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• 1. [Article] Relationships that Extend Beyond the Fence-Line: Private Landowner Attitudes and Interest in Conservation Easements

  Private land conservation provides an opportunity to address problems of habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss caused by an increase in the development and parcelization of private land. Conservation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Relationships that Extend Beyond the Fence-Line: Private Landowner Attitudes and Interest in Conservation Easements Author: Vizek, Ashley Lyn Year: 2016 Private land conservation provides an opportunity to address problems of habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss caused by an increase in the development and parcelization of private land. Conservation easements (CEs) are an innovative tool used by land trusts to protect significant natural qualities of private land in perpetuity, while also allowing the land to remain in private ownership. Traditionally, property represents an individualistic relationship, however, CEs redefine this relationship by seeking to maximize the overlap in private and public goods in property. In this study, I explore the relationship between the common good and private property through an analysis of landowner attitudes and interest in conveying CEs. To address my research objectives I implemented a mixed-mode survey to 664 private landowners in the Whychus Creek Watershed in Deschutes County, OR. I received 257 survey responses, yielding a response rate of 41%. The first layer of this study focuses on landowner attitudes towards CEs (Chapter 2). The results of an exploratory factor analysis suggest there are two dimensions to landowner attitudes towards CEs--internal and external dimension. I constructed logistic regression models to predict positive internal and external attitudes and found that external attitudes are primarily influenced by environmental beliefs, whereas internal attitudes are influenced by a suite of factors including financial beliefs and perceived risk to private ownership. Furthermore, landowner knowledge and awareness of CEs may play a role in attitude development. I found that as awareness increased the number of landowners perceiving low risk also increased. Additionally, I found that those who learned about CEs from a peer were more likely to have an extreme positive or negative attitude towards CEs. The second part of this study focuses on landowner interest in conveying a CE (Chapter 3). The results of a multinomial logistic regression analysis suggest that positive external and internal attitudes towards CEs provide the foundation for CE, while personal incentives and connections to the social and/or natural community serve as the motivation driving CE conveyance. Although the results of this study are only representative of landowners in the Whychus Creek Watershed I argue that some of the findings may be more broadly applicable. Contributing to our conceptual understanding of CEs, I discuss how CEs may be beneficial in reintegrating the common good into private property. Further, I highlight that landowner connections to both the social community and natural environment are important characteristics of CE conveyance as well as private land conservation in general. Title: Relationships that Extend Beyond the Fence-Line: Private Landowner Attitudes and Interest in Conservation Easements Author: Vizek, Ashley Lyn Year: 2016 Private land conservation provides an opportunity to address problems of habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss caused by an increase in the development and parcelization of private land. Conservation easements (CEs) are an innovative tool used by land trusts to protect significant natural qualities of private land in perpetuity, while also allowing the land to remain in private ownership. Traditionally, property represents an individualistic relationship, however, CEs redefine this relationship by seeking to maximize the overlap in private and public goods in property. In this study, I explore the relationship between the common good and private property through an analysis of landowner attitudes and interest in conveying CEs. To address my research objectives I implemented a mixed-mode survey to 664 private landowners in the Whychus Creek Watershed in Deschutes County, OR. I received 257 survey responses, yielding a response rate of 41%. The first layer of this study focuses on landowner attitudes towards CEs (Chapter 2). The results of an exploratory factor analysis suggest there are two dimensions to landowner attitudes towards CEs--internal and external dimension. I constructed logistic regression models to predict positive internal and external attitudes and found that external attitudes are primarily influenced by environmental beliefs, whereas internal attitudes are influenced by a suite of factors including financial beliefs and perceived risk to private ownership. Furthermore, landowner knowledge and awareness of CEs may play a role in attitude development. I found that as awareness increased the number of landowners perceiving low risk also increased. Additionally, I found that those who learned about CEs from a peer were more likely to have an extreme positive or negative attitude towards CEs. The second part of this study focuses on landowner interest in conveying a CE (Chapter 3). The results of a multinomial logistic regression analysis suggest that positive external and internal attitudes towards CEs provide the foundation for CE, while personal incentives and connections to the social and/or natural community serve as the motivation driving CE conveyance. Although the results of this study are only representative of landowners in the Whychus Creek Watershed I argue that some of the findings may be more broadly applicable. Contributing to our conceptual understanding of CEs, I discuss how CEs may be beneficial in reintegrating the common good into private property. Further, I highlight that landowner connections to both the social community and natural environment are important characteristics of CE conveyance as well as private land conservation in general. Close

• 2. [Article] A Performance Assessment of Two Multi-component Water Quality Facilities in the Columbia Slough and Fairview Creek Watersheds

