Natural Resources and Conservation Commons^™

National Water Footprint Accounts: The Green, Blue And Grey Water Footprint Of Production And Consumption. Volume 1: Main Report, Mesfin Mekonnen, Arjen Y. Hoekstra

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

This study quantifies and maps the water footprints of nations from both a production and consumption perspective and estimates international virtual water flows and national and global water savings as a result of trade. The entire estimate includes a breakdown of water footprints, virtual water flows and water savings into their green, blue and grey components. The main finding of the study can be summarized as:

The global water footprint in the period 1996-2005 was 9087 Gm3/yr (74% green, 11% blue, 15% grey). Agricultural production contributes 92% to this total footprint.

About one fifth of the global water footprint relates …

Vadose Zone Mapping Using Geographic Information Systems And Geostatistics, Ruopu Li, Lin Zhao

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Characteristics of the vadose zone media are important for assessing contamination potentials for projects such as landfill siting and planning. However, accurate vadose zone maps at the regional scale are often not available. This study successfully mapped low-permeable components of the vadose zone across the Elkhorn River Basin, Nebraska, using geographic information systems (GIS), groundwater level data, and a test hole database. The map has the potential to land use planners for searching and planning landfill sites.

National Water Footprint Accounts: The Green, Blue And Grey Water Footprint Of Production And Consumption, Volume 2: Appendices, Mesfin Mekonnen, Arjen Y. Hoekstra

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Contents

Appendix I. The water footprint of national production (Mm³/yr)

Appendix II. Virtual-water flows related to trade in crop, animal and industrial products, per country (Mm³/yr)

Appendix III. International virtual-water flows per product category (Mm³/yr)

Appendix IV. National water saving related to trade in agricultural and industrial products per country (Mm³/yr)

Appendix V. Global water saving related to trade in agricultural and industrial products, per product (Mm³/yr)

Appendix VI. The average water footprint per ton of commodity per country, weighted based on origin (WF* in m³/ton)

Appendix VII. …

National Park Service Cave And Karst Resources Management Case Study: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Daniel C. Nolfi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

As discussed in the National Parks Service’s (NPS) Directors Orders/Natural Resources Management Reference Manual #77 and the 2006 NPS Management Policy Handbook, implementing a management plan specifically for cave and karst resources within a national park is paramount to afford these resources appropriate protection. With support from the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act and the National Park Service Organic Act of 1906, management actions protecting caves has begun to place significant importance outside the traditional cave environment onto a broader karst landscape. The need to understand and protect the karst environment and caves as a karst resource has taken a …

Towards A Philosophy Of Woodworking: Re-Embracing Community And Quality Craftsmanship In Contemporary America, Patrick J. Szymanski

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

Since the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth-century, humanity has appropriated the natural world for its uses, and only recently have we begun to understand the consequences of our actions. This misuse of the natural world has manifested itself thoroughly in all industries, including the woodworking field. To counteract this problem, I investigate its Cartesian philosophical underpinnings and propose a solution based upon the interconnected philosophy of the German Existentialist Martin Heidegger. Equipped with both the philosophy of Heidegger and concepts from the Deep Ecology movement (which insists upon the intrinsic value of all life on earth), I work to reformulate …

A Watershed-Scale Assessment Of A Process Soil Co2 Production And Efflux Model, Diego Andrés Riveros-Iregui, Brian L. Mcglynn, Lucy A. Marshall, Daniel L. Welsch, Ryan E. Emmanuel, Howard E. Epstein

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Growing season soil CO₂ efflux is known to vary laterally by as much as seven fold within small subalpine watersheds (<5 >km²), and such degree of variability has been strongly related to the landscape-imposed redistribution of soil water. Current empirical or process models offer low potential to simulate this variability or to simulate watershed-scale dynamics of soil CO₂ efflux. We modified an existing process soil CO₂ production and efflux model to include spatially variable soil moisture, and applied it to a well-studied and moderately complex watershed of the northern Rocky Mountains. We started at the …

Ecotourism In Costa Rica: Environmental Impacts And Management, Emily Mckeone

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Globally we are witnessing growing environmental destruction, particularly to the natural resource bases of underdeveloped countries. If ecotourism can generate profits for local economies, while protecting and conserving the natural resource base of that community, it could be a strong alternative for numerous countries. Evidence suggests that the ecotourism industry has been expanding at a rapid rate in recent decades (Dasenbrock 2002). It is important to understand the positive and negative ecological impacts of the industry as this rapid growth rate continues.

