Dissertations / Theses: 'Water management practices'

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Steele, Kelsi Lynne. "Atrazine best management practices : impact on water quality." Thesis, Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/660.

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Draper, Desré. "Water management practices in selected Cape Town hotels." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2879.

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Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009
The City of Cape Town implemented water restrictions from November 2004 and all residents in Cape Town had to rethink their water management practices. In the context of global environmental initiatives, this was a positive move as South Africans need to change the way water is used in line with global environmental practices. The increasing emphasis for the hospitality industry to “green the business” and implement environmental management practices forms the basis of this research project. The study focused on what water management practices are currently being utilised in selected Cape Town hotels. Initiatives available to assist the hospitality industry in South Africa were also researched to determine what assistance there is for local hoteliers who are implementing water management practices. An objective of the study was the inclusion of recommendations that hoteliers can use as a starting point when implementing water management practices. The study focused on a study amongst selected three, four and five star graded hotels in the central business district of Cape Town and Waterfront. Quantitative methods were used to generate data relating to the research objectives. A questionnaire was administered to representatives of the sampled 44 hotels to determine current water management practices. Guests within the sample group received a separate questionnaire to determine their perceptions with regard to water management practices in South African hotels. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). The findings of the study showed that South African hoteliers are starting to “green the business” and guests to South Africa do view environmental issues as a factor when choosing accommodation.

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Lee, Mengshan. "Integrated Assessment of Water Conservation Practices For Sustainable Management Strategies." FIU Digital Commons, 2011. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/439.

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Miami-Dade County implemented a series of water conservation programs, which included rebate/exchange incentives to encourage the use of high efficiency aerators (AR), showerheads (SH), toilets (HET) and clothes washers (HEW), to respond to the environmental sustainability issue in urban areas. This study first used panel data analysis of water consumption to evaluate the performance and actual water savings of individual programs. Integrated water demand model has also been developed for incorporating property’s physical characteristics into the water consumption profiles. Life cycle assessment (with emphasis on end-use stage in water system) of water intense appliances was conducted to determine the environmental impacts brought by each practice. Approximately 6 to 10 % of water has been saved in the first and second year of implementation of high efficiency appliances, and with continuing savings in the third and fourth years. Water savings (gallons per household per day) for water efficiency appliances were observed at 28 (11.1%) for SH, 34.7 (13.3%) for HET, and 39.7 (14.5%) for HEW. Furthermore, the estimated contributions of high efficiency appliances for reducing water demand in the integrated water demand model were between 5 and 19% (highest in the AR program). Results indicated that adoption of more than one type of water efficiency appliance could significantly reduce residential water demand. For the sustainable water management strategies, the appropriate water conservation rate was projected to be 1 to 2 million gallons per day (MGD) through 2030. With 2 MGD of water savings, the estimated per capita water use (GPCD) could be reduced from approximately 140 to 122 GPCD. Additional efforts are needed to reduce the water demand to US EPA’s “Water Sense” conservation levels of 70 GPCD by 2030. Life cycle assessment results showed that environmental impacts (water and energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions) from end-use and demand phases are most significant within the water system, particularly due to water heating (73% for clothes washer and 93% for showerhead). Estimations of optimal lifespan for appliances (8 to 21 years) implied that earlier replacement with efficiency models is encouraged in order to minimize the environmental impacts brought by current practice.

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Holley, Jonathan Worth. "Water Quality in Headwater Streams: A Test of Best Management Practices." W&M ScholarWorks, 2009. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539626889.

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Wilson, Christiaan Georg Frederick. "Best management practices to attain zero effluent discharge in South African industries / C.G.F. Wilson." Thesis, North-West University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/2648.

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Wastewater treatment is traditionally considered a separate part of an industrial activity, hardly connected to the production units themselves. It is nowadays essential to ensure that the quality of water is not degraded and that water that has been polluted is purified to acceptable levels, especially in a country with scarce water resources such as South Africa. Where water quality is concerned, Zero Effluent Discharge (ZED) is the ultimate goal, in order to avoid any releases of contaminants to the water environment. The push towards ZED in South Africa is also promoted further by the South African Government’s plan to reduce freshwater usage and the pollution of water sources due to the water scarcity in a semi-arid South Africa. Future legislation will see a marked increase in the cost of freshwater usage and/or a possible limitation of the quantity of freshwater available. There is a need in the South African Industry for a framework of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in order to provide interested stakeholders, which include not only industry, but also academia, environmental interest groups and members of the public, with a procedure to meet the ZED statutory requirements. This dissertation explores the regulatory requirements and current environmental management practices implemented. A framework of BMPs to successfully attain ZED status in South African industries is developed from the literature study and the researcher’s own experience. The BMP framework embodies practices for one integrated strategy within three dimensions. The three dimensions of the BMP framework were selected to differentiate between BMPs for management (Governance BMPs), the project management team responsible for ZED projects (Project Management BMPs) and the implementation of preventative and operational measures to obtain and sustain ZED compliance for South African industries. The BMP framework was validated against the practices applied by Mittal Steel. The Mittal Steel plant in Vanderbijlpark implemented various projects, reduced the intake of water and eliminated the discharge of effluent and by doing this successfully realised their ZED status. The BMP framework will enable South African industries to develop their own BMPs Manual which should be specific to their operational and environmental requirements. The implementation of these BMPs should be tailored and used accordingly to demonstrate compliance to ZED requirements in South African industries.
Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

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Thitithanyanont, Narongsak 1970. "Investigation of best practices in water utility management systems in the USA." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/84291.

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Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2001.
"June 2001."
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-72).
by Narongsak Thitithanyanont.
M.Eng.

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Phiri, Charles M. "An investigation of community learning through participation in integrated water resource management practices." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003504.

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South Africa is a semi arid country in which the average rainfall of 450mm/year is well below the world average of about 860mm/year. As a result, South Africa’s water resources are scarce in global terms and limited in extent. Current predictions are that demand will outstrip water availability in the next 15 years. A coordinated approach to improve both water quality and quantity is needed and in order to achieve that, it is crucial to strengthen capacities of local community involvement in identifying the problems that affect them and strategies to solve them. This research was undertaken to develop a deeper understanding of community learning processes in integrated water resources management (IWRM) practices. The study drew on situated and social learning theory which explains that knowledge and skills are learned and embedded in the contexts in which knowledge is obtained and applied in everyday situations. Multiple data collection techniques were used within a case study design and included document analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. Data analysis was done in three phases and involved uncovering patterns and trends in the data sets. In this context I discovered, through careful observation and interviews with members of the different communities of practice, that people are learning through social learning interactions with other community members as they engage in their daily water management and food production practices. Learning interactions take place through both informal and formal processes such as meetings, training workshops, conversations and interactions with outsiders. I also discovered that people learn from ‘external groups’ or training programmes which bring new knowledge and expertise, but this needs to be contextualised in the local communities of practice. The research has also shown that there are a number of challenges that appear to exist in these learning contexts. For instance it was found that participation and social learning processes and interactions are influenced by a range of causal mechanisms that are contextual. These insights into how communities learn, as well as the tensions and difficulties that are experienced in the learning processes are important for furthering learning and participation in community-based IWRM practices, projects and programmes.

