RJA #15b: Reflection on What You Learned

This semester I learned how to properly cite in MLA and APA format.  Also, I learned how to ingrate quotations and how to cite them as well.  This is the longest paper I've ever written so I also leaned basic organizational skills. 

EC #3

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/new_workshop/rgardn15

Word Cloud

RJA 14

Bowman, Margaret , Serena McClain, and Amy Souers. "Exploring Dam Removal ." American Rivers and Trout Unlimited, Aug. 2002. Web. 6 Oct. 2009.

 

Doyle, Martin W., Emily H. Stanly, John M. Harbor , and Gordon S. Grant. "Dam Removal in United States: Emerging Needs for Science and Policy." EOS, transactions, American Geophysical Union 84.4 (2003): 29-36. Ebsco. Web. 28 Sept. 2009

 

Higgs, Stephen. The Ecology of Dam Removal Eds. Elizabeth Maclin Margaret Bowman, and Angela Bednarek. American Rivers, Feb. 2002. Web. 1 Nov. 2009.

Integration and Application Network. 2006. University of Maryland , Cambridge. Web. Web. 8 Nov. 2009.

 

Kenwick. Selective Outdoor Supplies . 2007. Private collection, Western Australia. Web. Web. 9 Nov. 2009.

 

Lane, Nic . "CRS Report for Congress." Dam Removal: Issues, Considerations, and Controversies Congressional Research Service: The Library of , 19 June 2006. Web. 1 Nov. 2009.

NOAA Fishery Service Department of Commerce, Nov. 2009. Web. 5 Nov. 2009.

 

Steward, Harry T. "Evaluation of Sediment Quality." Michael P. Nolin Ed. Michael P. Nolin . New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service, Apr. 2005. Web. 6 Nov. 2009.

RJA #13b: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1

Doyle, Martin W., Emily H. Stanly, John M. Harbor , and Gordon S. Grant. "Dam Removal in United States: Emerging Needs for Science and Policy." EOS, transactions, American Geophysical Union 84.4 (2003): 29-36. Ebsco. Web. 28 Sept. 2009

Botkin, Daniel B., and Edward A. Keller. Environmental Science: earth as living planet . 4th ed. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2003. 75-89. Print.

Higgs, Stephen. The Ecology of Dam Removal Eds. Elizabeth Maclin Margaret Bowman, and Angela Bednarek. American Rivers, Feb. 2002. Web. 1 Nov. 2009.

Steward, Harry T. "Evaluation of Sediment Quality." Michael P. Nolin Ed. Michael P. Nolin . 

RJA #13a: Field Research Report

So on my field research I interviewed someone that would rather remain anonymous but has a masters in environmental science.

1) How do you determine the reversibility of a dam?

2) In your opinion are there dams that should not have been removed?

3) Some people argue that the benefits of hydro power out weigh the effects of the dam's placement, where do you stand on this?

4) What dams are you evaluating right now?

5) If the right precautions are taken to remove a dam can they all be removed eventually?

Internet Reasearch Project

• Name of and link to the tool info.com
• Summary or description of the tool : this search engion seaches googe yahoo ask bing and about all of the main pages in one place
• Strengths: this allows for less time because you only have to search one place for many results , places them in order of popularity,  organizes them,   boolean search technique
• Weaknesses: this simmular to the websites it searchs not all or the majority of sources are creditable
• Search engines, directories, and other applications searched this compared to google is nice but there is no info scholar to promote acdemic journals
• Databases
• Operators AND OR
• Case sensitivity nope and corrects spelling 
• Stop words OR
• Advanced search function nope
• Limits 
• Sorting by popularity
• Display linners 
• Help function yes but gives basic instructions 
• Special features http://info.com/dogs placing the article you are searching after the slash will turn up the same results 

RJA #12c: Introduction Check

1)http://claytonsworld2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/rja-11a-introduction.html#comment-form

2) http://idaugher.blogspot.com/2009/11/rja-11.html#comment-form

RJA #12b: Presentation Plan

In my presentation I will talk about some general issues and backgraund information.  Then I will talk more specifically about dam removal.  Then i will mention my main point and how they effect the envirnment.  Then I will conclude with a recomdation. 

RJA #12a: Progress Report

So far on my paper I have researched my topic and tagged them in my delicious account. From these I found a person to contact to interview but I have yet to get a response.  I began working on my outline and I have the topics that I'm going to cover and mention in my thesis.  I have yet to complete my outline because I'm kinda confused about the set up still so I plan to ask questions on Tuesday in class. 