The main objective of this study is to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the ecotourism industry in …

21rst Century Educational Farmstead, Trevis Carmichael

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

When Europeans began settling in the United States, farmsteads were built across the Great Plains. Out of necessity, these had to function in a self-sufficient manner; meaning the people had to produce their own food, use local materials, and be energy efficient for their transportation. Parents had to teach their children how to do all of the practical work it took to maintain their lives. This was the foundation that America was built upon. Having completed the first decade of the 21st century, the time seems right for a mental re-settlement that follows some of those same principles. Teaching our …

Educating Young Adults About Sustainable Development, Meghan Lewis

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This qualitative study on the types of environmental education on different age groups was conducted in Lincoln, Nebraska. The purpose of this thesis is to identify what age group and educational methods would be most effective to educate Lincoln citizens on the importance and benefits of sustainable development. Environmental education is an important aspect in implementation of new, environmentally friendly ideas.

Lincoln environmentalists are working to improve the city’s sustainability. Finding a way to consistently educate Lincoln residents on the importance and benefits of sustainable development will increase the public’s awareness of their efforts, leading to a greater interest in …

Prioritizing Investment In Residential Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy: A Case Study For The U.S. Midwest, Robert J. Brecha, Austin Mitchell, Kevin P. Hallinan, J. Kelly Kissock

Physics Faculty Publications

Residential building energy use is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and in the United States represents about 20% of total energy consumption. A number of previous macro-scale studies of residential energy consumption and energy-efficiency improvements are mainly concerned with national or international aggregate potential savings. In this paper we look into the details of how a collection of specific homes in one region might reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, with particular attention given to some practical limits to what can be achieved by upgrading the existing residential building stock. Using a simple model of residential, single-family home …

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response To The Restoration Of A Hypereutrophic Midwestern Reservoir, Jennifer L. Swanson

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Eutrophication has been the most challenging global threat to the quality of our freshwater resources (Likens, 2010). Reversing the effects of eutrophication can be difficult and takes a great deal of time and money. A hypereutrophic Midwestern reservoir underwent a restoration from 2000-2002, which added a sediment basin at the inlet, three islands, five rock jetties, and the removal of rough fish. The primary objective of this study was to determine changes in the benthic macroinvertebrate community in response to the restoration. Water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected once per month in June, July, August, and September in …

Natural Selection And Age-Related Variation In Morphology Of A Colonial Bird, Mary Bomberger Brown

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In May 1996, inclement weather led to the deaths of thousands of Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in Nebraska. Survivors had larger skeletons, shorter wings and tails, and less wing asymmetry than non-survivors. This population was followed for 10 years to study 1) whether natural selection events result in permanent microevolutionary changes, 2) if variation in climate affects the development of morphological traits, and 3) if morphological traits vary systematically with age.

Patterns in morphology exhibited by swallows following the selection event were studied by measuring yearling birds. Wing and middle tail lengths decreased, beak length and width increased, …

Telework Within The Bureau Of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region Office, Theresa Lee, Lynne Arnold, John Wagner, Elias Samorano, Anita Morgan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A team of researchers from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas were invited by management to observe, assess, and offer recommendations. It was determined by the research team that the first step to improving participation would be to observe the functional telework policy, compare and contrast it with the Department of the Interior standards, and offer recommendations to generate data necessary to develop an updated telework policy by management. The recommendations made by this group include creating an employee eligibility list, tracking actual participation by creating a renewal policy for employees choosing to telework. It is also recommended that a …

