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Introduction
The question that we would like to pursue in this project will take the form of a political formulation of a policy that we would like to implement in the Collins Run system. In order to do this we must first determine, according to existing scientific models, the type of water system that we are dealing with and what are the most relevant characteristics of ecological integrity and health that are applicable, and if possible what the "pretechnological" form of the creek was. After this we will factor in the human element and how the watershed has been changed through history by human intervention into the form that it now takes. From this we will discuss the ethical issues regarding the human interaction with this system in its present state and what, if any, responsibility we must take in the form of pro-active policy regarding this interaction. Once we have developed and composed a policy recommendation, we hope to present that recommendation to the Oxford City Council for implementation.
Research Questions
Natural Sciences:
What is the river characterization and habitat assessment of Collins Run (according to Thomson, et al.)?
-Chemical, physical, geomorphologic, biological, etc.
What is the ecological health of the river?
-Resilience, diversity, productivity, etc.
How have humans impacted the river system?
-Measure human impacts from land use, development, agriculture, pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers, waste, and pollution.
What is the ÒpretechnologicalÓ ecological integrity of the river system, drawing on historical analysis as well as scientific?
Social Sciences:
What is the ethical responsibility or role that humans play in respect to the river system?
What sort of policy recommendations are feasible and appropriate given the context?
How can science be melded with action to formulate a policy recommendation?
What issues arise when making policy recommendations?
Humanities:
What is the historical development of human interaction with the river system?
When and how did humans interact with the river system?
How do humans now interact with the river system?
What does the river mean (symbolical, ethical, cultural) to the people that live in proximity to it and/or interact with it regularly?
Interdisciplinary Approach:
The basis of this project is to integrate the natural sciences with the social sciences through a process of first assessing human interaction with the river system and its implications for river health and then formulating and proposing a policy recommendation.
It will be interdisciplinary in that it will require synthesis and integration of the natural sciences (hydrology, biology, chemistry, ecology, morphology, environmental studies), the social sciences (political science, philosophy/ethics), and the humanities (history, cultural studies).
Specific Predictions:
We predict that there will be a significant measurable impact to the ecological health and integrity of the river system due to human development in the watershed, agricultural land use, waste, fertilizers, and other forms of pollution. We are not sure what will be the cultural significance of the river to the people that interact with it regularly. We further predict that policy recommendations may include land use, pesticides and herbicides use, sewage and waste, and fertilizer use. Also, we anticipate significant problems when making policy recommendations.
Preliminary Research Design:
In terms of the natural sciences, we will utilize the river characterization and habitat assessment methods that Thomson, et al. describe. We will also draw on the readings of Rapport, et al. as well as others to assess the ecological integrity and health of the river system. Also, we will try to discern the ways humans have influenced the watershed and how it has impacted its health.
We will conduct historical research through library materials that includes the history of human interaction with the river, and when and in what form did development take place in the watershed. We will also deal with the ethical and cultural issues by interviewing and/or surveying people that interact with the river regularly either through recreation, scientific research, or residents living in proximity. For this we will most likely do a few in-depth interviews with people to discern the meaning that the river system holds for them. We will also ask questions that deal with opinions of human interaction, ethics and policy recommendations.
Then we will synthesize and integrate out scientific, historical, and cultural research to formulate a policy recommendation that seeks to restore the river systemÕs health. We will sample similar policy recommendations for assistance in this process. We will then propose the recommendation to the City Council. If that is not successful, we could perhaps initiate an educational campaign aimed at informing the people that interact with the river of the human impact and what they can do to restore its health.
References:
Books/Reports/Theses:
Bradley, Herbert. Changes in Oxford. 1979.
Brewster, Harry. The River Gods of Greece: Myths and Mountain Waters in the Hellenic World. London: I.B. Tauris Publishers, 1997.
Colwell, Frederic S. Rivermen: A Romantic Iconography of the River and the Source. Kingston, Ontario: McGill-QueenÕs University Press, 1989.
Cushing, Colbert E., and David Allan. Streams: Their Ecology and Life. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2001.
Enberg, Dennis Peter. ÒThe urban expansion of Oxford, OH, 1950-1966.Ó Thesis, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1966.
