This dissertation uses a new methodological approach for an in-depth analysis of three cartographic works. Studies within the discipline of the history of cartography have followed various methodologies throughout the past century. This dissertation argues that in order to come to a more complete understanding of how maps were produced...
Urban sprawl and the establishment of greenbelts to separate growing cities and towns has become a popular topic of conversation among land use professionals. Economists focus on urban growth in terms of land rents and have sought market solutions such as transfers and purchases of development rights to slow this...
In recent times, public policy debates in the United States have been very contentious and dysfunctional. To help improve this situation, a multi-discipline research effort was conducted to look at "solution papers" as a form of public participation. Specifically, the roles of objectivity and mutual respectfulness were under consideration. Foundational...
The Greenbelt Land Trust (GLT) (a grass-roots conservation group in
Oregon) is interested in a conservation plan for the Marys River Corridor. To
facilitate this effort, a resource inventory was required and a Geographic
Information System (GIS) data base used to compile the inventory (called the
Marys River Project (MRP))....
Expansion of the National Flood Insurance Program is
described in the context of a modification of Kates' Systems Model of
Human Adjustments to Natural Hazards for a small central Pennsylvania
town (1970 population=ll,O98) that became eligible for flood insurance
four months after experiencing five million dollars in flood damage
and...
Annual flood damages continue to rise in the United
States in spite of massive investments in flood control structures
since 1936. These increased losses can be attributed, in part,
to the inherent Limitations in scope and nature of traditional
"structural" approaches to flood control. Acquisition of flood
plain lands is...
Oregon's critical ground water area program was designed to protect
the integrity of ground water supplies under conditions of sustainable
yield. In areas where the demand for water exceeds the rate of natural
recharge, wells experience declining water levels. If allowed to
continue, this could eventually lead to severe social...
Instream flow protection in western prior appropriation states is a relatively new phenomenon.
Integrating instream flow protection measures with the older water law has been accomplished with varying
degrees of success. Idaho relies on appropriation of unappropriated water by the Idaho Water Resource Board
for protection of instream flows. Idaho's...
River basins provide essential services for both humans and ecosystems. Understanding the connections between ecosystems and society and their function has been at the heart of resilience studies and has become an increasing important endeavor in research and practice. In this dissertation, I define basin resilience as a river basin...
Streamflow variability can provide valuable information for nonpoint source
pollution monitoring program planning. The research papers presented in this thesis
examine selected properties of streamflow variability in Oregon to advance its application
in regional planning of water quality monitoring programs. The products of this research
depict Oregon streams by their...