Abstract This paper looks at the Snake River which is part of the larger Columbia River system. The natural ecology of the Snake River has been altered by the placement of dams on the river, altering the way Salmon move through the entire region and raising a number of questions about whether the dams are doing more harm than good. The Snake River is the main tributary of the Columbia River and extends some 1028 miles through both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The river originates in Wyoming. The river empowers a number of hydroelectric plants along its route and so is a vital energy source for the country. The ecology of the Snake River has changed as a result of many of the projects along the length of the river, including the aforementioned series of dams and possible pollutants from the hydroelectric plants as well as from other environmental challenges in the region.
From the Paper "The Columbia River system drains a 259,000-square-mile basin covering territory in seven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) and one Canadian province (Columbia River 2005). This river is probably the most significant environmental force in the Pacific Northwest, flowing more than 1,200 miles from the base of the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Oregon, and Ilwaco, Washington. Human beings have inhabited the region along the river for more than 10,000 years, but modern engineering in the 19th and 20th centuries has dramatically altered the Columbia River, so much so that some scientists today believe that the river is environmentally threatened and that drastic action should be taken to reverse the changes made to the Columbia over the last 150 years."
Tags: Columbia, River, environment, sediment, water
Abstract This is an examination of the environmental issues surrounding the Patapsco River, Inner Harbor, and Chesapeake Bay. It hints as to where the pollution comes from, and gives solutions on what society needs to do in order to clean up our rivers and save our environment.
From the Paper "The Patapsco watershed, particularly some sections in its upper region, suffers from high levels of nutrients, bacteria, and suspended sediments. The known heritage of close to three centuries of pollution and abuse of the Patapsco's resources seem to blame our ancestors for the low oxygen levels, disease, algae blooms, and excess nutrients that are destructing the water (Alliance, 2). It is unfortunate that little used to be known about the harmful effects resulting from damming, channel dredging, pollution, and dumping and how they have taken their toll on the river."
Abstract The writer of this paper shows how, according to most scientists, dam removal would be the best option for recovery of native salmon and steal head in the Snake River system. The paper examines the human costs and shows how many people rely on the river in its current state for their livelihood. The paper discusses the issues of the cost and benefits of dam removal that lawmakers must weigh before deciding this complicated issue.
From the Paper "As it is with any issue of importance all sides and perspectives must be explored before any kind of decision can be made. So, the question at hand is should the four dams (Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite) on the lower Snake River be removed, to aid in the recovery of endangered Idaho salmon and steelhead stocks. At the beginning of this century salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia and Snake River basins were unequaled. I read accounts, from the 1920's and 30's, of fishermen hauling in half mile long seine nets with draft horses, containing 30,000 tons of salmon at a time, and catching up 94,000 tons of fish a day in the mouth of the Columbia River. Not only where the fish more plenty full they where larger. I saw a picture of an 82-pound Chinook caught in 1921 in Astoria. These massive salmon where known as June hogs and their spawning grounds where found all the way up in British Columbia. These massive specimens ceased to exist after the construction of the Grand Coulee dam in 1941, which closed off over a thousand miles of prime spawning grounds to the north. The loss of these mighty specimens signaled the fate of the rest of the species in the coming decades. The Grand Coulee was just the first in a series of dams, which have destroyed critical habitat and impeded the upward and downstream migration of the once plentiful fish. When Lewis and Clark visited this region in 1802 approximately 16 million salmon and steelhead returned each year to complete their life cycle; today approximately 300,000 fish will return, a small fraction of the once mighty run. Dams are not the only factor leading to the extinction of salmon and steelhead, there are other important factors such as: pollution, stream bank deprivation caused by logging and grazing, non-favorable oceanic conditions, over fishing, and predation. But, for the purpose of this paper I will be discussing the environmental as well as the social effects of removing the dams on the lower Snake. "
Tags: breaching, columbia, dam, environmental, policy, recovery, river, salmon, steelhead, fish
Abstract This paper reviews the American writer Ed Abbey's book, "Down the River". It describes how Abbey gives a lyrical and compelling portrait of the beauty of the American Southwest and the Colorado River. The paper illustrates how the book includes discussions of authority, power and social conscience, but concludes, it is ultimately a fervent appeal to protect nature from the ever-encroaching hand of man.