RJA #11c: Thesis Statement Check

1)http://lgreenmyer.blogspot.com/2009/10/rja-10a-thesis-statement.html#comment-form

2)http://lindseykaje.blogspot.com/2009/10/rja-10a-these-statement.html#comment-form

RJA #11b: Visual Aids

1) dam removal pictures

2) specific animal pictures

3) Errosion pictures

4) Gas Bubble dieses

5) river re directing corse

RJA #11a: Introduction

Dam removal is a heated debate in the science community currently,  as more dams are being removed new effects are being determined.   The removal of each specific dam can have different effects on the environment depending on size and locality.  Dam removal currently is being assested on a case by case basis.   The removal process is asseesed based on enironmental impacts as well as cost of repair.  The full envirnmental impacts are still not known.  These effects can be viewed as both good and bad, adding to the controversy.  Even though removing a dam causes sevre envronmental impacts on flow, fish and wildlife, sediment and water quality in the long run removing a dam is more benifitcal to the environment.  

RJA #10b: Argument

Ethos: To show my creditability being an undergraduate student this will depend on the sources I have for my paper.  I will need to include many sources and they all need to be creditable.

Pathos: Environmental issues are an important topic right now.  Ways to better the environment are on many peoples minds and as soon as you throw in a direct impact to animals many people are perswaided.  

Logos: I will present both sides of the argument logically.  Then I will refute one side so all the claims have been adressed in a specific light.  In my case I will show that dam removal is benifitial in the long run.  

Reason 1 Flow: changes the environment which is favorable to some animals 

1) Speed changes the flow of water

2)  Temperature is a direct impact of flow changes

3) o2 levels also depend on the flow of water 

Reason 2: Fish and wildlife

1) Migration of animals is needed for a healthy population

2) living environment effects animal pop

3) numbers of species changes 

Reason 3: Sediment turbity of water and where is lands effects the environment

1) redistribution where does the sediment go?

2) Seasonal changes effect the amount of sediment

3) erosion creates new banks and places for animals to live

Reason 4: Water Quality

1) nutrient transport influx of nutrients

2) toxens that are built up are then released

RJA #10a: Thesis Statement

1) Removing a dam impacts the environement and ecology. 
2) Removing a dam changes the sourounding environment and is over all harmfull to the environment.
3) Dam removals ecological efects vay depending on size and location.

4) Eventhough removing a dam causes sever environmental impacts on the flow, fish and wildlife, sediment, and water quality the benifits of removing a dam is more benifitcal to the environment over a long period of time. 

RJA #9: Evaluation of Sources

1) Steward, Harry T. "Evaluation of Sediment Quality." Michael P. Nolin Ed. Michael P. Nolin . 

-This was evaluted by the city of new hampsire 

- Was writtan by the water commisioner

- But its only a draft... so things might be changed

- I would not only rely on this information and check other sources as well

2) Doyle, Martin W., Emily H. Stanly, John M. Harbor , and Gordon S. Grant. "Dam Removal in United States: Emerging Needs for Science and Policy." EOS, transactions, American Geophysical Union 84.4 (2003): 29-36. Ebsco. Web. 28 Sept. 2009

- this included a list of all the autors credentials including where they attemded school all authers have degrees 

- this three page paper has 14 references

- I would consider this creditable

3)Lane, Nic . "CRS Report for Congress." Dam Removal: Issues, Considerations, and Controversies Congressional Research Service: The Library of Congress, 19 June 2006. Web. 1 Nov. 2009.

- this is government funded and monitered

- this was a report presented to congress

- I would consider this creditable

4)Higgs, Stephen. The Ecology of Dam Removal Eds. Elizabeth Maclin Margaret Bowman, and Angela Bednarek. American Rivers, Feb. 2002. Web. 1 Nov. 2009.

- This is supported by the national fishing assicioction and the river association

-54 references where cited

5)Bowman, Margaret , Serena McClain, and Amy Souers. "Exploring Dam Removal ." American Rivers and Trout Unlimited, Aug. 2002. Web. 6 Oct. 2009.

-no sources where cited 

- so I would not consider this creditable 

6)Botkin, Daniel B., and Edward A. Keller. Environmental Science: earth as living planet . 4th ed. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2003. 75-89. Print.

