and Conservation Commons^™

Achieving Bat Conservation Through Tourism, Lisa A. Pennisi, Stephen M. Holland, Taylor V. Stein

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Self-Calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index, Nathan Wells, Steve Goddard, Michael Hayes

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) has been used for more than 30 years to quantify the long-term drought conditions for a given location and time. However, a common critique of the PDSI is that the behavior of the index at various locations is inconsistent, making spatial comparisons of PDSI values difficult, if not meaningless.

A self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (SC-PDSI) is presented and evaluated. The SC-PDSI automatically calibrates the behavior of the index at any location by replacing empirical constants in the index computation with dynamically calculated values. An evaluation of the SC-PDSI at 761 sites within Nebraska, …

An Analysis Of The Anerr Coastal Resources Management Training Market, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien, Daniel Baracskay, Michael Mcgoun, Michael J. Tevesz

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The market analysis for the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve revealed that there is a diverse body of coastal resources management training providers who offer training in the Florida Panhandle. These organizations are primarily either governmental agencies, or institutions of higher education. Most of them offer this training to various audiences as part of their missions, although a select few offer it as the sole purpose of their organizations.

Demographics Of Western South Dakota Wetlands And Basins, Bryan A. Rieger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands, whether natural or man-made in origin, are an important feature of the semiarid landscape of western South Dakota. These wetlands have numerous social and economic values and functions for both landowners and non-owners, as well as for fish and wildlife species. For this reason, accurate information about wetland abundance, characteristics and distribution is important. These demographic summaries of wetland resources of western South Dakota were based on digital wetland data, as delineated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) office. Surface water covers approximately 257,006 ha or about 2.4% of the 10,810,700 ha of western …

Factors Influencing A Declining Pronghorn Population In Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, Jaret D. Sievers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) were reintroduced into Wind Cave National Park (WCNP) in 1914 and thus, have inhabited the park for almost a century. A decline in the population has raised concern for the continued existence of pronghorn inside the park. Historically, pronghorn numbers reached greater than 300 individuals but were estimated to be less than 50 individuals during this study. Knowledge of food habits, genetic structure, causes of mortality, survival rates, and information related to movements were important to developing an understanding of factors contributing to this decline. Past studies have described spatial relationships and breeding behavior of adults and …

Effects Of Fire On The Nutritional Ecology Of Selected Ungulates In The Southern Black Hills, South Dakota, Teresa J. Zimmerman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research in the 1990s indicated that populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the northern and central Black Hills had declined since the late 1970s likely due to habitat deterioration. In August 2000, the Jasper fire consumed nearly 35,000 ha of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest in the southern Black Hills. To ascertain the nutritional condition of white-tailed deer and mule deer (O. hemionus) and their response to fire, 5 adult white-tailed deer and 5 adult mule deer were collected in burned and unburned habitat, in February and August, 2002 and 2003. Collected deer were weighed and necropsied at a …

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

School of Natural Resources: Faculty 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. …

Modification Of Growing-Season Surface Temperature Records In The Northern Great Plains Due To Land-Use Transformation: Verification Of Modelling Results And Implication For Global Climate Change, Rezaul Mamood, Kenneth G. Hubbard, Christy Carlson

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Land-use and land-cover change can modify near-surface atmospheric condition. Mesoscale modelling studies have shown that modification in land use affects near-surface soil moisture storage and energy balance. Such a study in the Great Plains showed that changes in land use from natural grass to irrigated agriculture enhanced soil water storage in the root zone and increased latent energy flux. This increase in latent energy flux would correspond to a decrease in sensible heat flux and, therefore, modify near-surface temperature records. To verify this deduction, we have investigated the changes in the historical near-surface temperature records in Nebraska, USA. We have …

The Role Of Soil Water Availability In Potential Rainfed Rice Productivity In Bangladesh: Applications Of The Ceres-Rice Mode, Rezaul Mahmood, David R. Legates, Mark Meo

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Soil water stress and its impact on the monsoon season potential rainfed rice productivity in Bangladesh is investigated. A crop growth simulation model, CERES-Rice, is applied to 16 locations representative of the major rice growing regions of Bangladesh to determine the impact of soil water stress on the regional scale potential yield for four transplanting dates: 1 June, 1 July, 15 July, and 15 August. A quantified estimate of potential yield loss for four regions and for Bangladesh as a whole is calculated for water stress during flowering and maturing stages. For example, in Bangladesh, average potential yield for 1 …

0730: Denver Yoho Papers, 1702-2000, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Soil conservation agent; genealogist. Papers consist of genealogical research, correspondence, and other related items. Ca. 28 linear ft. of notebooks; 4.5 cu. ft. of correspondence and other papers.

