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
Through a study of the history of the geologic structures of the Mississippi River and delta, man's influence on the river, and the current state of the Mississippi River Delta, this paper attempts to present a balanced picture of the recently catastrophic subsidence of the region. The paper emphasizes the delta's relative sustainability and stability before human cohabitation with the delta and the subsequent deterioration of deltaic environments. The paper includes pictures and diagrams of deltas.

Outline:
Introduction
Geologic Structures of the Mississippi River and Delta
Development of the Mississippi River Delta
Human Involvement Regarding the Delta
History of Human Intervention in the Delta

From the Paper
"Mississippi River deposits of the Holocene epoch are products of a drainage basin that covers close to 70% of the contiguous States of America, as well as 2 provinces of Canadai. Deposition in the region of the current delta began around 7000-8000 years ago after the slowing of the rise of sea levels from the melting of the Pleistocene Glacial Maximum. However, it was not until 6000 years ago that deposition began to resemble that of the contemporary delta. At 3000 years ago, the conditions in which the delta formed were similar to conditions today: the inner gulf was at a standstill, the river possessed the necessary velocity to move a delta's worth of sediment, and the Gulf was of the proper depth and grade for the formation of a delta. ii In light of the concrete distinction between Pliestocene deposits, Holocene deposits before the stabilization of ocean levels, and late Holocene deposits similar to present day deposition, my study will focus on a more contemporaneous subset of Mississippi delta deposits beginning at c.6000 years past."

Tags:Geology, Mississippi, Mississippi River, Mississippi River Delta, Subsidence, Deltaic lobes, avulsion, barrier islands, erosion, marine, wetland loss, Louisiana, Delta History, Overview, Summary, Lacustrine, Progradation, economic impact

Abstract
The paper relates that the Saskatchewan River, also known as the Sask River, is formed from a combination of the North Saskatchewan and the South Saskatchewan Rivers. The paper explains that the North Saskatchewan River starts in the Columbia Icefield and flows from the foot of Mount Columbia to join the Clearwater River in Edmonton, cutting a deep valley as it continues on its course. The paper discusses how the South Saskatchewan River emerges in southern Alberta, forming at one point Lake Diefenbaker, created by a dam that is used to produce hydroelectric power for the region.

From the Paper
"The Saskatchewan River, also known as the Sask River, is formed from a combination of the North Saskatchewan and the South Saskatchewan Rivers. The North Saskatchewan River starts in the Columbia Icefield and flows from the foot of Mount Columbia to join the Clearwater River in Edmonton, cutting a deep valley as it continues on its course. The South Saskatchewan River emerges in southern Alberta, forming at one point Lake Diefenbaker, created by a dam that is used to produce hydroelectric power for the region. The South Saskatchewan River is identified as a seventh-order stream with extensive stretches of fine substrates (Cushing and Cummins 47)."

Tags:saskatchewan, river, valley

Abstract
The paper looks at Ernest Hemingway's, "Across the River and into the Trees", and argues that the text does an admirable job of capturing the weariness, the cynicism, the lingering shadows, and the potentiality of Italy in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War; in a real sense, it is an historical novel because of its references and tone and because of some of the indelible images Hemingway creates. The paper explores all of this and looks also at where the book stands relative to other Hemingway books and its relationship to the work of other writers from the period. In the end, "Across the River and into the Trees" is a book that captures nicely Italy in 1950 - and Ernest Hemingway as he was at the mid-point of the twentieth century.

Tags:hemingway, trees, river

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
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 presents a review of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel, "The River Between", which is described as Ngugi's literary response to the Mau Mau Rebellion of the mid-1950's. The paper describes the plot as the fictional story of a tormented love affair in a rural village disrupted by the rivalry between non-Christians and Christian converts. According to the paper, Ngugi examines the historical impact of colonialism on Kenya and the difficulties of political leadership in a land torn by social and cultural divisions.

From the Paper
"Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel, The River Between, was first published in 1965 and was Ngugi's literary response to the Mau Mau Rebellion of the mid-1950's. Through the fictional story of a tormented love affair in a rural village disrupted by the rivalry between non-Christians and Christian converts, Ngugi examines the historical impact of colonialism on Kenya and the..."

Tags:the, river, between

Abstract
A brief overview of the Jordan River basin and the contentious history of water usage in that region of the Middle East.

From the Paper
"A critical issue in the Middle East is a shortage of water that is drying up and polluting the region's waterways. The River Jordan, a critical source of water for both agriculture and drinking, has lost over ... of the billion cubic meters of water that used to flow through it every year. Given the river's strategic location linking the Sea of Galilee with the Dead Sea, this represents a major crisis for the entire region. (Farrell) The remaining flow of water through the river is..."

Tags:river, jordan, israel, lebanon, syria, war, water, management, pollution

Abstract
This paper examines Tim O'Brien's changing perception of the hero in his story "On the Rainy River." The paper highlights the theme of courage in O'Brien's works and examines his view on the internal as well as external evidence of courage.

From the Paper
"As a veteran of the Vietnam War, Tim O'Brien deals extensively in his works with courage, a concept central to heroism, that he portrays using investment imagery that presents it as a treasure one needs to save in the same manner that one saves money. Courage comes to us in finite quantities like an inheritance and by being frugal and stashing it away and letting it earn interest, we steadily increase our moral capital in preparation for that..."

Tags:Tim O'Brien, On the Rainy River, The Things They Carried, courage, heroism

Abstract
This paper discusses the role of the Amazon River system to the population living around it.

Tags:amazon, river