Name: Abbott, Justin H.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Rich Bowden, Jim Palmer
Title: Allegheny College Biodiesel Initiative: The Feasibility of Campus Biodiesel Production and Use
Abstract: Biodiesel is a renewable alternative energy source produced by reacting vegetable oil in the presence of methanol and a catalyst. Biodiesel can be made safely using liquid processing equipment, it can be used in any diesel engine with no modification, and it can be blended with petroleum diesel in any ratio. In addition, biodiesel yields certain environmental advantages compared with petroleum diesel. This project establishes the basis for building a mobile biodiesel processing unit at Allegheny College to recycle waste vegetable oil from campus dining halls and Meadville area restaurants into biodiesel for use in Allegheny College Physical Plant diesel equipment.
A feasibility study was performed to examine the economics associated with building and operating a 100-gallon capacity biodiesel processor on campus. This study found that a reactor could be constructed for approximately $3,000 with an annual operating cost of approximately $5,000. Compared with the current price Allegheny College pays for petroleum diesel, it is found that over half of the petroleum diesel fuel used in campus diesel equipment could be replaced with biodiesel for an additional cost of $0.51 per gallon. The potential for production and use of biodiesel will serve as a valuable educational model and will help promote sustainability and energy independence at Allegheny College.
Name: Bradley, James J.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Terry Bensel, Scott Wissinger
Title: Management Effects on the Current Stakeholder Conflict in the Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) Fishery
Abstract: The Atlantic menhaden is a filter feeding fish in the herring family that ranges from Nova Scotia to Florida. The menhaden fishery is the biggest fishery on the Atlantic coast, in both numbers of fish landed and weight of fish. The regulation of the species is complex due to the interjurisdictional nature of the fishery, and is managed from an interstate level by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Menhaden are currently caught for bait or to be reduced (broken apart into their components). While the bait fishery makes up a sizable amount of the catch, it is shadowed by the huge catches of the reduction industry. The reduction industry currently operates in two states, North Carolina and Virginia. With the resurgence of the striped bass populations in the Chesapeake Bay, the value of menhaden as a prey species was brought to the attention of the public. The ASMFC was pressured to create an addendum that would address the concerns of the public while more research planned to determine if a localized depletion of the resource is occurring.
The stakeholder groups are made of those that are in favor of a cap on the reduction industry and those that are against such action. Those against the cap are mainly members of the industry, a group that has been losing influence in the management of the species as the other stakeholder groups, such as sports, fishermen and environmental groups, have gained numbers. This study has found that the actions of the ASMFC were reasonable on a temporary basis, and further research as well as cooperation with the reduction industry are key in the future sustainable management of the Atlantic menhaden.
Name: Gaertner, William P.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Terry Bensel, Rachel O’Brien
Title: An Aerial Photographic Approach to Analyzing the Relationship Between Public Utilities and Development
Abstract: Urban sprawl, which is development that occurs on the outskirts of cities, has been happening in cities, and their surrounding areas, across the globe. Sprawl creates development that takes up more space than is needed because there are undeveloped areas interspersed among developed areas. This type of land cover or land use can lead to mostly negative impacts.
This project looks at sprawl in Crawford County, Pennsylvania as it expands into the outskirts of the city of Meadville. The extension of public utilities generally is a contributor to sprawl, and a land cover analysis using aerial photographs examines this idea in the region. This is important because comprehensive plans for the region show that public utilities will be extended beyond their serviced areas in the near future.
The results of the analysis show that it is an issue in this location, and a Geographic Information System is used to create a map of the projected commercial development that might occur if sewer lines are extended in the region. The implications of this projected development are discussed. Finally, the principles of smart growth are used to show how future development in the area can be improved.
Name: Gorski, Gary C.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Rich Bowden, Terry Bensel
Title: An Analysis of the Relationship of Political Party to the Opinions of College Students on Environmental Issues at Six Schools in Northwest Pennsylvania
Abstract: While a common perception is that environmentalism is mostly a concern of liberals and Democrats, there is considerable evidence that environmental issues are a significant concern of many Americans from a wide range of political beliefs. Through a 17 question survey conducted at six schools in Northwest PA to over 200 students, this project aimed to assess how students’ political beliefs relate to their opinions on environmental issues, in order to allow individuals seeking to build support for environmental causes to gain a better understanding of their audience.