A Mark–Recapture Technique For Monitoring Feral Swine Populations, Matthew M. Reidy, Tyler A. Campbell, David G. Hewitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Techniques to monitor populations of feral swine (Sus scrofa) relative to damage control activities are needed on rangelands. Our objectives were to describe and assess a mark–recapture technique using tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) for monitoring feral swine populations. We established bait stations at study sites in southern and central Texas. During 1 d, we replaced normal soured corn bait with bait containing TH and counted the number of feral swine that consumed bait with observers. We conducted feral swine removal using box-style traps and helicopters, at which time we collected teeth for TH analysis. In southern Texas, we estimated …

Growing The Urban Ecosystem In Detroit, Michigan, Sean Basalyga

Social Sciences

Many views of the future are seen as bleak and devoid of the life where once stood beauty and abundance. However, the Living Cities Design Competition challenges these views and calls for a vision of the future that inspires hope, biodiversity, and a healthy interaction between human and natural systems. We chose to redesign the city of Detroit, Michigan to be a living city by the year 2035. As the earth scientist on an interdisciplinary team, I acted as an ecological consultant. By developing the urban ecosystem of Detroit, a number of social, economical, and environmental problems can be solved. …

A Stochastic Model For Wind Turbine Power Quality Using A Levy Index Analysis Of Wind Velocity Data, Jonathan Blackledge, Eugene Coyle, Derek Kearney

Conference papers

The power quality of a wind turbine is determined by many factors but time-dependent variation in the wind velocity are arguably the most important. After a brief review of the statistics of typical wind speed data, a non- Gaussian model for the wind velocity is introduced that is based on a Levy distribution. It is shown how this distribution can be used to derive a stochastic fractional diusion equation for the wind velocity as a function of time whose solution is characterised by the Levy index. A Levy index numerical analysis is then performed on wind velocity data for both …

Quantifying Evapotranspiration And Water Table Interactions In Regions Of Shallow Groundwater: Sensitivity To Soil Properties, Vegetation, And Climate Variability, Mehmet E. Soylu

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of the water and energy balance, yet it is also one of the most challenging components to estimate. There has been great effort to understand the nature of controlling mechanisms and interactions between ET and other earth system processes. The controlling factors of ET can be grouped into two broad categories – namely moisture availability and energy availability (e.g., solar radiation). Soil moisture is a key factor that most of the land surface hydrologic processes are dependent on. While plant water use is mainly controlled by radiation, temperature is another key factor for ET …

Assessing Seasonal Features Of Tropical Forests Using Remote Sensing, Roberto Bonifaz-Alfonzo

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Tropical forests are key components of the biogeochemical cycles, complex in structure, diversity and dynamics, also, tropical regions have been deforested and modified by human activities particularly for agriculture. Understanding the inter-annual and intra-annual variation dynamics of tropical regions could give valuable information on temporal characteristics of ecosystems behavior which is important for mapping and monitoring. This dissertation assesses seasonal and inter-annual changes in the tropical land cover that may be related to changes in the natural environment and/or human activities. Research was focused on the Mayan forest located in southern Mexico and Northwest Guatemala, one of the northern-most important …

Understanding Bioprospecting: Can Indigenous Populations Benefit From The Search For Pharmaceuticals In Areas Of High Biodiversity, Emily Schwindt

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Bioprospecting is a controversial issue, and anthropologists and other scientists are quick to take sides. The idea of large corporations pumping money into conservation and development programs, while developing what could be the latest life-saving drug simply sounds too good to be true, and often times is. However, if all parties work together and proceed with caution, these benefits could become more than a fantasy. Looking at case studies from Costa Rica, India, South Africa and Panama this paper attempts to find patterns among successful bioprospecting agreements and note shortcomings and identify risks. This information will be used to suggest …

Eel River Examination, 2011

Watershed Access Lab Projects

The purpose of our study was to observe the changes in the Eel River from year to year. The analysis included: the river’s profile, depth, amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds, and levels of dissolved oxygen.