An Assessment Of The Coastal Training Program Needs Of The Anerr Region, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, Michael Mcgoun, Michael J. Tevesz

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

A series of focus groups were conducted throughout northwest Florida to obtain input from coastal decision-makers into the design and development of a coastal resources management training program for the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR). The focus groups were comprised of a cross section of coastal and environmental professionals who make decisions affecting coastal and watershed areas. The focus group decision-makers were primarily employed in the public sector (federal, state, local, governmental, nonprofit, or academic), with nearly half of the participants having between six and 15 years of professional experience.

Coastal Training Strategy For The Ohio Lake Erie Basin, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien, Kirstin S. Toth

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

An analysis of the market for coastal resources management training in Ohio’s Lake Erie basin identified the challenges faced by coastal decision-makers and the disparities currently existing within this market. The primary challenges identified were in the quality of instruction and in the types of training provided. Disparities indicated were with coordination, equipment and logistical factors, external and internal marketing and promotional assistance, funding, personnel and staff assistance, and legislative and regulatory concerns. These disparities are indications of opportunities to establish partnerships and collaborative networks to facilitate coordinated training initiatives; to re-examine and develop course content and locations to better …

A Summary Of The Findings Of The Coastal Training Market Analysis, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien, Daniel Baracskay

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) is located in Franklin County on the Florida panhandle within the 19,600-square-mile Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint watershed. Spanning more than 246,000 acres, the Reserve includes areas of Franklin, Gulf, Calhoun, and Liberty counties. The Reserve received its designation in 1979, and is a federal/state partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Trends Analysis Of Coastal Training Programs In The National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien, Kirstin S. Toth, Daniel Baracksay, Michael Mcgoun, Wendy A. Kellogg, Michael J. Tevesz

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS) Coastal Training Program (CTP) is a system-wide training program that aims to increase informed decision-making related to coastal resource management at local and regional levels. The CTP serves as the NERRS flagship program for knowledge and information transfer, and provides an effective vehicle to ensure that science-based knowledge and skills get into the hands and minds of those individuals making decisions about the coast on a regular basis in a professional or volunteer capacity. At the local level, Reserve staff conducts intensive planning to develop targeted training programs that complement other training efforts within …

Coastal Training Program: Advisory Council Protocol, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program, and Ohio Sea Grant College Program (the Partners) are developing a comprehensive Coastal Training Program (CTP) to assist Ohio’s coastal decision-makers. The Partners are developing a coordinated and collaborative training strategy and information network that will serve as the framework for local, regional, state, and national coastal resources management training providers.

Effects Of Residential Xeriscape Conversions On Property Values: A Baseline Case Study, Andréa E. Baker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The conversion of grass lawns to xeriscape has become more prevalent in the desert Southwest, including here in the Las Vegas Valley. The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether the conversion of residential landscapes from grass lawn to xeriscape influences the property value of a home. This case study involved the comparison of property values for residential homes that had participated in the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s Water Smart Landscapes rebate program and non-participant homes with similar amenities before and after the landscape conversion. The results of the analysis show that xeriscape dose have a potentially positive impact …

The Contribution Of Stewardship To Park Planning And Management In Ontario: A Study Of Bruce Peninsula And Georgian Bay Islands National Parks, Felicitas Egunyu