Results indicated that political party, rather then political viewpoint, was a more accurate indicator of students’ opinions on environmental issues. While Democratic and Republican students each comprised roughly 1/3 of total responses, the responses of the remaining 1/3 of students closely reflected the opinions of the democratic students. Although the majority of students indicated some concern about environmental issues, Republican students were generally less likely the other students to identify as environmentalists or take environmental courses, less concerned about the state of the environment, and less supportive of various efforts to protect the environment then students of other political beliefs.
Name: Green, Aubrye A.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Mike Maniates, Terry Bensel
Title: Dining Out Green: A look at the green restaurant movement
Abstract: The restaurant industry is a major contributor to the American economy as well as to many of the major environmental problems facing humanity. Such things as the development of energy and water efficient restaurant technologies are helping to push the industry towards sustainability. By exploring how the industry contributes to major environmental problems in chapter one, steps that will move a restaurant towards sustainability have been derived and explained in chapter two. For example, a restaurant could implement a recycling and composting program, which would decrease the habitat loss and pollution associated with waste disposal. All of the derived steps are incorporated into a business plan for the optimal sustainable restaurant in Meadville, Pennsylvania, detailed in chapter three. Although it is a common misconception that environmental sustainability must come at the cost of economic instability the business plan for an environmentally and economically sound restaurant, clarified in chapter four, shows that both are achievable at very little economic cost and with major environmental returns.
Name: Griffin, David J.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Eric Pallant, Rich Bowden, Beth Watkins
Title: Are the Standards of Allegheny’s Theater and Communication Arts (TCA) Building Compatible with LEED Certification?
Abstract: Commercial and residential buildings consume enormous amount of energy, accounting for two-thirds of all electricity and one-third of all energy used in the United States. There are other problems with traditional building construction, such as leading to poorer air quality. The E.P.A. estimates that indoor air quality is 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor air quality. Considering that we spend 80% of our time indoors, it is critical that we minimize the detrimental effects of buildings on the larger environment and us. Green buildings and particularly LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified structures are a construction strategy that can reduce environmental impacts while also helping the bottom line. LEED is a third party certifier that ensures a level of energy and environmental design is achieved for building projects. LEED utilizes a point system that designates certification status at 26-32 points, Sliver 33-38 points, Gold 39-51 points, and Platinum 52-69 points. The benefits of LEED include increased energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and a general reduction in the environmental impacts of a building. A LEED certified green building has already been implemented at Allegheny College with the North Village project.
When the design phase came to the TCA (Theater Communication Arts) building, green design was not considered. A LEED certified green building was thought to be incompatible with the functionality of a theater and the budget available for this project. In addition, the architectural designs had already been completed. I discovered that green design is compatible with almost any building design, including the requirements of the TCA. Several professionals in the construction and architectural field, including those who have previously worked on LEED buildings, reviewed my findings. The results were that the TCA could achieve 33 points, enough for LEED Silver. The results of my study also found that Allegheny can achieve LEED certification for the TCA through less than a 1% investment of the overall budget. The minimal cost for LEED certifying the TCA is between $180,000-200,000. There are several grant programs including the Kresge Foundation that provides between $25,000-100,000 toward green building construction. Therefore, Allegheny can achieve LEED certification for the TCA without any major changes to the design of the building, while contributing to a better environmental future.
Name: Griswold, Dana F.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Eric Pallant, Kerry Bakken
Title: The Crimson Tide of Lieutenant’s Island
Abstract: Since the beginning of time, whales have been referred to in many cultures as mysterious creatures of the deep, instilling a sense of wonder and wildness in the hearts of humans. However, humans have not always respected the wildness of whales, and for centuries hunted them for baleen, meat, and oil. Some species were overexploited to the edge of extinction. Although far from extinction, pilot whales have been hunted around the globe. Even off the coasts of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, whalers would drive thousands of pilot whales ashore to meet a grisly death. Due to their unwavering sense of loyalty towards members of their pod, pilot whales were easily forced to beach. Once beached, whalers could strip them of their valuable components, and then leave the whales to rot. While the philosophies of humans have changed dramatically over the past two centuries, those of pilot whales have remained steadfast. These whales continue to possess the strong bonds of community within their pods, which is why they are one of the only species to beach themselves in mass numbers. While pilot whales are no longer driven ashore against their will, they do continue to strand themselves for reasons that are still only speculated upon. This essay not only deals with the change in attitude and the struggle of humans to discover their appropriate role in preserving the wildness and protecting the lives of pilot whales, but also tells the story of two unforgettable days of strandings on the bay-side shores of Cape Cod in late July of 2002.
