Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Residents' attitudes toward water resource protection in metropolitan Portland, Oregon

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/d504rn82h

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  • Three research questions are addressed in this study: (1) To what degree do residents support/oppose various aspects of water resources protection? (2) What factors explain residents' attitudes? and, (3) How do attitudes vary between participants and nonparticipants of place-based groups (watershed councils and neighborhood associations)? The population of interest is residential property owners and participants of place-based groups in the Johnson Creek Watershed of the Portland metropolitan region, Oregon. Data were collected via preliminary interviews and a mail questionnaire, and both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. Four unique aspects of attitudes toward water resource protection were evaluated - general importance, support/opposition to government, regulations, and economic measures, in addition to an overall index comprising these dimensions. Substantial support exists for water resource protection with regard to water quality protection, education and restoration, particular regulations, and funding mechanisms that `make the polluter pay.' Opposition is strongest towards income/property taxes and government efforts. Significant explanatory factors for attitudes are subjective cognitive factors including environmental and political beliefs and affective attachment to conceptual regions. Distance to water is not an important explanatory variable, yet attitudes do differ among residents in varying proximities to water. Analyses indicate that residents within one-quarter to one-half mile of streams are most supportive of protection efforts, while people with water on or bordering their property are most opposed to regulations and economic support diminishes at a decreasing rate away from streams. Watershed council participants are more supportive than non-participants on most attitudinal dimensions, and neighborhood association participants are more supportive than non-participants economically, which may be due to higher income and education levels among group participants. Based on research findings, balanced programs emphasizing education, restoration, and stewardship, along with specific, enforceable regulations and funding mechanisms that `make the polluter pay' are recommended. Equity issues are critical, especially in terms of impacts on residential-business land uses and upland-downstream residents. Subjective understanding of resource issues and normative beliefs must also be considered in developing environmental protection programs. Active solicitation emphasizing the benefits of participation is suggested to increase involvement of residents and place-based groups in water resource protection activities.
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file details Larson_Kelli_L_2004_pt1.pdf 08/08/2017 Pubblico
file details Larson_Kelli_L_2004_pt2.pdf 08/08/2017 Pubblico