The river is designated a Class A water body. It’s fed by the sole source Plymouth-Carver Aquifer. Already classified as a nitrogen-limited river system, town engineers determined that the addition of even 1 mg/L of Nitrogen compounds could spell disaster for the watershed’s plants and animals, some of which are considered endangered. Currently under study by numerous environmental watch groups, it was the intention …

Burr’S Pond And Runnins River Annual Watershed Survey, 2011

Watershed Access Lab Projects

For the past ten years, AP Biology students at Seekonk High School have been required to complete an independent research project to fulfill the Ecology unit of the course during the summer prior to the course. Students must apply what they learned in their readings to a local ecosystem, Burr’s Pond, which is attached to the Runnins River. Students spend time at the pond area during the summer documenting organisms, evidence of population dynamics, animal behavior, trophic levels, nutrient cycling, etc. Students put together a Burr’s Pond Summer Field Research Project Portfolio to be submitted on the first day of …

Water Quality Of Norroway Stream

Watershed Access Lab Projects

No abstract provided.

Aquatic Insect Survey: Goldstein Open Space And Walking Path

Watershed Access Lab Projects

AP Environmental students visited Norroway Stream in Randolph, MA. This stream comes from nearby Norroway Pond. Students took macro invertebrate samples from a point in the stream near West St. A kick sample was taken using a net to catch organisms. After collecting the specimens they were stored and brought back to the school to work with. Students sorted the sample and picked out the macro invertebrates and then identified them to the order level using a key and stereo microscopes. This is a new program for this class.

2011 Pond Meadow Study – The Monatiquot River

Watershed Access Lab Projects

Ten students at South Middle School participated in an after school group to learn about water quality and macro-invertebrates. After an introduction of the project, students started to learn how macro-invertebrates can be used as an indicator of water quality. Students traveled to Pond Meadow Park in Braintree to collect macro-invertebrates on March 8, 2011. We had two sites at the Park and collected at each site. Students made observations and took pictures while others collected the bugs.

Upon return, the Brook Buddies spent two afternoons sorting through the samples. They picked out the macro-invertebrates and started sorting them by …

The Runnins River Biosurvey

Watershed Access Lab Projects

Fall 2010 marks the third year that all 10th grade Biology II students and their teachers joined the watershed study project initiated by AP Biology students at Seekonk High School. The students traveled to two sites, one upstream and one downstream, along the Runnins River, which is a river that meanders through the Town of Seekonk. The upstream site was located at the home of the Masons off of Woodward Ave and the downstream site was located just below Burr’s Pond, both in Seekonk. The four Biology II classes were split between the two site locations and it was their …

Water Quality Assessment: Goldstein Open Space And Walking Path

Watershed Access Lab Projects

No abstract provided.

Annual Smelt Brook Survey - An Autumn Snapshot (2010)

Watershed Access Lab Projects

No abstract provided.

Furnace Brook Stream Study

Watershed Access Lab Projects

No abstract provided.

Abbott Run Annual Study 2011

Watershed Access Lab Projects

The purpose of our study was to ensure that Abbott Run maintained its Class A River water quality. This is important because Abbott Run is the source of drinking water for Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Abbott Run is located in the western section of North Attleboro and is within the Blackstone River Watershed. Rhode Island is to the west of the stream and Plainville and North Attleboro border the south of the stream. The North Attleboro section of the watershed is four square miles in area according to the town records.

Most of the land is used for single-family residential buildings, …

Chemistry Of The Matfield River

Watershed Access Lab Projects

Three classes at East Bridgewater High School examined and analyzed various aspects of the Matfield River during the 2010-2011 school year. The chemistry and environmental science classes at East Bridgewater High School collected data from the Matfield River in November 2010. The environmental science class analyzed the macroinvertebrates of the river, and the chemistry class examined the chemistry of the river. The oceanography class tested fecal coliform bacteria in water samples taken in March 2011, and also examined land use of the river’s tributaries.

Although concerns were raised about the sewage treatment plant releasing waste into the Salisbury Plain River, …