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parks Canada has adopted ecosystem-based management as a means of maintaining ecological integrity. However, ecosystems often extend beyond park boundaries. Where parks share boundaries with other government-protected areas, arrangements have often been made for cooperation. These arrangements usually result in mutual benefits for the protected areas involved. Where parks share boundaries with privately owned land, stewardship is one of the methods being used to implement conservation-based practices. This study investigated the extent to which stewardship contributes to park planning and management in Ontario using the Georgian Bay Islands and Bruce Peninsula National Parks as case studies. Results show that stewardship …

Forest Fires, Woodland Caribou And Land Use Policies In Northwestern Ontario (Rangifer Tarandus), Brian Frederick Kutas

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are a threatened species in Ontario's boreal forest. Caribou require habitat that supports appropriate forage, including large areas of lichen rich forests. This research examines two dynamics that influence woodland caribou habitat in northwestern Ontario. These dynamics are forest fires and land use policies. The effects of forest fires are assessed quantitatively at both the ecosite and landscape scales within Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. Land use policy and management activities are evaluated using a case study and a policy analysis of protected area and forest management approaches to woodland caribou conservation in this region. Forest …

Spectacular Recovery In The Ord River Catchment, A L. Payne, I W. Watson, P E. Novelly

Agriculture reports

Regeneration work on severely damaged country in what is now known as the Ord River Regeneration Reserve (ORRR) commenced in 1960. The ORRR is in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia with an associated small area in the Northern Territory. The work included strip contour cultivation and seeding (which proceeded at various levels of intensity during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s), fencing and destocking of cattle by mustering over many years, and the eradication of donkeys.

Friends Of Red Rock Canyon Quarterly Meeting, Public Lands Institute

Presentations (PLI)

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands.

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

Publications (SD)

No abstract provided.

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

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

An Evaluative Framework For Assessing Information Management In Watershed Management: The Case Of The Grand River Conservation Authority (Ontario), Robert Scott Brown

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Watershed management has been rapidly evolving over the last 50 years. The current focus has been adaptive and ecosystem-based approaches to watershed management, redefining roles, responsibilities, and relationships of watershed organizations. While entire management models need to be heavily scrutinized, the practices and policies surrounding information are fundamentally important. Information forms the understanding and knowledge for watershed decision-making. Watershed organizations need to be critical of the policies and practices affecting their collection, storage, processing, analysis, monitoring, and reporting of data and information. Among the Conservation Authorities, the GRCA has developed a proficiency at information management, doing it as well as …

Regional Planning And British Columbia's Agricultural Land Reserve: A Case Study Of Land Use, Development And Policy Impacts In The Central Okanagan Valley, Danielle H. Noble

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In North America, farmland is commonly targeted as the site of urbanization, because it is often the most easy to develop. British Columbia has been no exception. But British Columbia is unique in North American planning because it has imposed a comprehensive agricultural land reserve (ALR), now over thirty years old, to respond to agricultural land loss. Such an instrument can have important implications for land-use planning and for planning practice. This research documents some of the impacts of the ALR on planning while focusing on the Central Okanagan Valley as a case study region. The lessons of the Okanagan …

Influences On The Uptake Of Covenant Mechanisms For Nature Conservation On Private Lands In Australia, Thomas I. Kabii

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Globally management agreements have emerged as more effective in assuring long-term nature conservation on private land, than regulatory mechanisms alone. Restrictive permanent covenants in particular, which are legally binding management agreements in perpetuity, have been adopted in most States and Territories in Australia. However, there is reluctance among landholders to take them up. Sound understanding of the factors that influence the decisions of landholders regarding the uptake of permanent covenants is important in planning and strategizing for increased covenant uptake. The aim of this thesis is to further this understanding and to support the design of a coordinated covenant mechanism …

Outcomes Of A Participatory Approach To Interpretive Planning In The Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Western Australia, Kelly J. Chapman

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis examines a participatory approach to interpretive planning, employed in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Western Australia. At the project outset relations between the conservation agency responsible for administering World Heritage and the local community were strained, and complicated by a history of conflict over the World Heritage listing and subsequent management of the area. A participatory approach to interpretive planning was adopted in the hope that doing so would achieve the following: improved relations between polarised stakeholder groups, increased community support for the plan and its implementation, and improved access to the variety of knowledge pools within …