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Sims, Christopher N. "Impact of best management practices on water quality in the Nomini Creek Watershed." Thesis, This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09182008-063335/.

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Allan, Richard. "The impact of regulation, ownership arrangements, and management culture on risk management practices within the water industry." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2015. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/9718.

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Although the specifics of water utility ownership, regulation and management culture have been explored in terms of their impact on economic and customer value, there has been little meaningful engagement with their influence on the risk environment and risk management. Using a two phase case study approach as the primary source of information, this thesis asks what are the particular features of regulation, ownership arrangements and management culture which influence risk management, and what are the implications of these relationships in the context of ambitions for resilient organizations? In addressing these queries, the thesis considers the mindful choices and adjustments a utility must make to its risk management strategy to manage strategic tensions between efficiency, risk and delivery of safe drinking water. The case studies expose a tension between the ambition of the water service providers` strategic objectives to provide safe drinking water and the priority that executives place on corporate financial health. This leads to the conclusion that public health risk rankings need re-evaluation in relation to financial risks. There was no evidence to demonstrate that public health risk mitigation had been costed and evaluated against the strategic objectives of the studied organisations. Furthermore, the nature of risk conversations varied within organisations, changing the meaning of risk vertically within the business. A proposed model for the reporting of risk tolerance and risk appetite with respect to mitigating public health risk is the result. Such approaches to risk reporting and costing will support water authorities in meeting corporate aspirations to become ‘high reliability’ services while retaining the capacity to out-perform financial and service level targets, irrespective of regulation, ownership arrangements or management culture.

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Van, Winkle Andrea. "North Dakota Beef Cow Operators: Identifying Current Management Practices and Factors that Influence Adoption Rates of Best Management Practices Relating to Surface Water Pollution." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2011. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/29309.

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Best management practices are methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing pollution. Best Management Practices (BMPs) relating to surface water pollution abatement for North Dakota beef cow operations are of particular importance due to the importance of the agriculture industry in North Dakota. North Dakota has yet to address the use of voluntary BMPs to address potential surface water pollution regulations. Probit models were used to estimate the likelihood of North Dakota beef cow operators adopting specific production practices to reduce potential surface water pollution through the use of BMPs. The six BMPs discussed in this research include nutrient management, rotational grazing, filterstrjps, riparian buffers, streambank fencing, and streambank bridging/crossing. Number of beef cows on operation, education, awareness of cost share programs, contact with extension service, ownership structure, debt level, record keeping method, and pasture season usage were found to be significant in the likelihood of adopting a BMP.

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Butler, Gary Brooks. "Evaluating water quality impacts of alternative management practices through development of a BMP database." Auburn, Ala., 2007. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/2007%20Spring%20Theses/BUTLER_GARY_41.pdf.

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Cook, Mary Nicole Jr. "Impact of Animal Waste Best Management Practices on the Bacteriological Quality of Surface Water." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36762.

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An extensive 10 year monitoring project was initiated in 1986 to examine the effects of a combination of BMPs on surface water quality within a watershed with complex land use. This research specifically examined bacteriological water quality and BMP impacts. Bimonthly grab samples were collected from four surface water monitoring stations, including the watershed outlet, and analyzed for fecal coliform, total coliform, and fecal streptococcus bacteria. Other data compiled from the watershed included hydrologic, meteorologic, geologic and land use data, also collected on a regular basis. Data were collected continuously throughout the project, and thus included both pre- and post-BMP monitoring data. BMP implementation included animal waste storage facilities, nutrient management plans, conservation tillage, alternative water sources for livestock, fences, vegetative filter strips, runoff diversions, and others.

Statistical analysis of the monthly precipitation data indicated no significant difference in rainfall quantity between the pre-BMP and post-BMP monitoring periods. Monthly runoff totals increased 39% from the pre- to the post-BMP periods at the watershed outlet. Increases at all of the subwatershed outlets occurred as well (B, 40%; C, 38%; D, 16%). Statistical analysis did not show a significant difference in runoff between the two monitoring periods, except at station C, where post-BMP runoff was significantly greater than the values measured during the pre-BMP period.

Overall reductions in the mean (geometric) levels of total coliform, fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus bacteria observed at the watershed outlet were 81%, 30% and 76%, respectively. Both parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis techniques were applied to the bacteriological data. Regression analysis of the fecal coliform data showed an increase during the pre-BMP period followed by a decrease post-BMP and a statistically significant difference between the two periods (p=0.004). No trends were evident. Only one of the four stations had a statistical difference between pre- and post-BMP fecal streptococcus data, however, a downward trend was present at every station. No statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-BMP total coliform bacteria was evident, although a downward trend was present at the watershed outlet. These findings indicate that the combination of BMPs implemented in the watershed were effective in reducing the loss of fecal bacteria to receiving streams via overland flow.
Master of Science

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Jemison, Roy. "PROTECTING WATER QUALITY ON NATIONAL FOREST IN THE SOUTHWESTERN U.S. WITH BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS)." Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621697.