From the Paper "One of the greatest strengths in Down the River is Abbey's almost unwilling and unwitting lyricism. His love of the land comes through clearly and unequivocally through in his text. Certainly, no one would ever accuse Abbey of being a truly great literary figure, but there is certainly an element of the profound and lyrical to his work in Down the River. He is passionate, articulate, and his clear love of the land rings through clearly. It is this passion and conviction that ultimately makes "Down the River" an engaging and interesting work."
Tags: thoreau, environment, south, west, colorado, river
Abstract This report provides an introduction to the current development of Yangtze River transportation in the aspects of economy, hinterland, dredging and container port. A further development plan of Yangtze River as well as a blueprint of dredging work announced by the central government are also briefly revealed. Finally, an introduction to three of the top five ports along the Yangtze River are given, in addition to PSA's China's prior research work on the remaining two of the top five ports i.e. Taicang and Zhangjiagang.
Outline:
Brief Introduction on Yangtze River Economy & Hinterland
Yangtze River Transport
Development in Yangtze River Transportation
Port Along Yangtze River Further Development Plan of Yangtze River Dredging
The whole truck line
Responsible parties
Blueprint of dredging work
Lower Reaches
Brief Introduction on 3 of the Top 5 Ports Along Yangtze River Nanjing
Wuhan
Chongqing
From the Paper "The emergence of important cities and industrial belt along the Yangtze is closely related to shipping on the river. By transporting raw materials, components and finished goods to and from industrial bases, the river plays a vital role in Yangtze region today. Statistics shows that the Yangtze Rivers carries 80% of the iron ore, 72% of the crude oil and 83% of the coal demanded by large factories and enterprises along the river. In some provinces and cities, more than 80% of foreign trade relies on the Yangtze River. Moreover, the transport of liquefied petroleum gas, chemicals and asphalt, as well as ro-ro transport, are also developing rapidly."
"According to the Yangtze Administration of Navigational Affairs, cargo throughput on the Yangtze reached 990m tons in 2006, 3.5 times as much as in 2000, and 3.8m TEU, 5.6 times higher than that of in 2000, making it the world's largest river in terms of freight volume."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the Yellow River or Huanghe is the second longest river in the world. The writer points out that the river rises in Tibet and journeys for 5,464 kilometers through North China. The writer discusses that the Yellow River is the source of life for Northern China, where 43% of the population lives. Further the writer points out that it is this river in China, which has been subjected to the strongest influence of human activities. With brisk economic spurts and the expansion of population along the River basin, the writer notes that waste water release has increased in unexpected and unprecedented levels.The writer discusses that today, the lack of adequate water supply, especially in the Yellow River region, is among China's biggest problems.
From the Paper "The Yellow River is the source of life for Northern China, where 43% of the population lives. Yet it has only 14% of the country's water supply. Cities and communities have crowded along the River, in the hope of partaking with the rewards of growth and prosperity. The national policy also encourages it. The threat of flooding has already characterized the River from the beginning. Recent conditions present a further threat to the River's capability of sustaining the overcrowding and its consequences. The region's major cities are growing rapidly. In Ningxia alone, centuries of irrigation have created an oasis. For centuries, its farmers have believed that the Yellow River is a great gift to them and viewed it as an endless resource. Water demand has risen in the area and air pollution has reportedly reached alarming levels. Today, the lack of adequate water supply, especially in the Yellow River region, is among China's biggest problems."
Abstract This paper investigates and compares the organizational and management system at the Aberdeen plant to the Green River plant in order to arrive at a better understanding of implement changes at the plant at Green River. The paper explains that the Green River plant has a more traditional, union management style; whereas, the Aberdeen has adopted a non-union management style based on teams. More specifically, the paper compares the two plants on the factors of management of ability, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, organizational ethics, job design, goal setting, performance appraisal, pay, career development, work groups and teams, leadership, communication, organizational structure and culture. The paper concludes with recommendations for changes at the Green River, which are based on the success of the organization at the Aberdeen plant.