Name: Klingensmith, Katie M.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Rich Bowden, Elizabeth Ozorak
Title: Honoring the Creator Through the Choices of Catholic Congregations
Abstract: Theologically based and practically oriented, this thesis can serve as a resource guide for Catholic pastors of the Meadville Deanery to include environmental awareness as a part of the church operation. The Catholic attitude toward creation is one of stewardship, with stewardship defined as the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. A good steward will manage nature in a wise, self-controlled, and non-wasteful manner, always taking care to sustain the original functions of natural systems. Pope John Paul II has called for a “renewed attempt to view ourselves, one another, and the world around us within the perspective of the divine design for creation” in his Declaration on the Environment in 2002. This thesis focuses on the areas of energy, office supplies, water use, recycling, landscaping, parking lot, carpeting, timber, paint, cleaning supplies, and food. In each of these areas pastors can implement changes for greater ecological awareness in order to reduce degradation of the environment.
Name: McIntyre, Brendan D.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Mike Maniates, Rich Bowden
Title: Lunkasoo the Uniter: Cougar and Myth in the Northern Appalachians
Abstract: Increasing empirical evidence suggests that cougars (Puma concolor) are returning to the northeast United States, or at least are making extended forays into that territory. Though considered extirpated by both state and federal Fish and Wildlife Services, DNA confirmations of cougar presence in New Brunswick, Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula and eastern townships, and Massachusetts, among other locations, provide a firmer foundation for assertions by both the general public and scientific community that recolonization of the species’ former range is underway. However, despite the animal’s mythical stature, cougars have yet to become a critical conservation issue in the Northeast. The return of this predator will have far-reaching ecological consequences; however, given the extent of forest recovery and abundance of prey species, the limiting factor in this event will be human response. Whereas Americans have traditionally assumed a belligerent stance toward large predators, the effects of their removal from ecosystems are now better understood. The cougar in the Northern Appalachians represents an opportunity for this segment of modern society to change how it interacts with the natural world, to rediscover the physical and spiritual bonds that connect the land and its living things.
Name: Noorbakhsh, Steven A.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Eric Pallant, Mike Maniates
Title: LEED Certification and Environmental Sustainability at Allegheny College
Abstract: Allegheny College is known for its excellent environmental science programs and leadership in environmentally sound practices. Beginning in the fall of 2005, research was conducted to determine the feasibility of designing the North Village development of new town house dormitories to LEED certification standards. I interviewed six individuals that were highly influential in the decision making process behind the LEED certification process of the North Village project. I was able to gain insight into why such decisions are made, and how advocates of green building can influence future projects. Common influences on why LEED certification was applied were student demand and economic payoffs of green construction attributes. The interviews indicated that LEED certification of the North Village followed in the college’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Research indicates that the most effective way to overcome communication and product research lapses is to hire a campus sustainability coordinator position that reports to the administration. The LEED certification of the North Village is a commendable step forward in sustainability on campus, however instituting a sustainability coordinator position at the college would allow for increased efficiency in communication between interest groups as well as provide information on sustainable practices.
Name: Perez, Daniel H.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Terry Bensel, Scott Wissinger
Title: Looking Back to Understand the Tugen Community: Case Studies of Pastoral Development in East Africa
Abstract: The Tugen are a community of predominantly agro-pastoralists who live in Kenya’s Central Rift Valley. They, like many pastoral groups in East Africa, face a climate where their mode of production has become increasingly difficult and risky to pursue. This has threatened their food security and exposed them to rates of structural poverty, which undermines their development. To understand the origins of structural poverty among the Tugen and to contrast their development with discourses of poverty from other pastoral groups is to come closer to a solution in the fight against rural poverty in Africa. This paper aims to analyze pastoral poverty among the Tugen. It does it by combining observations and lessons learned from the researcher’s seven months living among the Tugen on the shores of Lake Bogoria with numerous scholarly documents regarding pastoral development. These works form case studies and create a historical context for pastoralism and its development in East Africa. In conclusion, this paper argues that if sustainable development is to be achieved for Tugen agro-pastoralists three factors must be resolved. They are as follows: the loss of access to land and valuable natural resources like pasture and water, the disintegration of social and economic networks for trade and food security and the decreased off-take of people from the region to alleviate the population pressure.
