Draft 3, Deforestation of 4MC

This topic submitted by Chelsea Nagy, Mica Scott, David Smith, and Alison Stanton ( stantoam@muohio.edu ) on 3/2/03. [ Rivers Team: Chelsea Nagy, Mica Scott, David Smith, and Alison Stanton-Section: Cummins/Kaufman]

Deforestation on Four Mile Creek

By: Chelsea Nagy, Mica Scott, David Smith, and Alison Stanton

I. Introduction

We hypothesize that we will find greater sediment load in the areas that have been deforested and downstream from these areas. Therefore more sediments will be found in Collins Run and Harkers Run should have the least while 4MC should be in between. We know that deforestation along 4MC and its tributaries has been due to cultural and unsustainable practices such as agriculture and development and has thus deteriorated the overall quality of the creek and surrounding environment. We plan on comparing the 4MC watershed with general global deforestation studies that have happened along rivers. We plan to accomplish a historical look at this geographical area's level of forestation to determine how human actions have increased or decreased the number of trees along the 4MC banks, specifically the impact of increased agriculture along the banks. In addition we plan on studying the economic reasons for our presumed deforestation including timber sales and use of land after forest clearings. This is integrally connected with the Rivers course because it studies human effects on river systems and watersheds as a whole.

Deforestation is an important problem to research, study, and understand because it is caused by changes to the environment and then causes further changes itself. Deforestation involves "cutting down, burning, and damaging of forests." (Urquhart, 1) Deforestation is caused by human activity including logging, agriculture, and urban development. Sparovek et. al. state that riparian forests are "diverse systems which are bring endangered primarily from the expansion of agricultural land." (169) Deforestation causes or contributes to global warming, soil erosion, increased sediment load, flooding, and destruction of habitats. One of the environmental phenomena deforestation contributes to is global warming because less forests means less control of greenhosue gases (Arnell 1). In addition, deforestation has contributed to modified sediment systems (Petts & Calow 214) which is why we will be testing for amount of sediments in different locations along 4MC and its tributaries Harkers Run and Collins Run. Excelerated erosion leds to increased sediment yields in rivers (Petts nd Amoros 242). "Soil erosion adjacent to the rivers alters natural fluces of terrigenous materials to the aquatic enviroment." (Gentry et. al. 1) Modern research shows that "forests retain water through the process of evapotranspiration, which process reduces flooding." (OHVEC 2) The Tri-State Environmental Resource Center says that because of habitat destruction "organisms have declined in numbers." (1)

II. Relevance of Our Research Question

A) Literature review

i. Library references: Many other individuals and organizations have addressed similar topics concerning deforestation. So far, we have found the following relevant sources.

Headman, Craig and David van Lear. "Vegetative structure and composition of southern Appalachian Riparian Forests." Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 122.2 (1995): 134-144.

This article talks about riparian forests through progressions of time and how it relates to the dynamics of riparian zones. Because the riparian zone is such a critical component to the watershed and its surrounding forests we have included this article.

Roulet, M et. al. "Effects of Recent Human Colonization on the Presence of Mercury in Amazonian eco-system." Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 112.3 (1999): 297-313.

They conclude that deforestation increases the mercury level in runoff and that it may explain the increase of mercury in aquatic ecosystems in newly colonized watersheds.

Gentry, A.H. et. al. "Deforestation and Increased Flooding of the Upper Amazon." Science 210.4476 (1980): 1354-1356.

This article discusses the changes in the Amazon chemical balance of the water in relation to deforestation effects. We're using this article because these results can be compared to 4MC.

Sparovek, Gerd et. al. "A Conceptual Framework for the Definition of the Optimal Width of Riparian Forests." Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 90.2 (2002): 169-175.

This article discusses the effects on riparian ecosystems due to the expansion of agricultural areas. We've included this article because it shows the effects of agricultural expansion on forests in riparian zones.

Goebel, P. Charles and David M. Hix. "Development of Mixed Oak Forests in Southeastern Ohio: A Comparison of Second-Growth and Old-Growth Forests." Forest Ecology and Management 84.1 (1996): 1-21.

This article discusses the history of clear-cutting in SE Ohio and the regrowth of forests. This article is relevant to our study because it shows the differences between old-growth and new-growth forests due to human interactions.

Petts, G.E. amd C. Amoros (ed.) Fluvial Hydrosystems. Chapman and Hall: NY, 1996.

This book talks about how to look at river systems from a holistic approach. It is relevant to our project because it talks about human impacts on fluvial hydrosystems and how that impacts animals and includes ways of managing water systems.