- this book is currentaly being used by the envirnmental science class at metro 

- many credentials

- this book has many editions 

- also reviewed

RJA #8c: Multimedia

• Resource searched or tool used Blinkx
• Keywords used dam removal 
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) dam removal
• Date of search 11/09/09
• Number of hits 169
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 5

RJA #8b: Social Media

• Resource searched or tool used ice rocket
• Keywords used dam removal
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) and ecology
• Date of search 11/9/09
• Number of hits 27
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 2

• Resource searched or tool used blog pulse
• Keywords used da removal
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) and environment
• Date of search 11/9/09
• Number of hits 34
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 2

RJA #8a: Websites NEW!

SEARCH Engions : ALEXA

• Resource searched or tool used Alexa
• Keywords used Dam removal
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) and : dam removal and ecology
• Date of search: 11/09/2009
• Number of hits 13
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 1 very bad

Directorys: academic info

• Resource searched or tool used acedemic info
• Keywords used dam removal
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) none
• Date of search 11/9/09
• Number of hits 8
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 3

media: academic index

• Resource searched or tool used academic index
• Keywords used dam removl
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) none
• Date of search 11/9/09
• Number of hits 0
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 0

Invisable:deeppeep

• Resource searched or tool used deep peep
• Keywords used dam removal
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) none
• Date of search 11/9/09
• Number of hits 2
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 0

11b: Planning Your Application Project

I'm going to write a news paper article on the basics of dam removal including why it's an issue and what's being done about it now.  I will begin with basic information including why so many are being removed and the effects removing them have on an environment.  I will try to stay unbiased and just state the facts I've found so far.  

11a: Reporting on Your Progress

So far on my paper I have researched my topic and tagged them in my delicious account. From these I found a person to contact to interview but I have yet to get a response.  I began working on my outline and I have the topics that I'm going to cover and mention in my thesis.  I have yet to complete my outline because I'm kinda confused about the set up still so I plan to ask questions on Tuesday in class.  

10b: Brainstorming Ideas for the Application Project

1) news article : -   a general guideline how to determine the environmental effects on removing a 

                                  dam

     - write about a dam under consideration in the area

2) editorial : - My opinion on my topic

                       - how removal varies on location and size 

     

10a: Reporting on Your Field Research

So on my field research I have e-mailed but I have yet to get a response but here are my questions that I asked. 

1) How do you determine the reversibility of a dam?

2) In your opinion are there dams that should not have been removed?

3) Some people argue that the benefits of hydro power out weigh the effects of the dam's placement, where do you stand on this?

4) What dams are you evaluating right now?

5) If the right precautions are taken to remove a dam can they all be removed eventually?

8B

1) http://chriseng1020blog.blogspot.com/2009/10/research-journal-assignment-7.html#comment-form
2)http://jazzywazzy0915.blogspot.com/2009/10/rja7b-internet-research-tool-test.html#comment-form

9b: Brainstorming Visual Aids

9b: Brainstorming Visual Aids–Brainstorm a list of at least five different visual aids you could include in your research paper.
1) I coule use pictues of the dam release.
2) Pictures of the damaged dam.
3) Crunstruction tools with an effort to manage the sediment.
4) Dams varrying in size.
5) Also I could use mesasurement of the sediment such as charts and graphs of sediment build-up.

9a: Writing Thesis Statements

9a: Writing Thesis Statements–Write three possible thesis statements for your research paper.

1) Removing a dam impacts the environement and ecology.
2) Removing a dam changes the sourounding environment and is over all harmfull to the environment.
3) Dam removals ecological efects vay depending on size and location.

8a: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

Select a passage of several sentences from an online source related to your topic. Copy and paste the passage into your blog post and create a link to the page where you found it.

1. Write a paragraph incorporating a short quotation from the passage.  Modify the quotation using an ellipsis and brackets.
2. Paraphrase the passage. Check your paraphrase carefully to make sure that it is accurate and appropriate.
3. Summarize the passage. Check your summary carefully to make sure that it is accurate and appropriate.

http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/jcm22/pdfs/Marks%202007%20Sci%20Am.txt

 A major problem that dams face when the age is sediment build-up.  When the dams are being removed all build -up is being released it has been known to cause all kinds of  ecological problems. Specifically according to Redfield-Wilder "...  sediments trapped behind a dam's walls can choke waterways, muddying the environment and wiping out insects and algae..."  The sediments decrease the amount of free oxygen and available water for plants and animals.  This dramatic change in environment can cause them to die.   

