Effects Of Land Use On Riparian Corridors In Sonoma County,
2020
The University of San Francisco
Effects Of Land Use On Riparian Corridors In Sonoma County, Marina Davies
Master's Projects and Capstones
Riparian corridor protection through zoning ordinances is a common best management practice to protect riparian ecosystems and function. These zoning ordinances protect riparian ecosystems by establishing setback distances where land use activities are prohibited. While management of protected riparian corridors are widely studied, recommendations for riparian corridor width vary and are often site specific. The variability of corridor widths presents a challenge to riparian corridor implementation, in addition to balancing economic needs with natural resource protection. This study evaluates the effects of land use on riparian corridors and compares the Riparian Corridor Combining Zone ordinance in Sonoma County to other …
A Review Of The Methods And Metrics In Research, Implementation, And Management Of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture,
2020
The University of San Francisco
A Review Of The Methods And Metrics In Research, Implementation, And Management Of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture, Cassandra Erickson
Master's Projects and Capstones
As seafood demand rises with the growing population, methods of providing sustainable and reliable protein are needed. Wild fishery stocks have decreased so aquaculture is seen as the way to meet these growing demands. The aquaculture industry has continued to grow 8.3% every year since 1970 primarily through using intensive cultivation of a single species creating negative effects on the marine environment. An increase in nutrients from these intensive cultivations can lead to eutrophication, a decrease in oxygen, and alter the ecosystem structure and biodiversity. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) aims to offset the increased input of nutrients through fish farming …
A Comparison Of Fuel Reduction Methods For Wildfire Risk Management And Climate Change Resiliency In Mixed Conifer Forests In The Sierra Nevada,
2020
The University of San Francisco
A Comparison Of Fuel Reduction Methods For Wildfire Risk Management And Climate Change Resiliency In Mixed Conifer Forests In The Sierra Nevada, Heather Navle
Master's Projects and Capstones
Wildfires in the mixed conifer forests of California’s Sierra Nevada have been a common and natural disturbance for thousands of years, historically occurring every 3 to 30 years. The flora and fauna of the mixed conifer forest have evolved to depend on low to moderate severity wildfires for reproduction, foraging, and habitat. However, the Sierra Nevada has experienced dramatic environmental changes over the past ~150 years as a result of three main factors: wildfire suppression, climate change, and habitat loss. Because of the threat wildfires pose to human lives, property and timber harvest, they have been suppressed to an extent …
A Novel Approach To Updating Municipal Tax Parcel Impervious Surface Calculations,
2020
James Madison University
A Novel Approach To Updating Municipal Tax Parcel Impervious Surface Calculations, Patrick D. Muradaz
Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current
Accurate impervious surface calculations are important to many municipalities due to the high volumes of surface rainwater runoff caused by high impervious surface density. Municipalities must deal with this runoff through the establishment and maintenance of drainage facilities. To help offset the added cost of these facilities, many municipalities impose taxes and fees on privately owned impervious surfaces such as homes, driveways, and patios. Currently, in order for a city like Harrisonburg to calculate tax parcel impervious surface density, aerial images must be manually digitized or mapped using computer-based classification techniques using predictive models. These methods of impervious surface calculations …
Zenneck Waves In Decision Agriculture: An Empirical Verification And Application In Em-Based Underground Wireless Power Transfer,
2020
Purdue University
Zenneck Waves In Decision Agriculture: An Empirical Verification And Application In Em-Based Underground Wireless Power Transfer, Usman Raza, Abdul Salam
Faculty Publications
In this article, the results of experiments for the observation of Zenneck surface waves in sub GHz frequency range using dipole antennas are presented. Experiments are conducted over three different soils for communications distances of up to 1 m. This empirical analysis confirms the existence of Zenneck waves over the soil surface. Through the power delay profile (PDP) analysis, it has been shown that other subsurface components exhibit rapid decay as compared to the Zenneck waves. A potential application of the Zenneck waves for energy transmission in the area of decision agriculture is explored. Accordingly, a novel wireless through-the-soil power …
Water Quality Degradation From Dam Removal: Impact On An Urban River System In Central Virginia,
2020
University of Lynchburg
