Draft I: How the History of Miami University has Changed Four Mile Creek

This topic submitted by Kevin Conway, Joelyn Eppley, Nathaniel Gay, Sophia Turczynewycz ( gaynl@muohio.edu ) on 2/13/03. [ Rivers Team: Kevin Conway, Joelyn Eppley, Nathaniel Gay, Sophia Turczynewycz-Section: Cummins/Kaufman]

Introduction:
In our project, we intend to prove that Miami University has significantly altered the biodiversity, the chemical composition and the geomorphological state of Four Mile Creek. We plan to use multiple methods of research and experimentation to prove our theory. By incorporating cultural, social and scientific perspectives we will be able to adequately determine the full affects that Miami University has had on Four Mile Creek. Many readings pertain to the effect on rivers, streams and watersheds as a result of human interference and urbanization. The construction and expansion of Miami University near the Four Mile Creek is an example of urbanization of a previously undeveloped area. By examining how Four Mile Creek has changed since the conception of Miami, we will be able to determine what affect such urbanization has on waterways.

Relevance:

Books Ð

Blount, Jim. The 1900Õs, A Hundred Years in the History of Butler County Ohio. Past Present
Press, 2000
This book presents a brief description of Butler County of the twentieth century.

Blount, Jim. Flood: Butler CountyÕs Greatest Weather Disaster. Past Present Press, 2002
This book is a description of the 1913 flood that occurred in Butler County when the Great Miami River flooded.

Blount, Jim. The Civil War in Butler County. Past Present Press, 1998
This book is a description of Butler County during the Civil Way and gives an overview of Butler County during that time period.

Cummins, Hays et al. WCP 261 v. 1 and 2 Western Rivers. Oxford Copy Shop, 2003

Diamant, Rolf. A CitizenÕs Guide to River Conservation. Conservation Foundation, 1984
The title says it all. This book focuses on river conservation and how a simple citizen can take part in it.

Fraser, J.C. Determining Discharges for Fluvial Resources. 1975
This book deals with improving river environment for fishes, measuring stream health and water resource development.

Havighurst, Walter. The Miami Years: 1809-1984. Oxford Printing Company, 1958
This book is an overview of MiamiÕs history written by someone who is a distinguished faculty member of the University. It shows the growth and expansion of Miami from underdeveloped land to a public ivy.

Hover, John C. et al. Memoirs of the Miami Valley. Robert O. Law Company, 1919
This book is a history of the Miami Valley broken up into different counties, including Butler County. Again, this book shows the development and growth of the Miami Valley.

Migel, Michael J. The Stream Conservation Handbook. Crown Publishers, 1974.
This book focuses on stream conservation, fish habitat improvement and fish stocking.

Myers, Robert H. Collection of Oxford Information. The Chamber, 1971-1983
This provides information on Oxford, including a booklet on how Oxford is an "ideal al place to live, work, play, and enjoy."

Page, Doris L. and Johns, Marie. The Amish Mennonite Settlement in Butler County Ohio. The
Oxford printing Company, 1983
This book describes the variety of settlement and development within Butler County.

Sanders, Randall E. A Guide to Ohio Streams. The Ohio Chapter of American Fisheries Society,
2000
This book is a brief reference to OhioÕs streams and watersheds.

Our research relates to the larger question of how urban development effects "natural areas". Miami Unveristy represents an area of substantial development where there had previously existed wilderness.

Websites:

Miami Conservancy State of Water Resources, "Overview of the Great Miami River Watershed" http://www.miamiconservancy.org/Water_Resource_Monitoring/Water_Study_Reports/02StateWtrRsrcs8-22.pdf
This site offers various information on the Great Miami River Watershed.

Miami University Art Museum, "Four Mile Creek and Bonham, Oxford, Ohio, 1860" http://www.fna.muohio.edu/amu/full/barrow.htm
This site displays an oil painting by Charles Barrows depicting Four Mile Creek.

Miami University Natural Areas http://zoology.muohio.edu/naturalareas/#c11
This site gives information on the natural areas surrounding Miami University including Four Mile Creek and Western Woods.

National Register of Historic Places, "Ohio Ð Preble County"
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/OH/Preble/state.html
This site provides information on what parts of Four Mile Creek have been established as having historical significance.

Sewage Treatment http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~stevenjr/sewagetreatment/
This site goes over the importance of sewage treatment plans and how it all works.

The Delaware Indian Road http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maggieoh/Migrate/merle2.htm
This site describes Indian roads and migration routes that pass through Four Mile Creek.

Three Valley Conservation Trust http://www.3vct.org
This is the official website for an organization that tries to preserve the natural wilderness of the Three Valley area.

Varying Pollution Through Human Influence: Four Mile Creek, Oxford, Ohio http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/nsfall02/progress02Articles/VaryingPollutionThroughHu.html
This site shows past research and studies done on Four Mile Creek, and is similar to our project in studying human influence on Four Mile Creek.

Interdisciplinary Approach:
The science aspect of our project will focus on objective monitoring of Four Mile Creek. It is commonly accepted to study the biodiversity of a creek system to determine its health, and we plan to focus on the organisms that rely on Four Mile Creek for their survival. In doing this we will be able to establish the present status of Four Mile Creek. We will also utilize tests for determining certain elements and compounds in the creek water, such as nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and sulfate. Historical analysis of Miami UniversityÕs conception and expansion will comprise the humanities aspect of the project. We will utilize the literature describing the history of Miami and Butler County made available to us from libraries, archives, and alumni associations. We will construct a dynamic picture of MiamiÕs growth and how it has affected the surrounding lands, specifically Four Mile Creek, over the years. Interviews with local professors and Butler County residents will comprise the social science aspect of the project. This will provide us with first-hand knowledge of how Miami has grown in recent years.

Research Design
We will use literature of past studies of Four Mile Creek and natural lands of Butler County to construct the Four Mile Creek of "yesterday": the state in which the creek existed before and during certain periods of Miami UniversityÕs development. This entails reviewing historical studies of Miami University and Butler County. We will scientifically monitor Four Mile Creek now, in its present state, to construct how the creek exists today. This entails evaluation on biodiversity (the monitoring of plant and animal life), examination of geomorphological health, and tests of elemental compounds in the water. We will interview, in person, several long-term residents of Butler County and long term professors of Miami University for their perspectives on the change that has occurred in recent years. This change includes: new construction of buildings on the Miami campus, numbers of automobiles on the Miami campus, and population growth in Butler County. We will bring all theses elements together to determine: 1) how Four Mile Creek existed before Miami University; 2) how Four Mile Creek exists now; and 3) what specifically attributed to that change.

Materials and Methods
We will make use of several books, films, geological surveys, and photographic journals that depict the history and development of Miami University and Butler County. We will utilize scientific testing kits, such as testing kits for nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and sulfate. Studies on wildlife will help us determine biological health. For the interviewing process, an audio tape recorder will be used to preserve the conversations. While individual group members may have certain aspects of the project (the science aspect, the social aspect, the humanities aspect) they will execute, all members will interact with all aspects of the project. For example, if one member works primarily with the science aspect, he/ she will still interact with social and humanities aspects of the project.

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