BIOLOGISTS have also recorded unexpected problems. The release of sediments  trapped behind a dam's walls can choke waterways, muddying the environment and  wiping out insects and algae, which are important food for fish. This wave of  turbidity can also eliminate habitat for sessile filter feeders, such as  freshwater mussels. Sometimes the mud that had been held back by the structures  is rife with contaminants. When engineers removed the Fort Edward Dam on the  Hudson River in 1973, concentrations of PCBs rose in downstream fish and  remained high for many years; even today the striped bass fishery remains closed  because of high levels of PCBs. Sediments that are not washed downstream can become problematic as well. As they  dry out, they may provide fertile ground for potentially noxious exotic plants  whose seeds they harbored. Eurasian reed canary grass--which homogenizes  wetlands by outcompeting native plant species--grew explosively after  Wisconsin's Oak Street Dam fell, even though restoration scientists had seeded  the area with native prairie plant species. 
A release of sediments can cause lots of problems. The sediment itself can cause damage to native algae and insects.   The turbidity can also hold contaminants which can harm the surrounding soil and killing plants. 

Sediment removal can harm the surrounding ecology in a stream. 

RJA #7c: Field Research Plan

My plan was to interview one of the professors in the UCD campus in the environmental science program.  Questions

1) What is your current opinion on dam removal? 

2) Do you think the pros out weigh the cons?

3) Do you think there should be a national regulation?

4) Should size be taken into account?

5) Should it be regulated on a case by case account?

1

• Resource searched: google
• Keywords used: ecology and dam removal
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) and
• Date of search 10-5
• Number of hits 450,00
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) 3

2

• Resource searched : google
• Keywords used: ecology and dam removal and harm* and environment
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) and *
• Date of search: 10-5 
• Number of hits: 2,000
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5): 4

3

• Resource searched: google
• Keywords used:  dam retirement
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) none
• Date of search 10-5 
• Number of hits: 3,120,000
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5): 3

RJA #7a: Internet Research Tools

            The internet search engine I use the most would be google.  Google generally turns up the greatest amount of hits with relevant information.  The downside of google would be that not all of the sites are credible and also the volume of hits that generally show up.  The trick of google is knowing how to narrow your search and pick what you need. 

            The other tools I use are the databases from the library.  Unfortunately they generally turn up less results but the information is more relevant.  Databases can give a general scope of the data such as the main biology page or specific journals such as ebsco.  

RJA #6c: Protopage

http://www.protopage.com/rgardn15 

RJA #6b: Search Strings

Dam retirement also turned up a few results so 

Ecology AND Dam retirement

Environment AND Dam retirement 

RJA #6a

1:

• Name(s) of author(s) : Martin W Doyle,  Emily H. Stanly, John M. Harbor and Gordon S Grant 
• Title of article :Dam Removal in United States: Emerging Needs for Science and Policy
• Title of periodical : EOS, transactions, American Geophysical Union 
• Volume and issue number (if available) : Volume 84 Number 4
• Date 28 Jan 2003
• Pages on which article appears: 29-36
• Resource searched : ebsco
• Keywords used : Dam removal AND ecosystem
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) AND
• Date of search : Sept 21st 2009
• Number of hits : 32
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) : 5

2:

• Name(s) of author(s) : Martin W. Doyle, Emily H Stanley, Cailin H Orr, Andrew R. Selle
• Title of article: Stream ecosystem response to small dam removal: Lessons from the Heartland
• Title of periodical : Science Direct 
• Volume and issue number (if available) : 71
• Date : 2005
• Pages on which article appears : 277-244
• Resource searched : ebsco
• Keywords used : Dam removal and ecology 
• Search strategies used (including operators and types of searches) AND
• Date of search : Sept 21st 2009
• Number of hits : 32
• Relevance of hits (on a scale of 1 to 5) : 5 

RJA #5c

http://nicolegarza5.blogspot.com/2009/09/rja-4b-writing-search-strings.html?showComment=1253585718659#c1184422046570585215

http://jbaham.blogspot.com/2009/09/rja-4b-writing-search-strings.html#comment-form

RJA #5b: Books

From: Metro library 

Title: Environmental Science: earth as  living planet  

Author: Botkin & Keller

Ed: 4th 

date: 2003

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons printed in the NJ

RJA#5 A

Title: Stream ecosystem response to small dam removal: Lessons from the Heartland

Authors: Martin W. Doyle , Emily H. Stanley, Cailin H. Orr, Andrew R. Sellec, Suresh A. Sethib, and Jon M. Harborc

Origionaly from: Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin,

References over 30 total at the bottom of the artical

Received 6 December 2002; revised 13 April 2004; accepted 14 April 2004; Available online 21 April 2005.