Name: Perryman, Jessica M.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Jim Palmer, Eric Pallant
Title: Investigation of Lead Levels and GIS analysis of Connectivity to Ground and Surface Water in Industrial and Residential Roadside Soils in Meadville, PA
Abstract: Prolonged low-level and short-term high-level lead exposure can cause a number of significant health problems, especially kidney malfunction, sterility, neurological defects, nervous system malfunction, and fetal damage. Although, many of these problems have been noted throughout time as detrimental to health or even fatal at blood levels as low as 10 micrograms per deciliter, lead is still highly used today in metallurgy, the manufacture of batteries, and as a trace additive to automotive gasoline. The purpose of this study is to asses the current lead levels in selected roadside soils at industrial and residential sites in and around Meadville, Pennsylvania and to determine the possible risk of human exposure to lead based on the relationship of these sites to ground and surface water using GIS analysis. AAS analysis of samples showed that industrial and residential sites varied significantly from each other with a difference of 11 ppm for the mean values of the sites. Industrial sites show increased lead levels (ppm) at a 2-meter distance from the roadway. GIS mapping of water sources and sample sites showed that a variety of sites showed a possible risk for water contamination based on analysis factors.
This project was supported in part by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Name: Picciano, Jennifer A.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Mike Maniates, Terry Bensel
Title: The Greening of the American Lawn: A Better Approach to Lawn Care
Abstract: Once home to seemingly endless forests, prairies, and deserts that sustained a wide variety of flora and fauna, the American Landscape in many ways has now been drastically changes and homogenized. Kentucky bluegrass, neatly trimmed hedgerows, and mulched flowerbeds are now often the norm and have replaced little blue stem, savanna, and wildflowers. The popularity of the lawn and the ever-growing lawn care industry that supports it stem from our cultural view that sees ourselves existing separate from nature. Because of a need to control the unknown wilderness, forests were cleared and land was dominated and destroyed. Lawns became barriers to protect and separate humans from the natural, and were a way to exert control over the environment.
Lawns and lawn care in America have the potential to significantly alter our environment and ecosystems. This study explores traditional lawn care practices and analyzes their impact on biodiversity, soil, water, and air quality. Natural and organic lawn care practices are also examined as alternatives to traditional lawn care regimes. This study also looks at the obstacles facing these alternatives and considered the role of education, outreach, and policy in promoting a shift towards more sustainable lawn care. Finally, with the knowledge that that lawn is an artificial, created phenomenon, this work asks if the lawn should be foregone altogether and if a new paradigm of our relationship with nature is needed.
Name: Porter, Katherine M.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Eric Pallant, Kerry Bakken
Title: Shades of Gray: Stories on Losing the Rural Past
Abstract: Each year, the state of Pennsylvania loses anywhere from 250 to 350 farms, while experiencing an increase in average herd size. Small family farms are being replaced by much larger confinement operations. Across northwestern Pennsylvania, farming communities are failing. The old bank barns, fence lines, and farm machinery are sad reminders of the rural past. I visited the dairy farm I knew as a child, which is now home to a few beef cows. I also traveled to two farm dispersal sales where I had the chance to visit with farmers and learn more about their lives. Lastly, a farmer in Mercer County agreed to an informal interview. His farm stands out from the rest as one of the best in the region, but unfortunately, he like so many sees the discontinuation of his dairy in the near future. Visiting his farm was an experience I will never forget, he is a man that truly loves his farm, his land, and his life. My hope is that the stories I have told will provide a glimpse into this gentle way of life that is quickly fading. It was my intention to show what is lost when family farms perish.
This project was supported in part by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Name: Pugliese, Andrew P.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Mike Maniates, Don Goldstein
Title: Surpassing the Bar: Eco-Effectiveness and the Triple Bottom Line
Abstract: The sustainability of the modern economy and the society of which it is a part has been placed in jeopardy. Many social, political, and economic tools have attempted to turn the tide of unsustainability and secure a prosperous tomorrow. These tools have shifted the responsibility from the politician to the consumer, and onto corporations. Previous tools centered on command-and-control strategies and restrictions to growth. As such, those upon whom they were used poorly received these attempts. Two contemporary tools that attempt to create sustainability are triple bottom line business practices and eco-effective design principles. This paper explores what makes these two tools the best solution to an unsustainable economy. In addition the paper incorporates much of the written literature on the topics of eco-effectiveness, the triple bottom line and the ways in which they impact the economy. Patagonia, Inc. is used as a case study to investigate how these tools have already been implemented. The assessment and recommendations are based on the findings as described in the paper and are intended to bring clarity to the topic.