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The USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region (FS) manages over 20.5 million acres of forests and grasslands in Arizona, New Mexico and the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. Water is one of the most beneficial natural resources used on and off these lands by humans, animals and plants. Water on forest and grasslands generally comes from precipitation which arrives in the form of snow or rain, depending on the location and season. On the ground, water infiltrates, ponds, runs off or evaporates, depending on the surface and climatic conditions. In general, precipitation that falls on these lands is free of pollutants. As water moves across and through soils, rocks and other materials it can become polluted by the surfaces it comes in contact with and by materials added to it. Materials added to flowing water in small amounts over time may have little to no harmful effects on the quality of the water. In large amounts and or concentrated, it can be extremely harmful to the quality of the water and users of the water. Common impacts to water quality include increases in temperature, turbidity, nutrient levels and hazardous chemicals. Sources of pollutants on forests and grasslands can be natural and human introduced. Natural sources and causes of pollution can include soil erosion, wildlife waste, concentrations of naturally occurring materials, drought, and flooding. Human sources and causes of pollution can include runoff from roads, trails, tree harvest areas, recreation sites, sewage facilities, livestock, pesticide applications and fuel and chemical spills (USDA Forest Service 2000). A plethora of methods exist to minimize harmful impacts to water quality on forests and grasslands. In 1990, the FS Southwestern Region developed a core set of practices and procedures, that when properly implemented, can be effective at minimizing and mitigating harmful impacts to water quality. The practices and procedures are both administrative and physical, and are collectively referred to as Soil and Water Conservation Practices, also known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) (USDA Forest Service 1990). Even though these BMPs were designed by FS and state resource specialists in the Southwest, they often require adjustments to make them fit site-specific conditions. The BMPs used by the FS Southwestern Region are acknowledged as being effective control measures by the environment departments of the states (Arizona and New Mexico) in which they were developed, as documented in Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) that exist between the FS and the states.

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Johnson, Rachael Diane. "Applicability of Stormwater Best Management Practices in the Virginia Coastal Plain." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/80509.

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The Virginia Runoff Reduction Method (RRM) was adopted in 2014 as a compliance tool for evaluation of stormwater volume and quality, and necessitates use of urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to meet regulatory standards. Coastal Virginia is characterized by flat terrain, shallow water tables, and low permeable soils that may limit the application of BMPs as recommended by state regulations. Soil morphological features are often used to estimate the seasonal high water table (SHWT) for initial feasibility, but existing soil data misrepresented expected SHWT depths in the Virginia Beach, VA, study area. A GIS-based methodology relying on perennial surface water elevations and USGS groundwater monitoring data was developed to estimate the SHWT depth in Virginia Beach. The SHWT map was shown to be consistently more reliable than available predictions based on soil morphology, and was used as input to a BMP siting tool. The tool, known as BMP Checker, was developed to explore how flat terrain, shallow water tables, and poor soils influence BMP siting in coastal Virginia. The BMP Checker algorithm was validated on 11 Virginia Beach sites before application on 10,000 ft2 (929 m2) area sections across the city. Citywide application showed that the most widely applicable BMPs in the study area include wet ponds that intercept groundwater and constructed wetlands. Conversely, sheet flow to conservation area and infiltration practices are the least applicable. Because the RRM assigns more credit to infiltration-based practices, sites in Virginia Beach may find it difficult to meet regulatory standards.
Master of Science

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Shouse, Bennett Scott. "IMPLEMENTATION COSTS OF KENTUCKY'S EROSION CONTROL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SKID TRAILS." UKnowledge, 2001. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/281.

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This paper describes a study designed to determine average labor and machine times required to implement erosion control and revegetation best management practices (BMPs) for skid trails in Kentucky. Labor and machine activities were recorded for 14,400 feet of skid trail on 10 nonindustrial private logging sites. Water bar construction and reshaping activities such as filling ruts and berm removal were filmed continuously with a video camera and then analyzed using time-motion study techniques. Labor activities for revegetation such as seeding and application of fertilizer were also timed. The average total machine time for retirement activities per 1000 feet was 51 minutes for sites using dozers and 52 minutes for sites using skidders. The average water bar construction time using a bulldozer was 1.5 minutes (n=112) while the average construction time using a skidder was 3.5 minutes (n = 21). The average amount of labor time required to seed 1000 feet of skid trail was 23 minutes (n = 5). Three methods of water bar construction were observed and analyzed to identify differences among them. While there were significant differences among the three methods, the data suggest that skid trail percent slope may have the greatest effect on water bar construction times.

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Kaini, Prakash D. "DESIGNING WATERSHED-SCALE STRUCTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES USING EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHMS TO ACHIEVE WATER QUALITY GOALS." OpenSIUC, 2010. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/199.

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Water quality has been a major concern in the United States and elsewhere because of its impact on people's daily lives and on the environment. There are two main sources of water pollution: point sources and non-point sources, which are differentiated based on their mode of generation. Pollution generated from point sources has been effectively controlled by the implementation of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, under the auspices of the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA). However, a large portion of the nation's water remains polluted, mainly due to non-point sources of pollution. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program within the CWA regulates water pollution by controlling both point and non-point sources. Structural and non-structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been recognized as effective measures for controlling non-point sources of pollution. These practices are designed on an on site basis in most cases. The objective of this research is to develop methodologies that can be used to design structural BMPs as measurements for controlling non-point sources of pollution (i.e. sediment and nutrients) on a larger spatial scale, that of a watershed. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a semi-distributed model that simulates hydrological processes, has been selected for this study. The most sensitive model parameters with respect to discharge and sediment yield are identified by a parameter sensitivity analysis. Latin Hypercube Sampling One-at-a-time (LH-OAT), a global sensitivity analysis method, has been adopted for this purpose. SWAT has been calibrated by using these parameters to accurately simulate runoff and sediment yields from the watershed. An automatic calibration model using a genetic algorithm that optimizes the parameter values has been used. In addition, an uncertainty analysis of these selected parameters has been conducted to analyze the robustness of the model's predictions. Both single- objective and a multi-objective Optimal Control Models (OCM) have been developed by coupling SWAT with evolutionary algorithms, optimizing types, sizes, and locations of structural BMPs to achieve the desired level of treatment goals (the reduction of sediment and nutrient yields) at the watershed outlet. The single-objective OCM optimizes BMPs to a user-defined level of the treatment goals while the multi-objective OCM simultaneously optimizes BMPs for various degrees of treatment goals. The state-of-the-art multi-objective evolutionary algorithm that has been used in the study is the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). In addition, the single-objective OCM is applied to control increased sediment yield due to projected future climate scenarios. In conclusion, this research has developed methodologies that can cost-effectively improve water quality goals in agricultural watersheds by integrating a contemporary hydrological model with evolutionary algorithms.

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Fentabil, Mesfin Mesganaw. "Water conservation management practices in vineyards and apple orchards : strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/57544.