Water Quality Degradation From Dam Removal: Impact On An Urban River System In Central Virginia, Wrenn Cleary
Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects
Dam removal in the United States is an increasingly common practice as dams built decades ago begin to experience structural issues or environmental changes necessitating this action. In Lynchburg, Virginia, College Lake, an 18 Ha reservoir, was briefly overtopped during strong storms during August 2018 causing minor damage to the dam. In response, the City of Lynchburg deemed it necessary to drain the lake to protect property owners downstream fearing complete dam failure. During assessment to determine the best practice for dam removal, College Lake remained drained for 12 weeks as debate to conclusively determine a best course of action …
Habitat Modification On An Urban High School Campus,
2020
Winthrop University
Habitat Modification On An Urban High School Campus, Nickolas John Davros Ii
Graduate Theses
Biodiversity is in a crisis worldwide, driven by the negative effects from urbanization. Ecosystems are being destroyed in favor of urban areas and natural resources are diminishing. Stormwater management has gained an elevated importance and its associated infrastructure could help counter the loss of biodiversity. Freshwater within urban areas is critical for organisms. Anthropogenic ponds can act as refuge habitats within a blue network and have become a hotspot for ecological research. Using principles of reconciliation ecology, the effects on biodiversity were assessed following the conversion of a stormwater basin on an urban high school in Charlotte, NC. A before-and-after …
Building Adaptive Capacity In Tribal Communities Of The Missouri River Basin To Manage Drought And Climate Extremes: A Case Study From The Wind River Indian Reservation,
2020
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Building Adaptive Capacity In Tribal Communities Of The Missouri River Basin To Manage Drought And Climate Extremes: A Case Study From The Wind River Indian Reservation, Crystal J. Stiles, Natalie Umphlett, Mitch Cottenoir
High Plains Regional Climate Center: Staff Publications
Native American peoples of the Northern and Central Plains have long endured harsh climate conditions, such as floods and droughts, and they possess valuable traditional knowledges that have enhanced their resilience to these extreme events. However, in recent times, limited capacity to adapt to a rapidly changing climate combined with a lack of resources have increased tribes’ vulnerability to climate extremes and their associated impacts. In response, a number of projects have been developed to assist tribes with their self-identified climate- and drought-related needs, particularly in the context of on-reservation decision-making. In this case study, we present an engagement strategy …
Development Of Vs Profiles And Site Periods In The Mexico City Basin,
2020
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Development Of Vs Profiles And Site Periods In The Mexico City Basin, Landon Joel Woodfield
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
This study presents dynamic site characterization measurements at 25 sites within the Mexico City Basin. The primary focus of the testing was along the western edge of the Mexico City Basin. At each site, active source Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) arrays and passive source Microtremor Array Measurements (MAM) L-arrays and circular arrays were used to acquire dispersion data. Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) data was collected to determine site periods at each location. These experimental dispersion data and site periods were fit using a joint inversion of Rayleigh and Love wave dispersion data and HVSR site period …
A Social–Ecological Odyssey In Fisheries And Wildlife Management,
2020
Princeton University
A Social–Ecological Odyssey In Fisheries And Wildlife Management, Andrew K. Carlson, William W. Taylor, Melissa R. Cronin, Mitchell J. Eaton, Mark A. Kaemingk, Andrea J. Reid, Ashley Trudeau
Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications
Aldo Leopold, famous ecologist and “father” of North American wildlife management, once said, “These are two things that interest me: the relation of people to each other, and the relation of people to land” (Leopold 1947). Ever prescient, Leopold recognized that natural resource management is fundamentally about humans and their relationship with nature well before conservation became an established way of thinking, much less the bedrock of entire professions. Similarly, amid the Green Revolution to increase agricultural production, in part, through widespread use of pesticides, renowned environmentalist and journalist Rachel Carson noted that we are all “a part of nature, …
Identifying Emergent Agent Types And Effective Practices For Portability, Scalability, And Intercomparison In Water Resource Agent-Based Models,
2020
Boise State University