Name: Schoenborn, Blair A.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Rich Bowden, Gordon Whitney
Title: Ecotourism in Meadville, Pennsylvania: Interpretive Bicycling and Canoeing Package Tours
Abstract: Tourism is a booming industry that has emerged as a significant contributor to the economic well-being of many countries throughout the world, first and third world nations alike. Nature and adventure tourism have become especially prevalent as more and more travelers flock to natural areas seeking all sorts of outdoor adventures from hiking to biking to white water rafting. The rising numbers of visitors to these natural areas are placing a significant amount of pressure on the natural assets of these destinations. Concern for the destruction of these natural areas has generated the creation of another form of tourism known as ecotourism. This is defined by the International Ecotourism Society as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” (TIES, 2004).
Ecotourism practices are surfacing as defense against harmful impacts that arise from increasing numbers of visitors. By instilling the values of ecotourism in an area before this boom occurs, harmful impacts can be minimized. As natural area tourism continues to grow and establish itself in small, rural communities, places like northwestern Pennsylvania need to be prepared. Indeed, providing sustainable tourism options for travelers is an important step towards ensuring the conservation of Crawford County’s natural assets. The bicycling and canoeing tours for this project have been created for this purpose; they consist of sustainable and educational trips that will offer participants a general knowledge of the area’s conservation concerns and the principles and guidelines for being a sustainable traveler.
Crawford County’s natural assets provide numerous opportunities to educate the public about the environment and conservation. Within its borders are various lakes, multiple farms, and vast wooded areas; not to mention French Creek, a famously diverse waterway, runs through the county. Unfortunately, though, these natural areas are threatened by numerous environmental issues. For instance, agriculture and timber are important components of the region’s economy, yet they pose serious threats to French Creek, the lakes in the area, and the forests and woodlots that make up the landscape. Furthermore, the history of these industries in the region have been affecting the quality of the land for years. Also, pollution and industrial waste problems threaten the natural assets of the Crawford County region. Not only do many small industries exist in the area, but also there are many brownfields that are lying empty, polluting both the environment and the scenery.
This project created bicycling and canoeing tours that will guide visitors through Crawford County’s many natural areas and provide information on why these areas are important, why they should be protected, and how individuals can be active participants in conserving them. Specific topics addressed are agriculture, forestry, land-use history, brownfield redevelopment, stream ecology, riparian zones, fishing, French Creek, Woodcock Lake, Tamarack Lake, and Ernst Conservation Seeds. By providing these tours to visitors, Crawford County is taking the first step towards sustainable tourism, and eventually ecotourism, before any visitor booms occur.
This project was supported in part by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Name: Sommers, Anna K.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Rich Bowden, Eric Pallant
Title: Subsistence Farming In Northeast Ohio: A Start-Up Guide
Abstract: This thesis serves to act as a guide for those wishing to start an organic subsistence farm. Since the Green Revolution after World War II, conventional agriculture has flourished with the aim to feed the world. Though the technology created in the Green Revolution helped increase production on the farm, it has also had a lasting impact on the rest of the world. Environmental impacts from conventional farming include, but are not limited to: erosion, which leads to sedimentation of rivers and waterways; water pollution, due to leaching of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; and water conservation issues, due to intensive irrigation. Through out the last century many people have become aware of these impacts, and have fought to change the business of agriculture. The Organic Foods Production Act passed in 1990 changed how America looked at agriculture. This spurred a new type of agriculture in America; one that would be less invasive and one that would learn from nature, and not try to fight it. Subsistence farming is one type of alternative agricultural system that has arisen out of the polluted landscape. This type of farming is when a person grows all or most of his or her own food. I one day hope to own a subsistence farm, because I believe that this is one way that I can make the world a better place. Through my investigations into subsistence farming, I discovered that there are not a lot of texts out there that include economics into their discussion, and the texts were not specific to a general region. My thesis aims to be used as a start up guide for those interested in creating an organic subsistence farm in northeast Ohio.