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Micro-irrigation scheduling, fertigation and mulching can be used by growers to improve the nutrient and water-use efficiency of crop production. Agriculture contributes to global warming through emission of greenhouse gases CO₂ N₂O, and CH₄. There is little information about how management practices affect N₂O emissions from vineyard and orchard soils. In a two year field experiment, N₂O fluxes from a grape (Vitis vinifera L.; Merlot) vineyard and an apple (Malus domestica Borkh; Ambrosia) orchard under microirrigation in the semiarid Okanagan Valley of British Columbia were measured using static chambers. Soil mineral N and organic carbon, environmental variables and fruit yield were also monitored. Treatments in the grape vineyard involved micro-irrigation types (Drip or Micro-sprinkler), nitrogen sources (surface-applied compost or fertigated Urea; 40kg N ha‐¹), and two floor managements (surface-applied shredded bark and wood Mulch or Clean - bare soil). Treatments in the apple orchard involved drip irrigation frequency (twice per day or twice per day on every 2nd day) delivering the same total amount of water, orchard floor management (Mulch or Clean) and nitrogen application rate applied as calcium nitrate by fertigation (20 or 40 g N tree‐¹). Spring thaw accounted for 30 to 50% of annual emissions in both experiments. Over a period of two complete years in the grape vineyard Micro-sprinkler irrigation reduced growing season N₂O emissions by 29% (compared to Drip) and on an annual basis Mulch decreased them by 28% (compared to Clean ). In the apple orchard irrigation every 2nd day reduced N₂O emissions by 30% and application of Mulch reduced them by 20%. Reduced drip irrigation frequency and mulching may provide an opportunity for suppressing N₂O emissions from drip-irrigated vineyards and orchards. There was alsolarge spatial variability of N₂O and CO₂ emissions with respect to distance relative to the apple tree and dripper locations. The emission factor (N emitted as N₂O per unit of total applied N) from the applied fertilizer (uncorrected for background emission) across all treatments averaged 2.8% in the vineyard and 2.4% in the orchard. The 1% default IPCC emission factor likely underestimates N₂O emissions from these systems.
Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences (Okanagan)
Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department of (Okanagan)
Graduate

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Atwill, Richard Lee II. "Evaluation of water and nitrogen management practices in southern US rice (Oryza sativa L.) production." Thesis, Mississippi State University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1586943.

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Nitrogen (N) fertility and irrigation costs are the greatest input expenses required for rice production in Mississippi, therefore N management and irrigation should be conducted in efficiently. Field experiments were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS, and the LSU AgCenter in Crowley, LA, to evaluate water and nitrogen management practices. Nitrogen use efficiency and yield were not different for alternate wetting and drying (AWD) systems compared to a traditional continuous flood. Additionally, experiments were conducted to test for differences comparing two experimental designs, randomized complete block (RCB) and split-plot (SP), for N-rate response trials in Mississippi. Rice grain yield response to N-rate was similar for RCB and SP designs, therefore either experimental design would be appropriate for N-response experiments in rice. Increasing efficiency of water and N management practices further improves environmental and economic benefits from rice production in Mississippi.

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Brewer, Jeffrey L. "A Landscape Archaeology Approach to Understanding Household Water Management Practices of the Ancient Lowland Maya." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin149155958947996.

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Field, Jason Paul. "Differential Response of Wind and Water Erosion under Climatic Extremes and Alternate Land Management Practices." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195786.

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Wind erosion and associated dust emissions play a fundamental role in many ecological processes, yet most ecological studies do not explicitly consider dust-driven processes despite the growing body of evidence suggesting that wind erosion is a key driver of land surface dynamics and many other environmentally relevant processes such as desertification. This study provides explicit support for a pervasive underlying but untested desertification hypothesis by showing that at the vegetation patch scale shrubs are significantly more efficient at capturing wind-blown sediment and other resources such as nutrients than grasses and that this difference is amplified following disturbance. At the landscape scale, the spacing and shape of woody plants were found to be a major determinant of dryland aeolian sediment transport processes in grasslands, shrublands, woodlands and forests, particularly following disturbance. This study also found that disturbance such as fire can have a significant influence on background dust emissions, which can have important consequences for many basic ecological and hydrological processes. Potential interactions between aeolian and fluvial processes were also evaluated in this study, and a new conceptual framework was developed that highlights important differences and similarities between the two processes as a function of scale-dependencies, mean annual precipitation, and disturbance. This study also explicitly evaluates the effect of climatic extremes and alternate land management practices on the absolute and relative magnitudes of wind and water erosion. Notably, results indicate that wet/dry climatic extremes and grazing can increase the wind-to-water erosion ratio, whereas burning disproportionally increases water erosion relative to wind erosion.

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Peukert, Sabine. "Understanding the effects of different grassland management practices on the soil-to-water transfer continuum." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/16687.

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One of the major challenges for agriculture today is to manage soil properties and their spatial distribution to optimize productivity and minimize environmental impacts, such as diffuse pollution. To identify best management practices, the effects of different agricultural management practices on pollutant sources, mobilization, transfer and delivery to water bodies need to be understood. Grasslands managed for dairy and meat production, despite being widespread, have received less research attention than other agricultural land uses. Therefore, this thesis studies the effects of different grassland management practices on soil properties and their spatial distribution and the mobilization and delivery of multiple diffuse pollutants. As a grassland case study, monitoring for this thesis was conducted across three fields (6.5 – 7.5 ha) on the North Wyke Farm Platform, a grassland experimental farm in the UK. First, the effects of permanent grassland management (permanent for at least 6 years, but different grassland management > 6 years ago) were characterized as a baseline, followed by quantifying the short-term effects of ploughing and reseeding of permanent grassland fields. Throughout those management periods, i) a range of soil physical (bulk density [BD]) and chemical (soil organic matter [SOM], total N [TN], total phosphorus [TP], total carbon [TC]) soil properties and their spatial distribution were sampled and analysed by geostatistics, and ii) hydrological characteristics and multiple pollutant fluxes (suspended sediment [SS] and the macronutrients: total oxidized nitrogen-N [TONN], total phosphorus [TP], and total carbon [TC]) were monitored at high temporal resolution (monitoring up to every 15 minutes). The permanent grassland fields (or areas within fields) can be considered to be functioning differently. Past management legacy (more than 6 years ago) has affected soil properties and their distribution with subsequent effects on sediment and macronutrient delivery from the fields to surface waters. Overall, permanent grasslands were found to contribute significantly to agricultural diffuse pollution. The estimated erosion and macronutrient losses were similar to or exceeded the losses reported for other grasslands, mixed land use and even arable sites, and sediment and TP concentrations exceeded those recommended by EU / UK water quality guidelines. Ploughing and reseeding did not homogenize spatial variation and did not override past management effects. Long-term management differences affected soil properties and altered soil processes, so that the fields subsequently responded differently to ploughing and reseeding. All nutrient concentrations were significantly reduced in the older grassland field (no ploughing for 20 years), but not in the younger grassland field (no ploughing for 6 years). Ploughing and reseeding significantly accelerated the losses of sediment and macronutrients and sediment, TP and TONN exceedance frequencies of EU / UK water quality guidelines increased. Additionally, ploughing and reseeding caused a shift in the relative importance of nutrients, by increasing the relative importance of N. Such large sediment and nutrient losses from intensively managed grasslands should be acknowledged in land management guidelines and advice for future compliance with surface water quality standards. The between-field and within-field variation highlights the importance of baseline characterization and paired catchment studies. The long-term effects of management still acting on soil properties and subsequently water quality indicates how long it may take to see soil and water quality improvements after implementing mitigation measures. Therefore, long-term management history always has to be included when interpreting soil and water quality data.