  We examined the treatment trains at the Columbia Slough (CSWQF) and Fairview Creek Water Quality Facilities (FCWQF) in Gresham, OR and assessed their effectiveness at removing pollutants including nutrients, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Performance Assessment of Two Multi-component Water Quality Facilities in the Columbia Slough and Fairview Creek Watersheds Author: Robinson, Christopher Year: 2012 We examined the treatment trains at the Columbia Slough (CSWQF) and Fairview Creek Water Quality Facilities (FCWQF) in Gresham, OR and assessed their effectiveness at removing pollutants including nutrients, TSS, metals, pesticides, PAHs, and VOCs. Time-paced, fixed volume composite samples were collected during storm events at the inlets and outlet of the CSWQF and at the inlets and outlet of each treatment train component of the FCWQF. In addition, long-term data collected at the FCWQF was analyzed. Composite data collected during November 2-3, 2011 and March 5-6, 2012 showed that the treatment trains can measurably reduce the event mean concentration (EMC) of most pollutants present in stormwater. Removal efficiencies ranged from a low of 11 to 34 percent for nutrients to a high of 58 to 70 percent for TSS. Long-term data from the FCWQF confirms the findings of the individual sampling events and demonstrates that the FCWQF treatment train significantly reduces the EMCs of NH3-N, TKN, BOD5, most of the heavy metals tested for, bacteria, TSS, and turbidity. When compared to data available from the International Stormwater BMP Database, effluent concentrations at the FCWQF were comparable to or lower than those in the BMP Database for nutrients including TKN, OP, and TP; metals including DCu, TCu, TNi, DPb, and TPb; and TSS. Effluent concentrations at the FCWQF were higher than those in the BMP Database for DZn, TZn, turbidity, and bacteria. When comparing the two facilities, the FCWQF generally reduced pollutant concentrations to a greater degree than did the CSWQF. Pollutant removal efficiency was potentially limited by rainfall intensity and seasonal factors, with removal efficiencies being higher for the spring event than the fall event. It is recommended that long-term monitoring be continued at both facilities until the pollutant removal efficiency of the entire CSWQF and the FCWQF treatment train components can be statistically quantified. Changes in sample collection methods and flow measurement are recommended that could improve the accuracy of pollutant concentration estimates considerably. Finally, it is recommended that further research be conducted to determine if significant relationships can be established between particle size and the following pollutants: heavy metals, total phosphorus, and PAHs. Defining these relationships may make it possible to estimate pollutant concentrations using the stormwater particle size distribution analysis. Title: A Performance Assessment of Two Multi-component Water Quality Facilities in the Columbia Slough and Fairview Creek Watersheds Author: Robinson, Christopher Year: 2012 We examined the treatment trains at the Columbia Slough (CSWQF) and Fairview Creek Water Quality Facilities (FCWQF) in Gresham, OR and assessed their effectiveness at removing pollutants including nutrients, TSS, metals, pesticides, PAHs, and VOCs. Time-paced, fixed volume composite samples were collected during storm events at the inlets and outlet of the CSWQF and at the inlets and outlet of each treatment train component of the FCWQF. In addition, long-term data collected at the FCWQF was analyzed. Composite data collected during November 2-3, 2011 and March 5-6, 2012 showed that the treatment trains can measurably reduce the event mean concentration (EMC) of most pollutants present in stormwater. Removal efficiencies ranged from a low of 11 to 34 percent for nutrients to a high of 58 to 70 percent for TSS. Long-term data from the FCWQF confirms the findings of the individual sampling events and demonstrates that the FCWQF treatment train significantly reduces the EMCs of NH3-N, TKN, BOD5, most of the heavy metals tested for, bacteria, TSS, and turbidity. When compared to data available from the International Stormwater BMP Database, effluent concentrations at the FCWQF were comparable to or lower than those in the BMP Database for nutrients including TKN, OP, and TP; metals including DCu, TCu, TNi, DPb, and TPb; and TSS. Effluent concentrations at the FCWQF were higher than those in the BMP Database for DZn, TZn, turbidity, and bacteria. When comparing the two facilities, the FCWQF generally reduced pollutant concentrations to a greater degree than did the CSWQF. Pollutant removal efficiency was potentially limited by rainfall intensity and seasonal factors, with removal efficiencies being higher for the spring event than the fall event. It is recommended that long-term monitoring be continued at both facilities until the pollutant removal efficiency of the entire CSWQF and the FCWQF treatment train components can be statistically quantified. Changes in sample collection methods and flow measurement are recommended that could improve the accuracy of pollutant concentration estimates considerably. Finally, it is recommended that further research be conducted to determine if significant relationships can be established between particle size and the following pollutants: heavy metals, total phosphorus, and PAHs. Defining these relationships may make it possible to estimate pollutant concentrations using the stormwater particle size distribution analysis. Close