From science directGeomorphologyVolume 71, Issues 1-2, 1 October 2005, Pages 227-244 Dams in Geomorphology
Date of search Sept 10th 2009

Hits: 6

Keywords: Dam removal; Stream ecology; Disturbance; Recovery; Biogeomorphology; Ecohydrology

Library data base

and more articles I found are posted in my delicious account 

RJA#4 C commenting

http://jbaham.blogspot.com/

http://narina86.blogspot.com/

RJA #4 B Search strings

1)  environment AND dam removal and long term 

     environment + dam removal + future 

2) dam removal AND ecology AND effect*

    dam removal + ecology + effect*

3) dam removal AND animals AND displacement

    "+"

4) dam removal AND large and small

5) dam removal AND native plants

6) dam removal AND ecology AND NO politics 

RJA #4 keywords

science>environmental issues>conservation>ecology restoration

science>engineering> dams

words:    environment:ecology:diversity 

restoration: rehabilitation

dam removal: dam upkeep

                long run: long term effects: future

 

RJA #3c: Developing Research Question

Should it be the state or the governments funding responsibility of maintaining and removing dams?

Should there be a policy determining the fate of all dams or should it vary due to size and location?

Does the removal of a dam in the long run hurt or help the surrounding ecology? 

Should dams be removed?

How does dam removal effect the habitat it’s located in?

What are the geomorphic effects of removing a dam?

RJA #3b: Narrowing Research Topic

As of right now I need to narrow my topic because there are so many controversial effects of dam removal. I could talk about the political and economical side to the issue, or the geologic effects including the sediments changes, or the river itself with flow and temperature or I could focus on the ecological effects mainly animals and plants. I plan to look into each one of these topics more to see which interests me the most with a lot of information to base my paper on. Then I will pick one or two related topics to begin to reasearch in depth.

RJA #2c: Delicious Account

http://delicious.com/rgardn15

RJA #3a

Initial Ideas about my topic: discovering the arguments of both sides
Pro dam removal:
-Blocking migrational patterns
- Temperature
- Water quality
- Water fluctuations
- Increase plant and animal species
- beneficial to wet lands in surrounding areas

Cons
- Geomorphic disturbance
-Erosional soil changes
-Channel shape and hydrology
-more problems on already disrupted ecosystems
-Reservoirs harbor many contaminants that will be released
- Pollution later down the stream such as acid mine ect...


Groups Supporting
Association of concerned fisherman
River United Health

Groups Apposing
Scientists supporting Clean Energy
Valley Bottom Irrigators Association

RJA #2b: Research Topic

            I chose dam removable for my topic because it has become a controversial topic in the environmental sciences.  I wanted to pick something that I honestly knew about slightly but I have no idea where I stand on the topic.  This way in researching I could be truly informed before I pick a side. More specifically I’m going to sick to talking about the ecological effects and while giving many examples be more general so I can incorporate the most ideas thoroughly.

            I don’t know much about the topic so far.  I do know that the two sides to the argument I have herd relate around the soil and the sounding plants and animals.  Also, because many dams were built around the same time repair is needed cross-country, due o sediment build-up.  The problem with this is that it is less money to remove a dam then to fix one.

            What I want to find out is more ideas that divide the scientific community on this issue.  Also, what is being done currently about the situation?  How many dams are being removed and if the size has any effect?  

RJA#1: Areas of Academic Interest

• Acid mine drainage and its ecological effects - how its caused why its causing problems for humans, animals and plants in the areas, also whats being done
• Dams new and old and environmental effects - Placing of dams ruining environmental areas, over 500 have been removed rater then repaired- is this causing a new region of flood plains
• Invasive species effects native species in both plants and animals and how human interaction is a large effect in this
• Water quality and water rights, how this was effecting the Colorado Drought
• Excessive fertilizer use, how much is to much to use how it effects the plants the soil and the sourounding areas
• Over fishing, what to eat these days and whats being done