Browsing by Subject "Michigan"

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Bentonite Survey
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1999-10) Bleifuss, Rodney L
The objective of this study was to examine the mineralogical characteristics of the various bentonites in greater detail to determine if subtle differences in the mineralogy could be related to the chemical analyzes and physical test data and perhaps explain the anomalous plant performances reported. The study was based on field samples collected from four of the bentonite companies operating in Wyoming and on representative bentonite samples provided by the taconite plants operating in Minnesota. Chemical and physical tests were run on all of the samples. X-ray diffi-action .patterns obtained from the bentonite samples under different conditions: "as received", minus 2 micron-air dried, minus 2 micron-w/glycol, and minus 2 micron after heat treatment at 250°C.
Channel, Riparian and Catchment Features as Predictors of Wood Abundance in Low Gradient, Agricultural Streams
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2002) Johnson, Lucinda B; Host, George E; Richards, Carl
Wood is an important component of small to medium streams in forested regions, but has been little studied in agricultural areas. Although wood habitat has been shown to be an important factor controlling macroinvertebrate biodiversity in agricultural regions of the Midwestern U.S., there is little information on how much wood is available and what factors control its abundance and distribution. The goals of this study were to: 1) characterize the abundance, size, and distribution of wood in low gradient streams in a predominantly agricultural region, and 2) quantify the relative influence of reach- and catchment-scale factors on the abundance and distribution of wood in these streams. Standing stocks of wood were quantified in 49 stream reaches in the Saginaw Basin of central Michigan, USA. An array of stream channel, riparian zone, and catchment features were quantified. Multiple regressions were conducted to predict standing stocks from explanatory variables at three spatial scales. Features at the local scale (e.g., bank-full width, % open canopy) had a large influence on the density and size of accumulations, and a moderate influence on wood abundance. In contrast, riparian and catchment features including riparian vegetation type, link number, % urban land use in the catchment, and topographic heterogeneity exerted greater control over wood abundance and the mean size of wood accumulations. The differences in the factors predicting wood standing stocks versus accumulation density are probably related to the presence of structures that entrain wood into accumulations. In contrast, wood standing stocks reflect current and past land use practices, as well as underlying processes (e.g., hydrologic regime) controlled by landforms. Patterns in wood standing stock and distribution differ from those observed in high gradient regions, and low gradient streams in forested regions. This has important implications for ecosystem processes and management of headwater streams in agricultural regions.
The Economic Impact of Declines in Forestry-Related Industries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and a Three-State Region, 2006
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2008) Skurla, James A; Jacobson, Jean; Faridi, Salman; Solem, Lyle; Jafri, Faraz; Miller, Chris; Kasim, Taha; Almquist-Minko, Vickie
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Annual Report 1987
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1988) Blake, John G.; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J
This investigation was designed to isolate effects of electromagnetic fields produced by ELF antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through Wisconsin and Michigan. Specifically, we seek to determine if bird species richness and abundance differ between areas that are close to the antenna and those that are far enough away to be unaffected by the antenna. We are pursuing this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined include total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds (based on habitat, diet, migration strategy, and nesting behavior). This report summarizes 1987 research activities for studies to identify potential effects of ELF electromagnetic fields on bird species and communities in Wisconsin and Michigan. Our monitoring program included bird censuses over a five month period from May to September. In addition, we completed a detailed habitat assessment of all control and treatment segments in Wisconsin that was initiated in 1986. These data will allow us to pair control and treatment segments on the basis of habitat, thereby enabling us to assess effects of the ELF antenna, even though there are no pre-impact data available from Wisconsin. The Michigan transmitter operated intermittently at low levels during 1987. We are therefore considering 1987 a transitional year in terms of EM exposures. Principal components (PCA) and Bray-Curtis analyses of vegetation on Wisconsin segments revealed differences between treatment and control segments. Qualitative assessments of habitat types in Michigan also revealed differences between segment types. The most X important difference in relation to birds relates to distribution of coniferous and deciduous habitats. Treatment segments support more coniferous and lowland habitats than do control areas in both states. Logging affected the vegetation on four treatment segments in Michigan and four treatment and one control segment in Wisconsin. In Michigan, clear-cutting along several treatment segments resulted in a significant difference between treatment and control segments in the amount of early successional habitat, with more now present on treatment sites. Logging was less severe in Wisconsin but did result in significant changes in some habitat variables for the affected segments. We omitted all segments affected by logging in our between year comparisons of bird communities. Five segments sampled for vegetation in Wisconsin in 1986 were resampled in 1987. Between year differences were noted for seven variables, especially ground cover, canopy cover, and overall height of the vegetation. Measurement of these variables involves some qualitative estimations and between year differences may be due to sampling effects. These variables were not included in PCA. Bird abundance and species diversity were highest in June and July in Michigan and in May and June in Wisconsin. Observations reached a low in September in Michigan but increased from August to September in Wisconsin. Differences between treatment and control segments in total number of individuals and species were not consistent across seasons in either state. Species richness was higher on control than on treatment segments in Michigan in May; no other differences in community level parameters were significant in either state. Considerable annual variation in numbers of individuals and species was noted, particularly in Michigan, where significant year effects occurred in four of five sample periods. Annual differences were not, however, consistent among seasons in Michigan. Particularly abundant species (all seasons included) included the Nashville Warbler, Ovenbird, White-throated Sparrow, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. The most abundant species present on treatment and control segments varied among seasons and between states. Among "abundant" species (>1 individual observed/ 500 m segment), seven comparisons (over all seasons) revealed a significant difference between treatment and control segments in Michigan; five indicated a greater abundance on treatment segments. Three comparisons indicated a higher abundance on treatment segments in Wisconsin and two on controls. Twelve comparisons in Michigan and eight in Wisconsin showed significant annual variation in abundance. Twenty-one comparisons of common species (based on prominence values) between treatment and control segments in Michigan and 14 in Wisconsin were significant. Values were higher on control segments in Michigan in all but two cases; 9 of 14 were more abundant on control segments in Wisconsin. Few species were consistently and significantly more abundant on either treatment or control segments among seasons within a year or within seasons between years. Differences between treatment and control segments, particularly in Michigan where the antenna was operated periodically, are most likely due to habitat differences. Species were classified into guilds on the basis of migratory strategy, nest site preference, diet and foraging location, and preferred breeding habitat. Abundances of different guild types on treatment and control segments were compared for June 1985, 1986, and 1987, the primary breeding season. Few significant differences were found between treatment and control segments and most were not consistent among years. Differences were most consistent for habitat categories, suggesting that habitat differences between treatment and control segments may be responsible for many of the observed differences in bird distribution patterns. We repeated tests for differences in abilities of observers to detect birds, for differences in spring arrival times of several different groups of birds, and for potential edge effects on distribution patterns of birds. Few significant differences emerged.
