Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Does America's passage of "Plan Colombia" during the Clinton Administration invalidate the utility of John Kingdon's multiple streams model?

Publication Type: Oral Presentation
Abstract: To improve flooding and sedimentation hazards in watersheds of Hou-long Stream and Zhong-gang Stream in Miao-Li, Taiwan, an integrated investigation and planning project is performed. After Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999 and Typhoon Mindulle flooding in 2004, the upstream areas of the watersheds experienced landslides, road failures, sedimentation hazards and floods easily after typhoons or torrential rains. This project focus on combining mitigation and conservation, considering sediment budget balance and safe drainage, safeguarding protection targets, protecting environment and ecology, developing prosperous rural village, concentrating on positive management and maintenance. To understand the characteristics of the two watersheds, DEM is utilized for analysis of topographical, hydrological, hydraulic routing and sediment yields. According to climate, topography, hydrology and discharge, the water level and sedimentations are calculated at many sections for different recurrence periods. Where there are problems indicated by the analysis, field inspections were performed to understand the distribution of the influenced zones for further treatments. The treatments focus on areas of high flood and sedimentation potential. The causes of the hazards are discussed; characteristics of the watersheds are analyzed; and current soil and water conservation treatments are reviewed. With integrated planning principles, contents of the mitigation treatments are planed. For the estimated compound mitigation rate, three components are considered including mitigation rates of sedimentation, peak flood discharge and environmental conservation. The benefit/cost ratio is estimated as 1.42 for the integrated mitigation plan. There are renovation techniques implemented in this project including innovations of data source, analysis methodology and 3D results presentation.

Publication Type: Poster Presentation
Abstract: Attempts to control agricultural non-point source pollution have been made through Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation by the federal and state agencies. The United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) developed the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to promote water quality while helping farmers control their cattle. Through the program, cattle access to the stream is restricted through fencing and buffering. Currently, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are allocating $91 million dollars a year to the Virginia CREP (DCR, 2006). However, the program’s success has not been evaluated extensively. Most previous studies determined that exclusion fencing was most advantageous for retention and improvement of channel shape, while buffering prevented excess sediment and nutrient deposition in the water. Overall, fencing and buffering the stream almost always showed improvement in channel shape and water quality, and rarely had negative impacts on stream health. Our research will be based in southwestern Virginia on five paired stream sites. Reaches that have been fenced and buffered through the CREP program will be compared to unfenced reaches with cattle access. The five fenced or CREP reaches range in time since implementation from one to fourteen years. A estimate of the timeline for the improvement of aquatic and geomorphic stream health will be developed. In addition, a recommended monitoring plan for a larger set of the CREP sites in Virginia will be established. (Keywords: USDA-NRCS, CREP, livestock exclusion, agriculture, channel morphology, aquatic ecosystems, and macroinvertebrates.)

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper will utilize the Multiple Streams framework developed by John Kingdon as the theoretical means to examine the policy decision to increase the use of private military contract firms in Iraq. By focusing on the administration of President George W. Bush, this paper will attempt to demonstrate the utility of Kingdon’s framework by identifying elements of Kingdon’s three streams (problem, politics, and policy streams) of the policy process. This paper hypothesizes that by identifying the particular elements of each of the three streams of Kingdon’s framework within the Bush Administration, a better understanding can be reached regarding how and why the policy of increased use of private military firms emerged as a viable option after the attacks of 9/11.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Grotto sculpin are a unique population of banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae), endemic to Perry County, Missouri. Grotto sculpin are found in only six cave streams and surface resurgence sites, and are believed to transition between cave and surface streams throughout their lifetime. Troglomorphic species are considered one of the most threatened groups of organisms world wide due to their limited range, specific habitat requirements, and limited biological information available. Basic ecological characteristics, like growth and life history, are crucial to understanding and conserving this unique fish. Grotto sculpin were sampled in two caves and their corresponding resurgence sites every four to eight weeks beginning in August 2005. Fish were measured for several parameters and implanted with an elastomer tag for mark-recapture analysis. Large numbers of young-of-year fish were observed on surface sites from spring through fall (May-October) before disappearing, presumably into the nearby caves. Length-frequency histograms of total length were compared from each sample site using FiSat software. Growth constants were found to be up to twice as high in surface streams as cave streams. We believe grotto sculpin are using these resurgence sites as nursery areas to allow young fish to grow quickly before entering into the caves, minimizing chances for cannibalism by larger sculpin after migration underground.