Table of Contents:
Background
Situation Analysis for Green River The Management of Ability
Organizational Commitment
Job Satisfaction
Organizational Ethics
Job Design and Goal Setting
Performance Appraisal
Pay
Career Development
Work Groups and Teams at Green River Difference in Leadership
Difference in Communication
Difference in Organizational Structure and Culture
Organizational Change and Development Recommendations
From the Paper "Because Green River operates on a traditional management style, I would have to say that their employees were rewarded with incentives such as profit sharing, stock options and annual bonuses for meeting or exceeding goals. The job design and goal setting system at Aberdeen could be a difficult task for Green River to implement. In order to incorporate this system into the company, management would have to create empowered work groups and be willing to relinquish most of their power and decision making to the teams."
Abstract The paper examines the current situation on the Olifants River and the extent of its pollution. The paper identifies market-based approaches to pollution control and considers the feasibility of applying similar market-based pollution controls in the Olifants River. The paper concludes with the recommendation that market-based pollution controls offer one of the best means of improving the quality of the water resources in the river. The paper appends several photos that require QuickTime and a TIFF (uncompressed) decompressor to view.
Outline:
Introduction
The Situation: Discharge and Pollution in Olifants River A Solution: Trading Discharge Credits for Pollution Management
Application: Feasibility in the Olifants River Situation
Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
From the Paper "A significant portion of the mining, agricultural, and power generation requirements of South Africa is currently managed with water from the Olifants River. Because of the very real problem of drought in the region, it is crucial that the water resources that available from the river are managed in an effective manner that efficiently distributes the limited resource to as many interests as possible in the highest quality form available. At issue is the matter of pollution of the Olifants River. This has been primarily attributed to runoff from existing and older, disused mines."
Abstract This paper examines the three functions of the river motif in this novel. The first motif discussed is that because the river is constantly flowing and moving, it is an apt symbol of transportation - this can be physical transportation or metaphorical transportation. Another key meaning of the river is life, death, and rebirth. The final function discussed is the river as a state of limbo.
From the Paper "The river is a perfect symbol for a place of movement in a narrative about slavery and escape from slavery. The river is a flowing, constantly moving, ever-changing body of water. It is more powerful as an image than any other body of water because of this quality of movement. The water is never in the same place twice in a river, and therefore Harriet Jacobs uses the river appropriately as a symbol of physical transportation and of symbolic transportation. The waters of the river flow, mimicking the flow and movement of time. Linda and the other slaves have a unique concept of time, because as slaves their time means nothing to them. They are captives, treated as chattel, and their lives are meaningless without the state of freedom. The river symbolizes movement away from this stagnant state of being. The river, implying a passage of time, offers hope to Linda and the other slaves that time will be on their side."
Abstract The paper explains that Hudson River has been characterized as one of the country's worst cases of PCB contamination. The author points out that community residents have advanced two primary issues of concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announced plan to remediate the high concentrations of PCBs in the Hudson by dredging the material from the river: (1) the possible re-suspension of contaminants during dredging and (2) the disposition of dredged PCB-contaminated soil. The paper relates that, despite the glaring need for more research to identify better ways of remediating the affected parts of the Hudson River, the fact remains that the industries, which are primarily responsible for the problem in the first place, continue to stonewall by introducing spurious studies they have funded in an effort to delay or avoid any responsibility. The paper includes a table.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview.
Stakeholders in the Hudson River Case.
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "Other metals such as barium, chromium, aluminum, lead, and manganese are also being released into the Hudson from runoff and discharges points, and are sometimes found at discernible levels in ambient water quality testing in the lower Hudson. During a 14-year period in the late 20th century, researchers found that (a) lead represented 58.5 percent of violations of Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) water quality standards for the protection of human and aquatic life, (b) cadmium for 6.1 percent, and mercury for 4.7 percent, out of a total 2,123 water quality violations in the Hudson River."