Wunder, Sven. The Economics of Deforestation. St. Martin's Press: NY, 2000.

This book discusses the history of the economics behind deforestation actions and also the short and long term economic effects of deforestation. It is relevant to our project because it offers information on the motivations behind human behavior and the lack of foresight they have.

Tucker, Richard P. and J.F. Richards. (ed.) Ohio: Microcosm of Agricultural Clearing in the Midwest. Global Deforestation and the Nineteenth-Century World Economy. Duke Press Policy Studies: NC, 1983.

The historical ideas behind deforestation are discussed in this book. The background philosophies and historical information of why we have our current landscape makes this book significant to our study.

Arnell, Nigel. Global Warming, River Flows, and Water Resources. John Wiley & Sons: NY, 1996.

This book is based on the agricultural effects on water resources and future outcomes that current environmental trends will have on river ecosystems. This is highly relevant to our study of 4MC because it takes into account future ramifications of current actions.

Coon, William F. "Estimation of Roughness Coefficients for Natural Stream Channels with Vegetated Banks." US Geological Survey, 1998.

For streams with vegetation on their banks this paper discusses the change in roughness of streams factored in by flow depth, energy gradient, size of bed material, and vegetation. It also talks about the loss of energy during large floods. This is relevant to our project because it shows how channelization of streams have effected sediment characteristics.

Soussan, J. and B.K. Sharestha and L.P. Uprety. The Social Dynamics of Deforestation: A Case Study from Nepal. The Parthenon Publishing Group: NY, 1995.

The relationships between the ecosystem, people, and the government, specifically in Nepal, are covered in this book. Policies guiding actions on the forest are included. It's relevant because it looks at peoples connection and interaction from a political rather than ecological point. We will use it as a starting place to determine what the social dynamics are in this particular area.

Petts, Geoffrey and Peter Calow. River Flows and Channel Forms. Blackwell Science: MA, 1996.

This article talks about vegetation cover as a control for storm run-off and river modeling systems for river management. This is relevant to our project because it discusses the importance of vegetation cover on the banks in order to try to control rivers.

ii. Websites

"The Ecology of the Tri-State Vicinity." Tri-State Environmental Resource Center. 12 February 2003. http://www.terconline.org/pages/content/local_ecology.html

The effects on ecological habitats by human settlements in the tri-state area are covered in this article.

Cut and Run. 11 September 2001. Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. 11 February 2003. http://www.ohvec.org/old_site/forests02.htm

The history of clear-cutting in West Virginia's old-growth forest including the damages it causes, such as flooding. This relates to rivers because of the wide negative ramifications of clear-cutting.

Global Forest Watch. 23 July 2002. World Resources Institute. 12 February 2003. http://www.wri.org/gfw

This site is useful because it has data mapping and digital technology to monitor forests.

Earth Observatory. Ed. Urquhart, Gerald and Walter Chomentowski, David Skole, and Chris Barber. "Tropical Deforestation." NASA. 13 February 2003. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Deforestation/

This is a basic introduction to deforestation and covers it on a global scale.

Revington, John. "The Causes of Deforestation." New Renaissance 3.2 (1992). 13 February 2003. http://www.ru.org/32defore.html

A brief overview of societal reasons for deforestation.

United States Geological Survey. http://www.usgs.gov

This organization does a lot of mapping including historical accounts including stream flow data. It will probably contribute a topographical map to our project.

Deforestation. 1 February 2001. UWC Enviro Facts. 13 February 2003. http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/Envfacts/facts/deforestation.htm

A brief overview of deforestation.

B)

Our research relates to the larger picture of human and environmental interactions and the lack of concern or thought given to the effects of human actions on the global environment.

III. Interdisciplinary Approach

To be an interdisciplinary project we will study scientific, societal, and cultural aspects of this question. We will be studying the affects on and by humans in relation to the watershed and the causes behind deforestation. We will study the major incidences related to deforestation along 4MC and compare our results to that of Harpers Run. Specifically, we will be looking at scientific studies such as sediment load, flood conditions, and the effect on animal habitats. From an economic perspective, we will examine crop yields and profits made with relation to the land cleared for agriculture. What societal organizations, whether businesses or citizens groups or private land owners, have influenced the amount of forests along 4MC? We will also examine peoples' views towards 4MC throughout history as expressed in literature of their day. In this way we will combine sociology, economics, literature, history, chemistry, and ecology.

IV. Specific Research Design

Our experiments consist of measuring sediments in 4MC and its tributaries. We plan on taking water samples to test for sediment load. We will be mindful of where along the length of the river the sample is taken, how close to shore the sample is taken, when it was taken in relation to the latest precipitation event, and what depth it was taken at.