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Koller, David. "A Solution Under Pressure: Integrating Facilitative Practices into Water-Related Civil Litigations." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/22745.

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The broad scope of this research concerns the field of conflict and dispute resolution, also referred to as alternative dispute resolution (ADR). ADR practices have developed in both executive and judicial branches of government since the early 1900’s. The goal of this paper is to evaluate how ADR practitioners working in water-related civil litigation can apply facilitative practices prior, during, and after the proceeding to reduce harm, cost, and time of litigation and increase the overall satisfaction of the parties when the proceeding has been resolved. To achieve this goal, a framework is constructed and applied to a case study in Cascade Locks, Oregon. This framework is not a way to avoid a court proceeding through use of alternative dispute resolution; instead this paper seeks to add facilitative practices to a civil litigation process to make the entire process more efficient to the parties and effective in resolving the dispute.

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Wear, Laura. "Skid Trail Stream Crossing Closure Techniques for Protecting Water Quality." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32166.

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The impact of forest roads and skid trails on stream health is being increasingly scrutinized. Forest roads and skid trails have repeatedly been identified as forest operations having the greatest potential to produce sediment by way of non-point source pollution. The stream crossing portion of a skid trail is where sediment delivery is most likely to occur. Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been developed by most states to reduce both erosion and sedimentation. In general, BMPs have been proven to be effective. Few studies have quantified the impact of various levels of BMPs on sedimentation. In this study, three replications of three skid trail stream crossing BMP treatments were monitored following skidder bridge removal to determine their efficacy in reducing sedimentation: slash, mulch, and mulch plus silt fence. Water samples were collected upstream and downstream of each crossing daily for one year following timber harvesting. Samples were evaluated for total suspended solids. Results indicate that both slash and mulch treatments applied to the stream crossing approach after skidder bridge removal are effective at reducing stream sedimentation after harvest. The mulch plus silt fence treatment allowed the most sediment to enter the stream at the approach, perhaps due to silt fence installation disturbances. We do not recommend using silt fences directly adjacent to a stream bank, if other alternatives exist.
Master of Science

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Yonce, Mary Elizabeth. "Opportunities for Standardization in Monitoring of Best Management Practices in the Southeastern United States." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31162.

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Silvicultural activities, particularly forest harvesting operations, have the potential to negatively impact water quality. In order to lessen the probability that water quality degradation will occur, a suite of best management practices has been developed and adopted by southeastern states. The Clean Water Act exempts silvicultural activities from the permitting process of Section 404 as long as federally accepted best management practices are implemented to control nonpoint source pollutants. To demonstrate that these practices are being implemented, states are now inspecting and reporting on best management practice usage on a state wide basis. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for executing the Clean Water Act and would like to use the information provided by the individual states to guide water quality protection programs at a regional scale since states have developed their own unique methods or reporting. Currently there it is difficult to compare the information provided by states, and this impedes further development of water quality protection programs. To address this issue, a state of the art review of current inspection and monitoring methods in the southeast was conducted. Forestry professionals were then surveyed to identify opportunities for standardization in the inspection and reporting methodologies employed by states. Using the information resulting from the review and survey, recommendations for standardization were made in the following areas: site selection criteria, field execution method, form design, best management practices evaluated and water quality threat assessment. A standardized form was also developed and tested across three physiographic regions. This information is helpful for future planning and modifications that state agencies can use to standardize their BMP implementation monitoring methods.
Master of Science

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Di, Vittorio Damien. "Spatial Translation and Scaling Up of LID Practices in Deer Creek Watershed in East Missouri." Thesis, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1566440.

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This study investigated two important aspects of hydrologic effects of low impact development (LID) practices at the watershed scale by (1) examining the potential benefits of scaling up of LID design, and (2) evaluating downstream effects of LID design and its spatial translation within a watershed. The Personal Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM) was used to model runoff reduction with the implementation of LID practices in Deer Creek watershed (DCW), Missouri. The model was calibrated from 2003 to 2007 (R² = 0.58 and NSE = 0.57), and validated from 2008 to 2012 (R² = 0.64 and NSE = 0.65) for daily direct runoff. Runoff simulated for the study period, 2003 to 2012 (NSE = 0.61; R² = 0.63), was used as the baseline for comparison to LID scenarios. Using 1958 areal imagery to assign land cover, a predevelopment scenario was constructed and simulated to assess LID scenarios' ability to restore predevelopment hydrologic conditions. The baseline and all LID scenarios were simulated using 2006 National Land Cover Dataset.

The watershed was divided in 117 subcatchments, which were clustered in six groups of approximately equal areas and two scaling concepts consisting of incremental scaling and spatial scaling were modelled. Incremental scaling was investigated using three LID practices (rain barrel, porous pavement, and rain garden). Each LID practice was simulated at four implementation levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) in all subcatchments for the study period (2003 to 2012). Results showed an increased runoff reduction, ranging from 3% to 31%, with increased implementation level. Spatial scaling was investigated by increasing the spatial extent of LID practices using the subcatchment groups and all three LID practices (combined) implemented at 50% level. Results indicated that as the spatial extent of LID practices increased the runoff reduction at the outlet also increased, ranging from 3% to 19%. Spatial variability of LID implementation was examined by normalizing LID treated area to impervious area for each subcatchment group. The normalized LID implementation levels for each group revealed a reduction in runoff at the outlet of the watershed, ranging from 0.6% to 3.7%. This study showed that over a long-term period LID practices could restore pre-development hydrologic conditions. The optimal location for LID practice implementation within the study area was found to be near the outlet; however, these results cannot be generalized for all watersheds.

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McDonough, Kelsey R. "Understanding the relationship between urban best management practices and ecosystem services." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/20508.