Abstract The paper discusses the Yellow River's historical significance to Chinese history and civilization and explains that it has supported the millions of people who have lived alongside it. The paper examines how the river has periodically caused an equal amount of sorrow through devastating floods and course changes throughout history. The paper explores how the river is currently faced with decreased flows due to over-exploitation, pollution from the surrounding industries, and continued silting. The paper concludes that concerted efforts are required on an emergency basis to find a solution to the problems facing the Yellow River.
Outline:
Introduction
Problems:
Silt Deposition
Floods & Course Changes
Decreased Flows
Environmental Degradation
Chemical and Biological Pollution
Solutions
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Chemical and biological pollution of the surface and groundwater in the Yellow River Basin and the North China Plain is another serious concern. Discharge of industrial effluent and untreated sewage from cities and villages is common everywhere in China but is particularly damaging for the Yellow River. Surface water contamination is becoming increasingly important as water supplies decline and less dilution occurs. According to Dr. Zhongping Zhu, Principal Researcher with IWMI: "Water pollution in the Yellow River is exceptionally high...in 2000 less than 40% of the water was deemed drinkable after treatment, with 24% being classed as unfit for human consumption." (Quoted in "New Research Could Provide...")"
Abstract This paper explains the historical and geographical importance of the Mississippi River. It looks at the symbolic nature of the river as being the separation point between East and West. The paper focuses on the early history of the river and looks at the Native Americans who lived nearby.
From the Paper "The Mississippi River is one of the world's great rivers. It is the longest river in the United States, more than twenty-three hundred miles in length, as it forms the borders of ten states, almost bisecting the continent (Currie,2003, 8). The river has a long history as well, and it has touched the lives of many people. The Mississippi is said to begin at Lake Itasca in Minnesota. In 1832, explorer Henry Schoolcraft named this lake, not after any local Indian name, but from the Latin words for "true head" which are veritas caput shortened to "Itasca" (Currie, 2003, 4). However, long before its source was named it was a navigational river."
This paper discusses the four river-valley civilizations of India, China, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, which were among the earliest civilizations in history.
Abstract This paper explains that the earliest civilizations in history, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India, were found near rivers because, when rivers flooded, people could grow more food for themselves and for trade. This system, the basis of all these early civilizations, is called the ?river-valley civilizations?. The author points out that these civilizations arose independently of each other and shared certain generic features, but each people produced unique characteristics based on the environment, especially in their religious and social structures. The paper concludes that all these civilizations began to decline because of the lack of power in the ruler, which resulted in many wars or disunity within a civilization.
From the Paper "Mesopotamia, meaning ?the land between the two rivers,? was found within the rivers of Tygris and Euphrates, near modern day Iran and Iraq. Mesopotamians had a wedge-shaped writing, and they were great in mathematics. They were the ones who founded that one minute equals to sixty seconds and that sixty minutes equal to one hour. Moreover, days of the week, weeks, calendars were established by Mesopotamians.
When it comes to their political system, Mesopotamians had independent city-states, in which the city controlled its surrounding countryside. There was a huge power struggle between these numerous city-states in order to gain political and military control over others. They had similar type of government and they were governed by the system called ?polytheistic theocracy,? ruling by many gods and priests. In this system, gods owned everything within those city-states, and priests simply provided the connection between the gods and people."
Abstract While natural processes are important to understanding the evolution of the Humber and the Don river systems, what is interesting is the combination of both natural and counteracting anthropogenic processes and the resulting evolution. This paper discusses the major natural and anthropogenic processes that have affected the evolution of these river systems and how these contrasting influences have resulted in two distinct river systems.
From the Paper "The Humber River and the Don River are two of the major river systems that lie on either side of the city of Toronto. The Humber lays to the west, the Don to the east. These two river systems are unique from one another in that natural processes affecting the Humber resulted in less anthropogenic processes than ultimately negatively affected the Don. As a result, while both river systems are facing pollution and urbanization challenges, the Humber River system has been less disturbed due to less urbanization."
