Rainfall runoff erosivity (R) is one key climate factor that controls water erosion. Quantifying the effects of climate change–induced erosivity change is important for identifying critical regions prone to soil erosion under a changing environment. In this study we first evaluate the changes of R from 1970 to 2090 across...
Forest soils of the Pacific Northwest contain immense amounts of carbon (C). Increasing acreage burned by severe wildfire in the western Oregon Cascades threatens belowground carbon stocks and future site viability. This study investigates forest soil carbon changes after the 2020 Holiday Farm wildfire in a young, intensively managed Douglas-fir...
This study presents (1) the overall concept of assessing non-federal western rangeland soil loss rates at a national scale for determining areas of vulnerability for accelerated soil loss using USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Resources Inventory (NRI) data and the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) and (2)...
Agricultural practices, including tillage, fertilization, and residue management, can affect surface runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient cycling. These processes, in turn, may adversely affect (1) quality of aquatic resources as habitat for amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, (2) costs of treating surface and ground water to meet drinking water standards, and...
This study explores how multispecies social networks influence small farmers' perceptions of and responses to climate change across Oregon. Local food sovereignty and food system resilience depend on a robust local food system in which small farms play a critical role. To maintain their viability, small farmers must adapt to...
Remote sensing techniques have been applied extensively in geospatial investigations, but their use in measuring soil physical attributes has been far less explored. Soil particle size distributions (PSD) are indispensable in modeling pedological and hydrological processes as well as biodiversity. However, estimation of PSD via gravimetric measurement methods, the standard...
Surface water quality is a growing concern in the Willamette River Basin and elsewhere. The region's growing population is dependent on the availability of clean water for drinking water, irrigation, wastewater dilution, and wildlife habitat. Watershed management to produce economic goods and environmental services requires an understanding of basic hydrologic...
This thesis investigates how beginning, women farmers, within in a women farmers’ network in the Willamette Valley, Oregon are accessing land and farming information. Using ethnographic, community-based research methods, I ask how land access mediates their ability to care for their land and soil. Are these farmers interested in fostering...
An improved understanding of the ecohydrologic relationships in semiarid rangelands is imperative for the development of effective rehabilitation and land management practices. This thesis addresses the ecohydrologic relationships of two significant issues concerning semiarid rangeland ecosystems: western juniper encroachment and increasing stream temperatures.
This thesis is divided into two chapters;...
In the Columbia Basin, pre-plant soil fumigation is commonly used in potato production for pest control, but fumigation can kill non-target organisms within the soil, result in unintended shifts in the microbial community, and disrupt long-term soil health. Cover crops have been shown to strongly influence the numbers and communities...