Identifying Emergent Agent Types And Effective Practices For Portability, Scalability, And Intercomparison In Water Resource Agent-Based Models, Kendra E. Kaiser, Alejandro N. Flores, Vicken Hillis
Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations
Modeling coupled social and biophysical dynamics of water resources systems is increasingly important due to population growth and changes in the water cycle driven by climate change. Models that explicitly represent these coupled dynamics are challenging to design and implement, particularly given the complicated and cross-scale nature of water governance. Agent-based models (ABMs) can capture human decision-making and nested social hierarchies, however, transferability is made difficult by location-specific details. A consistent description of water resources decision-makers (individuals, groups, agencies) would advance the rate of model development and increase synthesis across systems. Reviewing water resources ABMs, we propose eight agent types …
Private Land, Public Trust: Strategic Conservation Planning For Public Wildlife On Private Lands Through The Usfws Partners For Fish And Wildlife Program,
2020
Utah State University
Private Land, Public Trust: Strategic Conservation Planning For Public Wildlife On Private Lands Through The Usfws Partners For Fish And Wildlife Program, Clint Wirick
All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023
Law requires federal agencies to develop long-term strategic plans. Strategic plans define goals, objectives, and performance measures defining how the agencies and programs will reach their stated goals. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) develops strategic plans every five years. Each individual state develops a plan for their respective state. Those state plans are compiled for the region and become part of Regional Comprehensive Strategic Plan. The current strategic plan expires in 2021. States will begin the strategic planning process in 2020. In Utah, PFW staff will also begin developing a strategic plan for the …
Record Fledging Count From A Seven-Egg Clutch In The Cooper’S Hawk (Accipiter Cooperii),
2020
University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point
Record Fledging Count From A Seven-Egg Clutch In The Cooper’S Hawk (Accipiter Cooperii), Robert N. Rosenfield, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Ann Riddle-Berntsen, Evan Kuhel
Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications
Cooper’s Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) typically lay 3–5 eggs per clutch, rarely 6 eggs, and there are 2 accounts of 7-egg clutches and 1 record of a maximum 8-egg clutch for the species. Brood sizes of 3–5 young are common and the previous maximum brood count is 6 young. However, in 2019, we found an urban nest in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with 7 eggs that resulted in a record high of 7 fledglings. We genetically confirmed that the attending male sired all the offspring and the attending female laid all 7 eggs. Larger body size of the tending adults …
Promoting The Sustainable Utilization Of Groundwater Resources In Ethiopia Using The Integrated Groundwater Footprint Index,
2020
University of Connecticut
Promoting The Sustainable Utilization Of Groundwater Resources In Ethiopia Using The Integrated Groundwater Footprint Index, Xinyu Lin
Honors Scholar Theses
The country of Ethiopia is highly vulnerable to human-caused climate change and is already suffering from the effects. The predominately rural population relies heavily on small-scale agriculture, with 78% of households having at least one member engaged in the field, yet staple crops are highly susceptible to droughts and other weather shocks. Total and agricultural GDP growth in the country have been strongly linked to inter-annual rainfall variability, of which Ethiopia has among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. A decrease in rainfall since the 1970s has been one of the primary causes of low crop yields, and stresses the immediate …
The Release, Transport, And Utilization Of Phosphorus From Bed-Sediments: A Study Of A Eutrophic Littoral Cove On Beaver Lake In Northwest Arkansas,
2020
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Release, Transport, And Utilization Of Phosphorus From Bed-Sediments: A Study Of A Eutrophic Littoral Cove On Beaver Lake In Northwest Arkansas, James A. Mccarty
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Eutrophication of surface waters not only impacts the environment but also water treatment processes, the most significant of which is from the effects of algae. During peak algal growth in many southern U.S. reservoirs, inflows that bring nutrients are at an annual minimum, and phosphorus released from bed-sediments is trapped in the hypolimnion. Littoral areas, described as the most productive zone of the lake, may be a possible source of phosphorus that fuels algal growth in the reservoir. I studied an isolated shallow cove in the War Eagle Creek arm of Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas to measure, quantify, and …
An Analysis Of Groundwater Quality As Sampling Networks Age: The Gaps In Groundwater Monitoring,