Name: Stallard, Jaclyn C.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Mike Maniates, Eric Pallant
Title: Unlocking the Origins of Political Opportunity: Student Roles and Power Potential in Social and Environmental Movements
Abstract: The Take Back Your Time (TBYT) national campaign wishes to connect overconsumption, declining social capital, environmental degradation, and a host of other societal problems to one thing: a lack of free time. TBYT has taken significant forward strides since it originated in 2003, however, it still requires increased manpower and mass public support. This project argues that these resources may rest with students who wish to identify with TBYT, apply its ideology to their lives, and work towards a more time-friendly future. As such, this project couples the issues of time poverty and student activism to locate a vast, untapped venue of political opportunity. This project: (1) familiarizes readers with the TBYT campaign, its recent actions, and the existing state of the initiative, (2) examines political theory to identify patterns in social movement creation, (3) explores the case study example of United Students Against Sweatshops, and (4) offers organizers, social movement theorists, and students themselves a guide for organizing college and university students in the name of time. This project illustrates that college campuses are settings ready-made for solidarity. The project’s investigations indicate that propagating a campus message requires that students focus on five elements: moral identity, networking, education, personalization, and strategy. This project explains the relevance of each of these elements and illustrates how their individual importance may shift over time.
Name: Taxel, Simon A.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Mike Maniates, Eric Pallant
Title: Time Famine and Material Satisfaction among Meadville’s Emergency Medical Professionals
Abstract: Time famine is “epidemic of overwork” and “over-scheduling that threatens our health, families and relationships, communities and environment”. This study examines how the experience of time famine in Meadville’s emergency medical professionals is mitigated by the nature of their profession. It is divided into three primary sections. The first discusses the origin and nature of time famine. The second focuses on the origins and externalities of mass consumption as it relates to material satisfaction, while the final section explores the lives of emergency workers of Meadville. As part of the third section a survey was conducted among the employees of two local ambulance services to gauge time famine and material satisfaction. It was found that the emergency medical workers in Meadville suffer from an extreme degree of time famine but are relatively materially satisfied. The effects of time famine were lessened among the survey group for two primary reasons: EMS workers have a unique perspective on life due to the experiences they have in the field and most find a great deal of personal satisfaction in their work. The material obtained in this study has important implications for many people. For environmentalists it is clear the increased job satisfaction leads to increased material satisfaction and decreased consumption. For those people working in the take back your time movement, the relationship that people have with their work may be as important as the number of hours that are spent on the job. Finally young people as the next generation of workers and parents need to consider what they will get out of their work and not just the paycheck.
Name: Warner, Emily L.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Studies
Thesis Committee: Terry Bensel, Eric Pallant
Title: Perceptions of Land Development and Conservation in Hampshire County, West Virginia: Implications for the Future
Abstract: Sprawling development has diminished farmland and natural areas throughout the United States’ landscape. Hampshire County, West Virginia is particularly vulnerable, due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. Through forty surveys and eight interviews with key informants, this project aimed to assess land development’s impacts on the county and what goals community stakeholders have for the county’s future. The overarching objective was to determine strategies for future planning and mechanisms for compromise among different parties.
Respondents reported a high quality of life in Hampshire County and placed most value on the rural environment and community atmosphere. Growth and development were top community concerns, followed by insufficient employment and the county school system. Development was seen to positively affect the economy but to threaten the overall quality of life. Loss of farms and forests was of high concern, and respondents supported funding, regulation, and economic incentive schemes to protect these lands. They also cited development’s benefits and inevitability and stressed that planning should aim to control rather than to stop development. Respondents suggested vision-driven county planning, augmented by stakeholder inclusion and willingness to compromise, as the key mechanism for managing development.
This project was supported in part by the Class of 1939 Senior Research Fund and the Henry Luce Foundation.
Name: Wilmore, Seth B.
Date: Spring 2006
Major: Environmental Science
Thesis Committee: Scott Wissinger, Terry Bensel
Title: A Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Model for Predicting Wetland Area and Location
Abstract: Wetlands have decreased dramatically in total area in the United States since the late 1700s. This loss in area makes the preservation of remaining wetlands critical because of the many ecosystem services they provide. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), I created a model to predict wetland location and area in order to improve upon the accuracy and efficiency of wetland identification using existing datasets (National Wetlands Inventory (NWI); National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD)). These datasets have several wetland identification shortcomings that necessitate new methods for wetland predictions of location and area. The model used slope, floodplain, hydrology, and soils datasets. It was iteratively fine-tuned on the Sugar Lake division of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge to create final model iteration for modeling wetlands previously unidentified and identified by the NWI or NLCD. When run on the larger Muddy Creek watershed, the final model predicted large areas of previously unidentified wetlands and large overlap with existing wetlands datasets. While the predictions might overestimate wetland area, especially on private land, they identify tracts of unidentified wetlands that represent valuable conservation opportunities. Finally, my study demonstrates the power of GIS modeling in wetland preservation.
This project was supported in part by the Class of 1939 Senior Research Fund.