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Master of Science
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Stacy L. Hutchinson
Increasing attentiveness to climate change and the dependence of human life on natural resources has spurred awareness about the detrimental impacts of human activity on the environment. Ecosystem services, or the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, have changed more in the past 50 years than in any other comparable period in human history (Carpenter et al., 2009).The dilemma of managing the trade-off between immediate human needs and maintaining the ability of the Earth to provide ecosystem services is considered to be one of the largest challenges of this century (Foley et al., 2005). The ecosystem service concept aims maximize the provision of services across an entire ecosystem to achieve overall ecosystem health through land management, policy, and economic decisions. The intent of this research was to improve such decisions by increasing the understanding about the relationship between urban best management practices and freshwater provision, erosion regulation, and flood regulation ecosystem services. Fifty-six land management scenarios with varying densities of BMP application were simulated using the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM). The ecosystem services resulting from these land management scenarios were quantified using indices developed by Logsdon and Chaubey (2013). Results demonstrate that the application of bioretention cells improve both freshwater provision and erosion regulation services immediately downstream from the implementation site, and an increase in erosion regulation services was observed at the greater watershed scale. There was no change in the provision of freshwater, erosion regulation, or flood regulation services observed by the application of green roofs or rain barrels at either scale of analysis.

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Zwierschke, Eric Lloyd. "Testing the Ability of DRAINMOD 5.1 to Simulate the Effect of water Table Management Practices on Nitrate Nitrogen in Drainage Water." The Ohio State University, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1421165321.

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28

Matikinca, Phikolomzi. "Exploring impacts and effectiveness of the City of Cape Town’s interventions on household water use practices during the drought." Master's thesis, Faculty of Science, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31599.

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The occurrence of water crises in many parts of the world raises the need to consider more efficient and sustainable consumption of water resources. As such, many cities have prioritised water demand management strategies, which are based on price and non-price mechanisms. The literature shows no consensus as to which of these measures are most effective for managing residential water demand. To understand the impact and effectiveness of these mechanisms, there is a need to understand how people respond to them. This requires understanding materials, meanings and competences (skills and know how) that people have, which constitute elements of social practice. In 2017 and 2018, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) ramped up their price and non-price mechanisms to encourage people to save water in response to a severe drought. These mechanisms included water restrictions, increased water tariffs, and the Day Zero communication campaign. However, little is known about how effective these measures were at encouraging people to save water. There is no clear documentation of how the public understands, interprets and incorporates these mechanisms into their own household water use practices. This study explores the impacts and effectiveness of the City of Cape Town’s price and non-price mechanisms on household water use practices during the water crisis. Using information obtained through semi-structured interviews with 20 individuals living in houses where they paid their water bills, a version of social practice theory is used as a lens to understand how respondents interpreted and responded to these mechanisms when it comes to residential water use practices. This allows for an assessment of which of the CoCT’s actions are more effective in achieving sustainable water use practices. Results show that price mechanisms (water tariffs) were considered to be ineffective and did not encourage people to save water. Non-price mechanisms (water restrictions and Day Zero communication campaign) were seen as having more impact on respondents, encouraging water conservation behaviour; especially when it comes to household indoor water use activities related to hygiene. Compared to other studies which have used estimates for the water demand function, this study conducted interviews directly with households on the impact of the mechanisms. This enabled this study to explain how and why household water use practices change in response to these measures. Such qualitative information is important and contributes to a field that often uses quantitative data to suggest whether price or non-price mechanisms are effective.

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Bockhold, Amanda Koelling. "Modeling the influence of climate and management practices on water quality in Goodwater Creek experimental watershed." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4540.

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Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 21, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

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30

Wancata, Christopher Michael. "Development of a Method to Compare Storm Water Best Management Practices at The University of Toledo." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1353085450.

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31

Ruiz-Córdova, Sergio S. Webber Elliott Clifford Bayne David Roberge. "Physical-chemical and biological characterization of small streams following intensive forest management practices in the coastal plain of Alabama." Auburn, Ala., 2007. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/EtdRoot/2007/FALL/Fisheries_and_Allied_Aquacultures/Thesis/Ruiz-cordova_Sergio_36.pdf.

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32

Naramngam, Sarawuth. "Modeling the impacts of agricultural management practices on water quality in the Little Miami River Basin." Cincinnati, Ohio : University of Cincinnati, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view.cgi?acc_num=ucin1226935894.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Cincinnati, 2008.
Advisor: Susanna Tong PhD (Committee Chair), icholas Dunning PhD (Committee Member), Robert Frohn PhD (Committee Member), Xinhao Wang PhD (Committee Member). Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed Feb. 8, 2009). Keywords: farming practices; flow; water quality; modeling; farming economics; SWAT. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

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33

Frazee, Joseph W. "Effects of forest harvesting best management practices on surface water quality in the Virginia coastal plain." Thesis, This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09042008-063552/.

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34

Manyame, Comfort. "On farm yield and water use response of pearl millet to different management practices in Niger." [College Station, Tex. : Texas A&M University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-1203.

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35

Allison, Hylton. "An Assessment of water demand management and the attitudes, perceptions and practices of large potable water consumers within the Cape Metropolitan Area." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4828.

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36

Padmanabhan, Aarthi. "Stormwater evaluation and site assessment : a multidisciplinary approach for stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)." Thesis, Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/1141.

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37

Campbell, Colin J. "The bathing water directive and beach management at Silversands, Scotland, and La Herradura, Spain : constructing bathing areas and rationalising management practices." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/29049.

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This thesis examines the production of bathing beaches with reference to the 1976 European Bathing Water Directive and contemporary trends in environmental policy discourse. In contrast to studies in environmental policy, which tend to assess effectiveness of implementation, the thesis seeks to understand beach management by investigating how bathing areas in Scotland and Spain are connected to the Bathing Water Directive by practices of bathing area usage and management. The thesis argues that practices of bathing area management – such as beach flags and litter collections – and practices of bathing area usage – such as kayaking and dog-walking – are important in producing what has become known as a ‘bathing area’. Engaging with current debates on constructivism, the thesis demonstrates how different social constructions of a bathing area are created and coexist. Beach management is shown to be rationalised according to particular ideas of beach cleanliness, order and best practice. Empirical research concentrates upon two field study sites: Silversands in Scotland and La Herradura in Spain. Particular attention is paid to beach awards, marine litter collections, and scientific processes of bathing water measurement. The thesis is based on interviews with beach users, beach managers, environmental regulators, politicians and representatives of coastal conservation charities. The thesis investigates the materiality of beach flags to show how different interpretations of cleanliness are promoted and represented. It explores how knowledge of bathing areas is created through water quality measurement, litter surveying and personal experience. This knowledge of bathing areas is shown to be dependent on traditional science-based expertise. The thesis claims that expertise is currently used to distance many beach users from expressing their knowledge of potential bathing risks. While revisions to the Bathing Water Directive emphasise public inclusion, the thesis concludes that current practices of bathing area management are not participatory.