We will sample from four principle locations: the headwaters, just before 7MC, and where two tributaries, Harkers Run and Collins Run, meet 4MC. There will be 5 samples taken from each site. The first two samples will be taken from the opposite shores of the creek. The third sample will be taken from the surface of the middle of the river, while the fourth will be taken from a middle depth in the middle of the river. The fifth will be taken from a low depth in the middle of the river. We will collect data 4 times to ensure accurate results approximately once a week with specific attention paid to getting high and low water readings. The specific tests we will run include sediment volume which encompasses velocity and area of the site.

We will get a topographical map of 4MC to use when analysizing results of our tests. This is in order to get a comprehensive view of how the sample data relates to where it was taken and how sediments progress downstream. We believe the USGS and the Miami University Geography Department will have these or other useful maps available. We will also look for historical maps to examine the human impacts on the 4MC watershed.

The Butler County Historical Society will allow us access to records relevant to the urban and agricultural development of areas surrounding 4MC and its tributaries. We will specifically be looking for trends in population growth over the years and the correlation of development to deforestation over the years.

Social and cultural dimensions will come from literature studies. The historical, especially the societal aspects of it will be heavily highlighted including archives and economical records and data. Preliminary research lets us know companies find the wealth of log exports more valuable than the environmental functions forests serve. "Capistrano and Kiker confirm the positive impact of log export values on forest depletion." (Wunder 28) Governmental policies governing the 4MC area will be included. The World Banks new forest policy is one example of the important influence of governmental poicy on rivers (Soussan et. al. 23). The cultural dimensions will come from fiction of the time to illustrate the relations of humans to the land.

V. Materials and Methods

Materials will include a tape measure, closable plastic vials, topographical map, historical maps, velocity machine, coffee filters, and computer to perform statistical tests. The tape measure will be used to determine dimensions of river fluctuations and locations of sample sites. The plastic vial containers will be used to collect samples of water.

We will measure the creek with the tape measure in order to later determine area and use the velocity machine to get an accurate reading on how much water flows per unit time so we can later determine how much sediment flows per unit time. Water samples will also be collected at this time. Later, in the lab, we will bake the coffee filter, measure it, poor the water sample through it, bake it again, and mesuare it again. By subtracting the first measurement from the second we will be able to determine how much sediment was in that water sample per unit. As part of our analysis we will average each site for the week based on the 5 samples in addition to maintaining the data seperately. Every step at the site and in our process will be documented with digital pictures.

In addition we will use the Butler County Historical Society and other related resources including possibly Jim Blount to gain a perspective on cultural and societal history. Topics of particular importance to address with these sources include the reasons for agricultural and industrial growth in the area.

Our team will work collaboratively on all three major components. While we will start by finding out our own journal articles and literature and will test different sections of the creek, we will all analyze and take part in each step of the process. Specifically, we will gather samples on the same day though in different sample zones and run the tests together. All group members will be present for all analyzation and writing tasks.

Timeline

- Societal Research/Context (February)
- Cultural Research/Contect (March)
- Sampling, Testing, analyzing (throughout semester)

We have decided on this timeline to look at how the river will change throughout the next three months. In addition to that, the societal and cultural contexts have led to the current scientific conditions and nicely build upon each other.

VI. Results

We do not have data yet but we expect to find greater sediment load in deforested areas and in sites downstream. Our results won't just be statistical results and comparisons, but also tables of data and diagrams of where samples were taken. We anticipate referencing the World Forest Watch website. In addition, images will be used to illustrate our observations and the current conditions of the creek and riparian zone. "Riparian buffer zones act as a filter for particulates and storage for solutes between hill slope and river channel." (Petts and Amoros 277) In addition, the USGS addresses how loss of vegetation relates to increased soil erosion in the riparian zone (USGS 9). The case study in southern Appalachian further demonstrates the importance of riparian zones as a buffer for erosion (Hedman and VanLear 134). We will include a data sheet when we have data.

VII. Discussion and Conclusion

Included in the discussion will be information about how general global deforestation compares to 4MC. Tucker and Richards, in their book Global Deforestation and the 19th Century World Economy, specifically cite Ohio and we will utilize their global comparisons. The Amazon will serve as a drastic size comparison to determine if the same phenomenon are occuring in both places (Gentry and Lopez-Parodi 1354). As with any project we will include areas for further study dependent on what we discover. Integration of the different disciplines we have utilized will be very apparent in this section to give a holistic, interdisciplinary understanding of the deforestation occurring along 4MC.

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