2020
Otterbein University
An Analysis Of Groundwater Quality As Sampling Networks Age: The Gaps In Groundwater Monitoring, Angela Leone
Undergraduate Distinction Papers
Groundwater management is an important facet of protecting this important resource. One way that we ensure proper groundwater management is through the regular, long-term monitoring of groundwater wells at waste management sites throughout the country. This study investigates potential changes to groundwater quality attributed to degradation of well construction materials rather than impacts to aquifers from wastes. This assessment was completed using a data analysis of groundwater trends at closed landfill sites. An analysis of fifty-five sites was completed and three sites met our criteria for suitable data history. Due to the lack of suitable data, a more thorough investigation …
Sustainable Wastewater Treatment In The American South,
2020
The University of Southern Mississippi
Sustainable Wastewater Treatment In The American South, Caroline Miles
Master's Theses
Aging infrastructure and changing social and environmental conditions are two factors that are currently pushing wastewater treatment towards more sustainable methods. This thesis investigates what sustainable treatment technologies are being used in the American South through a focused sample of six cities across the region: Austin, Texas; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; Ocean Springs, Mississippi; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The study assesses the types of sustainable treatment technology utilized at each facility, the perspectives of wastewater professionals about the technology, and the economic and environmental sustainability of each facility. Data was collected through direct observations on tours of the facilities, …
Analyzing The Effects Of Of Seasonal Land Cover And Precipitation On The Sediment Delivery Ratio Of An Agriculture Dominated Watershed.,
2020
University of Louisville
Analyzing The Effects Of Of Seasonal Land Cover And Precipitation On The Sediment Delivery Ratio Of An Agriculture Dominated Watershed., Jonah Liebman
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Soil erosion is of escalating importance as increasing population and climate change have put increasing pressures on agricultural food production. Vegetation and precipitation are two factors that control the amount of soil erosion extant within a region. Sediment delivery ratios (SDRs) assess the ratio of soil eroded from a watershed system that is permanently removed from the system through stream sediment discharge. Using 1) river discharge and sediment concentration data and 2) the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), this thesis analyzes fluctuations in monthly SDRs for an average hydroclimatological crop-harvest season for the Senachwine Creek watershed, IL. Through calculating …
Impact Of Agricultural Land Use On Stream Nitrate, Phosphorus, And Sediment Concentrations At The Watershed And Field Scale,
2020
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Impact Of Agricultural Land Use On Stream Nitrate, Phosphorus, And Sediment Concentrations At The Watershed And Field Scale, Brittany A. Kirsch
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Water quality is directly impacted by the landscape through which it travels. As such, land use, including summer annual and winter annual/perennial agriculture, has dramatic influence on the water quality of downstream aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. I examined the impact of agricultural land use on water quality through two projects, one at a watershed scale and one at a field scale. In my first project, I investigated the impact of agricultural land use and climate on water quality in 13 HUC10 watersheds across Nebraska using public data from US Geological Survey (USGS), US Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service …
Charismatic Predators In Modern Africa: Spotted Hyena (Crocuta Crocuta) And Human Coexistence In The Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana,
2020
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Charismatic Predators In Modern Africa: Spotted Hyena (Crocuta Crocuta) And Human Coexistence In The Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana, Jazmin Castillo
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Increasing human populations has led researchers to investigate the impacts of high human population density and its impact on carnivore populations. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) hold a unique place in African ecosystems due to being a very successful top predator with an adaptable diet whereas other top predators, like the African lion, are rapidly decreasing in abundance. We investigated past and current spotted hyena abundance within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve to better aid in wildlife management. Spotted hyenas showed no significant difference in the change in population abundance throughout the different years of the study (2008-2016). Spotted …