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38

Bailey, Chrissy. "Low impact development barriers towards sustainable stormwater management practices in the Puget Sound region /." Online pdf file accessible through the World Wide Web, 2003. http://archives.evergreen.edu/masterstheses/Accession86-10MES/2003Bailey_CMESThesis.pdf.

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39

Schaible, Candace J. "Assessing Homeowners' Lawn Management Practices and Preferred Sources of Educational Information." DigitalCommons@USU, 2018. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7041.

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Prior to the development of programing and outreach materials it is important for Extension outreach and education professionals to assess the educational needs and preference of the communities they serve. Survey data was gathered from residents of Cedar City, UT, in an effort to gain an understanding of current lawn management practices and the resources homeowners utilize when making management decisions. In addition, soil samples were collected from a subset of participants to compare nutrient levels to management practices. Survey results found that homeowners accessed multiple sources, with preferences leaning towards the use of friends and family members, the internet, and the point of purchase. Few homeowners are aware of and utilize educational resources and services provided by Extension. This is especially true for those under the age of 50, which poses a challenge to Extension professionals to find effective ways to reach younger generations. It was difficult to form associations between nutrient levels and management practices Although, there was a strong association between those with excessive phosphorus concentration and the application of biosolids. More research needs to be done to examine the distribution and end use of biosolids.

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40

Vogt, Jason. "Investigating the Social-Ecological Resilience of Water Management Practices within Ethnic Minority Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand." Thesis, Linköping University, The Tema Institute, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-9465.

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Resilience is an essential and highly desired characteristic of a social-ecological system’s ability to adapt and adjust to various stresses and shocks that cause disruption. As social and ecological systems are intertwined and continually experiencing changes and disturbances, a major challenge appears revolving around the ways in which this resilience can be built and investigated. Social-ecological resilience can be defined as the amount of stress or disturbance that a particular system can tolerate, while still maintaining the same functions and identity. This paper uses social-ecological resilience concepts as a research framework, and examines three main themes that allow for the building of water management resilience to occur. These themes include learning to live with change, nurturing the ability to adapt/adjust to changes, and also on creating opportunities for self-organization. Two ethnic minority villages in Northern Thailand were chosen as research sites, in which the village water management practices were studied within a specific time period. Varying degrees of quantity and quality water issues within both villages have brought about stress and disturbances within their water management practices and increased the need to deal with these problems. Research was conducted at a community scale and resilience analysis pertains only to this specific level. Through the utilization of focus groups and interviews, qualitative data was collected and analyzed within a SE resilience context. This paper sets out to explore how social-ecological resilience has been built or not, and to what degree this has occurred within these two villages water management practices. The analysis indicates how complex and interconnected the social and ecological systems are and how the water management practices of these two communities play a role in this complex, dynamic process. Conclusions drawn are not limited to these two communities, but can be applied to the wider Northern Thailand region.

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Boening, Kathryn Margaret. "Impacts of Green Infrastructure Practices and Rainfall Characteristics on Sewershed Hydrology and Water Quality." The Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595352797878418.

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42

van, Deventer Arie Pieter. "Evaluating the usefulness of landsat thematic mapper to determine soil properties, management practices, and soil water content." The Ohio State University, 1992. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1201627692.

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Van, Deventer Arie Pieter. "Evaluating the usefulness of Landsat Thematic Mapper to determine soil properties, management practices, and soil water content /." The Ohio State University, 1992. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487780865411471.

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Deventer, Arie Pieter van. "Evaluating the usefulness of Landsat Thematic Mapper to determine soil properties, management practices, and soil water content /." Connect to resource, 1992. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1201627692.

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45

O'Donnell, Thomas Kevin. "River restoration in the upper Mississippi River Basin." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4532.

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Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 27, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

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46

Wilson, Chantel. "Effect of Golf Course Turfgrass Management on Water Quality of Non-tidal Streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/51683.

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Turfgrass management activities on golf courses have been identified as a possible source of Chesapeake Bay nutrient pollution. Total Maximum Daily Load goals are in place to reduce nutrient amounts entering the Bay. Dissertation investigations include (1) the role of golf course turfgrass management in nutrient deposition or attenuation in local streams, (2) estimations of total nitrogen (N) discharging to the watershed from stream outlet points as a function of land use and watershed area, and (3) other factors potentially affecting water quality on golf courses, including soil characteristics and use of best management practices (BMPs). Total N, nitrate-N, ammonium-N, phosphate-phosphorus (P), streamwater temperature, specific conductance (SpC), pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) were sampled at 12-14 golf course stream sites in the James River and Roanoke River watersheds during baseflow conditions. Discharge was determined at outflow locations. Unit-area loads (UALs) were calculated from monitoring data. These UALs were then compared to UALs from Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model land use acreages and simulated loads for corresponding watershed segments. Virginia golf course superintendents were also surveyed to determine BMP use. No consistent impairment trends were detected for streamwater temperature, SpC, pH, or DO at any of the sites. Outflow NO3-N was below the 10 mg L-1 EPA drinking water standard. However, some sites may be at increased risk for benthic impairment with total N concentrations >2 mg L-1, as suggested by VADEQ. Significant increases in nitrate-N at OUT locations were measured at four sites, whereas decreases were measured at two sites. Ammonium-N significantly decreased at two sites. Golf course N UALs calculated from baseflow monitoring were lower than or similar to UALs estimated for forested areas in the associated watershed segment at seven out of the 12 sites. Golf course UALs ranged from 1.3-87 kg N ha-1 yr-1. Twenty-one of 32 surveyed BMPs had an adoption rate ≥50% among survey respondents. In most cases, presence of golf courses generally does not appear to significantly degrade baseflow water quality of streams in this study. Management level appears to be an influencing factor on water quality and concerns may be heightened in urban areas.
Ph. D.

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Cristan, Richard. "Effectiveness of State Developed and Implemented Forestry Best Management Practices in the United States." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71657.

