Browsing by Author "Hale, Cindy"
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Item Exotic earthworm invasions: integrated research and education to achieve natural resource protection(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2011) Hale, CindyAs potent ecosystem engineers, non-native earthworms are altering the fundamental structure and function of previously earthworm-free hardwood forests in North America. European earthworms have been invading hardwood forests in the northern United States since European settlement. Discarded earthworms used for fishing bait is an important vector for their continued spread in the Lake Superior Coastal Zone as evidenced by the fact that invasions often radiate from boat landings, lakeshores, cabin, and roads. These forests developed over thousands of years in the absence of earthworms and historically had thick layers of leaf litter that serve as rooting medium for herbaceous and woody species. Following invasion of a northern forest by earthworms, a cascade of ecological effects occurs. The most obvious change initially is the loss of the previously thick forest floor. This loss is associated with large declines in native plants and tree regeneration, surface soils in these forests are compacted, soil erosion increases, and nutrient leaching occurs leading to decreased nutrient availability and potential degradation of adjacent wetlands and waterways through increased sediment and nutrient transport from impacted forest areas. Research over the last decade has clearly demonstrated that human-mediated spread of earthworms is the primary vector of continued expansion of earthworms across the landscape, since natural spread of established populations is quite slow (>100years to go ½ mile). Therefore, identification and protection of earthworm-free areas in the Coastal Zone could substantially limit the impacts for generations to come.Item Final project report for IonE MS-0006-11 "Sustainable Agriculture Project"(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012) Hale, CindyThe goals of this project, as part of the newly formed Sustainable Agriculture Program at UMD < http://www.d.umn.edu/cscd/sap/main/index.php>, were to develop a set of courses that, in conjunction with course already developed (i.e. Urban Food System, Ethnobotany, Anthropology Senior Seminar, GIS in Sustainable Communities, etc.) would form the base upon which a Sustainable Agriculture certificate program or minor could be created. Three new courses were developed and are being offered during May and summer terms 2012. The courses are fully integrated with a student led organic farming initiative that currently includes vegetable and tree fruit production at the newly resurrected UMD Field Experiment station. These foundational courses will provide students with understanding of the social, historical, economic and geographic context that led to the development of our current food system. They will come to understand the multi-dimensional nature of this food system, explore the possible future for regionally adapted food systems and the opportunities and obstacles to change. Each course has hands-on and project based components that directly involve students in the formulation and implementation of business and farming models for sustainable and organic farming with clear links to the community and regional food system. Student learn not only the skills of farming but the ecological concepts that support sustainable farming and the social systems that are integral to vital, local food systems.Item Prevention and Early Detection of Asian Earthworms and Reducing the Spread of European Earthworms(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2013) Hale, CindyWe used a multi-pronged approach to quantify of the relative importance of different vectors of spread for invasive earthworms, make management and regulatory recommendations and create mechanisms for public engagement and dissemination of our project results through the Great Lakes Worm Watch website and diverse stakeholders. Internet sales of earthworms and earthworm related products posed large risks for the introduction of new earthworm species and continued spread of those already in the state. Of 38 earthworm products sampled, 87% were either contaminated with other earthworm species or provided inaccurate identification.Item Stormwater Planning Initiative Project – Stormwater Management Planning Guide and Landowner-friendly IMS website tool(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2007-06-30) Host, George E; Hale, Cindy; Collins, Pat; Geissler, John; Axler, Richard P; Schomberg, Jesse; Granley, Mindy; Sjerven, Gerald; Brown, TerryIndividual landowners in rapidly growing areas of the North Shore Community are increasingly required to create stormwater management plans (SMPs) prior to building. Planning development with stormwater runoff in mind is particularly important on the North Shore of Lake Superior, characterized by shallow clay-rich soils over bedrock, steep slopes, and delicate wetland complexes. While numerous organizations exist with pieces of the information required to complete a SMP, the process of collecting expertise from multiple agencies is daunting for landowners. Duluth Township recognized the environmental importance of stormwater planning by passing new zoning ordinances mandating stormwater planning in some land use zones. However, they recognized the difficulty that landowners face in creating a SMP and are committed to finding solutions. The objective of this project was to connect Duluth Township landowners to tools and resources necessary to complete a Stormwater Management Plan for their property. This pilot project features development of a user friendly Internet Map Server (IMS) tool that allows landowners to easily generate working base maps of their property. To date, IMS website tools have been largely developed by GIS professionals who are familiar with the GIS interface. When the general public tries to utilize these same tools, they typically become frustrated with the complexities of these programs, and cannot obtain the valuable information they need. This project was unique in that it was driven by extensive landowner input before, during, and after development to ensure that the tools developed achieved our objectives. Township administrators were also involved in development of the IMS tool and companion step-by-step guide so that the resulting landowner SMPs satisfied the regulatory and reporting requirements of the township. With the user-friendly IMS interface, the landowner is able to easily obtain base maps of their property containing multiple layers of the best existing data, including aerial photographs, topography, and wetlands for developing the SMP's required by the Duluth Township zoning ordinance. While there are resolution limitations to the existing wetland data, the website guides landowners on how to elaborate on this base layer of data as they conduct a site evaluation of their property. For instance, the website illustrates how to identify a small unmapped wetland and add these features to the base map. While the SMP Guide and IMS mapping tool was specifically designed and tested on Duluth Township, the project serves as a model template easily expanded to other townships along the North Shore.