Giller, Paul S., and Bjorn Malmqvist. The Biology of Streams and Rivers. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Harland Bartholomew and Associates. ÒA Report upon population, land use & zoning, Oxford, OH.Ó Saint Louis, MO: Harland Bartholomew and Assoc., 195-?.
Herendeen, Wyman H. From Landscape to Literature: The River and the Myth of Geography. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press, 1986.
Jones, Jeremy B., and Patrick J. Mulholland, eds. Streams and Ground Waters. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2000.
Leopold, Luna B. Water, Rivers and Creeks. Sausalito, CA: University Science Press, 1997.
Losew, Donald Robert. ÒZoning and urban development: A case study, Oxford, OH.Ó Thesis, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1974.
Martin, Walter Herman. ÒExisting land use, Oxford, OH, 1955.Ó Thesis, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1955.
McGinnis, Ralph J. The History of Oxford, Ohio: From the earliest days to the present, 1930. Oxford, OH: Stewart Press, 1930.
National Research Council. Freshwater Ecosystems: Revitalizing Educational Programs in Limnology. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1996.
Outwater, Alice. Water: A Natural History. NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996.
Oxford, OH Planning Commission. ÒOxford land use plan Ð 1990.Ó James M. Jennings Associates Co., Columbus, OH, 1974.
Sanders, Randall E, ed. A Guide to Ohio Streams. Columbus, OH: Ohio Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, 2001.
Seelye, John. Prophetic Waters: The River in Early American Life and Literature. NY: Oxford University Press, 1977.
Stauffer, Julie. The Water Crisis: Constructing Solutions to Freshwater Pollution. Montreal, Canada: Black Rose Books, 1999.
Usinger, Robert L. The Life of Rivers and Streams. NY: McGraw-Hill, 1967.
Williams, Jack E., et al. Watershed Restoration: Principles and Practices. 1997.
Wohl, Ellen E. Virtual Rivers: Lessons from the Mountain Rivers of the Colorado Front Range. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001.
Zektser, Igor S. Groundwater and the Environment: Applications for the Global Community. NY: Lewis Publishers, 2000.
Websites:
American Heritage Rivers: http://www.epa.gov/rivers/
American Rivers: http://www.amrivers.org/
Butler County Auditor: http://www.butlercountyohio.org/auditor
City of Oxford: http://www.cityofoxford.org/
EPA Office of Wetlands and Watersheds: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/
Ohio Watershed Network: http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/
Sustainable Watershed Planning in Ohio: http://www.glc.org/watershed/
US Geological Survey: http://www.usgs.gov/
PDF Files/Journal Articles:
Boon, P.J. The development of integrated methods for assessing river conservation value. (pdf file) http://allusions.wcp.muohio.edu/rivers/AssessRiverValue00.pdf
Bunn, Stuart, and Peter Davies. Biological processes in running waters and their implications for the assessment of ecological integrity. (pdf file) http://allusions.wcp.muohio.edu/rivers/biolproceesesAssessImplic00.pdf
Corkum, Lynda. Conservation of running waters: Beyond riparian vegetation and diversity richness. (pdf file) http://allusions.wcp.muohio.edu/rivers/ConservRunningWaters99.pdf
Galat, David, and Robin Lipkin. Restoring ecological integrity of great rivers. (pdf file) http://allusions.wcp.muohio.edu/rivers/restoreecolriverintegrity00.pdf
Graf, William L. ÒDamage Control: Restoring the Physical Integrity of AmericaÕs Rivers.Ó Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 91 (2001).
Lafont, Michel, et al. A practical concept for the ecological assessment of aquatic ecosystems. (pdf file) http://allusions.wcp.muohio.edu/rivers/assessingriverquality.pdf
Rapport, Gaudet, et al. ÒEvaluating Landscape Health: Integrating Societal Goals and Biophysical Process.Ó Journal of Environmental Management. 53 (1998).
Thomson, Taylor, et al. ÒA Geomorphological Framework for River Characterization and Habitat Assessment.Ó Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 11 (2001).
Other Sources:
Miami University Physical Facilities: history, land use, human interaction with area.
Miami University Professors: Oxford history and land use.
Oxford Residents: Land use, cultural relationships, history.
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