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The passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 required states to develop forestry BMPs to help reduce potential nonpoint source pollution from forest operations. Properly applied forestry best management practices (BMPs) have since been proven to protect water quality from forest operations. This research project reviewed BMP effectiveness studies in the U.S., assessed current state developed and implemented of forestry BMPs, and developed a simple method to estimate potential erosion from forest operations for the Piedmont physiographic region based on previous studies. Eighty-one BMP effectiveness studies were reviewed. The review of past effectiveness studies indicates that water quality protection is increased when BMPs are implemented correctly. These effectiveness studies provide states with valuable information on how their BMP guidelines are achieving the goals defined by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Every U.S. state has forestry BMP guidelines. These guidelines may be non-regulatory, quasi-regulatory, or regulatory depending on the state. Twenty states reported implementing non-regulatory BMP guidelines, 19 quasi-regulatory BMP guidelines, and 11 regulatory BMP guidelines. State forestry agencies were reported as being the lead agency responsible for BMP monitoring in 35 states. The national forestry BMP implementation rate was 91% (32 states). However, states did report deficiencies for specific BMP guideline categories. Supplementary to the reviewed BMP effectiveness studies, forest erosion studies in the southeastern U.S. that quantified erosion rates from forest operations were also reviewed. Erosion rates obtained from the literature were reviewed by operation categories (timber harvesting, forest roads, skid trails, log landings, stream crossings, and streamside management zones) and physiographic region (Mountains, Piedmont, Gulf Coastal Plain, and Atlantic Coastal Plain). There were numerous research gaps regarding erosion rates from forest operations for all the regions except the Piedmont region. The Piedmont region was selected for developing a method to estimate potential erosion from forest operations. This erosion estimation method is a quick and potentially useful tool for estimating potential erosion; however, it is based on limited data from the Piedmont region only. The basic method approach might be considered for the other physiographic regions, but further research is needed to fill current knowledge gaps.
Ph. D.

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48

Wu, Ho Cha. "The impact of environ,mental management practices on the hotel finance performance : A case study of water management on hotel operating costs." Thesis, Oxford Brookes University, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.530809.

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It appears that environmental issues are becoming a source of competitiveness and that many leading Organisations are realizing the bottom line benefits of implementing environmental management practices (EMPs). Consequently, environment management (EM) is regarded as a component of improving business performance, and implementing EMPs can often provide an opportunity to improve business performance in the hotel industry. However, little evidence shows how to measure and monitor EMPs to improve environmental performance. Although accounting has received considerable attention in the literature as a potential factor with a positive influence on improving environmental performance, there is little evidence regarding the role of accounting in enhancing environmental performance and the lack of empirical research into this link is a key research gap. An exploratory approach via case study is taken, in order to investigate insights into how managers control and monitor EMPs to improve environmental performance in hotel Organisations. Triangulation methods are employed to explore relationships between environmental performance and accounting practices through investigating how relevant accounting information and techniques assist in controlling and monitoring EMPs. The study uses data triangulation, in other words the use of more than one method of data collection (documents, archive records, and semi-structured interviews), to ensure the reliability of results. The findings show that traditional accounting systems offer little in the way of opportunity for facilitating EMPs and improving business performance. This study suggests that the monitoring and measurement of practices could assist managers to continuously improve environmental performance. Most importantly, benchmarking and promoting environmental improvement efforts need to be in alignment with the Organisation's longer-term environmental objectives and business strategy. Moreover, the lack of any accounting technique to quantify the relationship between environmental and financial performance has hindered the ability of management to gain more detailed information with a view to improving business performance. Further to this, without knowledgeable employees, the adoption of environmental management systems (EMS) and monitoring of environmental performance could be expensive and also difficult to sustain in the longer term. Therefore, it is important to seek ways to monitor EMPs and improve business performance. In this study, a framework for monitoring EMPs and benchmarking environmental performance is developed in order to provide detailed information not only for accountants but also for engineers. It is concluded that there is no crucial link between environmental information and accounting systems and this study suggests that Organisations should enforce the interrelation between EMPs and accounting to increase business accountability. Although this study cannot serve as the definitive account of the link between environmental performance and financial performance and may not be generalizable to the hotel industry as a whole - it still represents a useful contribution to the literature because of the practical and theoretical issues it raises regarding the effective implementation of EMPs in specific Organisations, leading from the analysis of one hotel case study to the likely reverberation of such implementation upon Organisational activities.

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Worrell, E. Glen. "Loggers' perceptions of the costs of best management practices on timber harvesting operations in Virginia." Thesis, This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08222008-063315/.

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50

Satchithanantham, Sanjayan. "Water management effects on potato production and the environment." American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/22279.

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Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) were grown in a fine sandy loam soil in southern Manitoba in a three-year field study comparing four water management treatments: No Drainage with No Irrigation (NDNI), No Drainage with Overhead Irrigation (NDIR), Free Drainage with Overhead Irrigation (FDIR), and Controlled Drainage with Subirrigation (CDSI). The objectives of the study were (i) to evaluate the effect of the four treatments on yield and quality of potatoes, (ii) to evaluate the effect of water management on the environment, (iii) to estimate the shallow groundwater contribution to potato water requirement, and (iv) to simulate the shallow groundwater hydrology using the DRAINMOD and HYDRUS 1-D model. Subsurface drains were installed at 0.9 m depth and at spacings of 15 m (FDIR) and 8 m (CDSI). Subirrigation was done by pumping water back into the tiles through the drainage control structures. Overhead irrigation was carried out using a travelling gun. Water table depth, soil water content, drainage outflow, nutrient concentration in drainage water, irrigation rate, weather variables, potato yield and quality parameters, and biomass were measured. Compared to the NDNI treatment, the potato yield increase in the other treatments ranged between 15-32% in 2011 and 2-14% in 2012. In 2011, potato yield from FDIR was higher than CDSI (p = 0.011) and NDNI (p = 0.001), and yield from NDIR was higher than NDNI (p = 0.034). In 2012, potato yield was higher in FDIR in comparison to NDNI (p = 0.021). In 2012, the NDIR gave higher dark ends (p = 0.008) compared to other treatments. Under dry conditions, up to 92% of the potato crop water demand could be met by shallow groundwater contribution. Compared to free drainage, controlled drainage was able to lower the nitrate export by 98% (p = 0.033) in 2010 and by 67% (p = 0.076) in 2011, and the phosphate export decreased by 94% (p = 0.0117) in 2010. A major part of the drainage flow and nutrient export took place between April and June in southern Manitoba. DRAINMOD was able to accurately predict the shallow groundwater hydrology for this particular research site.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Water management practices'

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