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Annual Report 1988-1989
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1989) Niemi, Gerald J; Hanowski, JoAnn M
This investigation was designed to isolate effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by extremely low frequency (ELF) antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through Wisconsin and Michigan. Specifically, we seek to determine if bird species richness and abundance differ between areas that are close to the antenna and those that are far enough away to be unaffected by the antenna. We are pursuing this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined include total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds. Our monitoring program includes bird censuses over a five month period from May to September (1986-1989). Additional data were collected in June of 1985 and August-September of 1984. Here we summarize results of our 1989 research activities. The Michigan transmitter began 150 amp tuning and testing intermittently in the first part of May. On the 14th of May, the transmitter began continuous 150 amp operation for 16 hrs/day on weekdays and all day on weekends. On October 7th, the Michigan transmitter began full power continuous operation. We therefore consider May 1989 to be a transitional period, and June through September to be impact periods. Bird abundance and species diversity were highest in June and July in Michigan and in May and June in Wisconsin. No significant differences in community level parameters (total individuals, total species) were noted in either state. Considerable annual variation in numbers of individuals and species was noted. Particularly abundant species (all seasons included) included the Nashville Warbler, Ovenbird, White-throated Sparrow, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Hermit Thrush and Golden-crowned Kinglet. The most abundant species present on treatment and control segments varied among seasons and between states. Among "abundant" species (>1 individual observed/500 m segment), five of 34 comparisons (over all seasons) revealed a significant difference between treatment and control XII segments in Michigan; four indicated a greater abundance on control segments. Six of 31 comparisons indicated a significant difference between treatment and control segments in Wisconsin; four indicated a greater abundance on control segments. Previous analyses of vegetation on Wisconsin and Michigan study sites (Blake et al. 1988) revealed differences between treatment and control plots. The difference most likely to influence bird populations was distribution of coniferous and deciduous habitats. Treatment segments supported more coniferous and lowland habitats than did control areas, in both states. To account for differences in habitat between treatment and control segments in Wisconsin, we paired treatment and control segments on the basis of habitat similarity and compared bird abundances on these paired segments (N = 15 pairs). (The Michigan study is designed as a "before-and-after" experiment and, thus, differences in habitat pose less of a problem for interpretation of bird distribution patterns.) Two of 31 comparisons of abundant species showed significant differences between paired segments in Wisconsin; in both cases, numbers were higher on treatment segments. The final report for Wisconsin will consider effects of vegetation on results from previous years and on distribution patterns of guilds. Eighteen of 105 comparisons of common species (based on prominence values) between treatment and control segments (all segments) in Michigan and 20 of 100 in Wisconsin were significant. Values were higher on control segments in Michigan in 9 cases; 6 of 20 were more abundant on control than on treatment segments in Wisconsin. Few species were consistently and significantly more abundant on either treatment or control segments among seasons within a year or within seasons between years. Differences between treatment and control segments are most likely due to habitat differences. Species were classified into guilds on the basis of foraging behavior and preferred breeding habitat. Few significant differences in abundances of birds within different guilds were found between treatment and control segments. Differences were most consistent for habitat categories, providing further evidence that habitat differences are responsible for many of the observed differences in bird distribution patterns between treatment and control segments.
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Annual Report 1989-1990
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1990) Blake, John G.; Niemi, Gerald J; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Collins, Patrick T
This investigation was designed to isolate effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by extremely low frequency (ELF) antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through Wisconsin and Michigan. Specifically, we seek to determine if bird species richness and abundance differ between areas that are close to the antenna and those that are far enough away to be unaffected by the antenna. We are pursuing this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined include total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds. Our monitoring program has included bird censuses over a five month period from May to September (1986-1989). Additional data were collected in both states in August-September of 1984 and June of 1985. Research in Wisconsin was completed in 1989 but has continued in Michigan. A final report summarizing work in Wisconsin has been completed (Hanowski et al. in press). Here we summarize results of our 1990 research activities in Michigan. The Michigan transmitter began 150 amp tuning and testing intermittently in the first part of May 1989. On 14 May, the transmitter began continuous 150 amp operation for 16 hrs/day on weekdays and all day on weekends. On 7 October 1989, the Michigan transmitter began continuous operation at full power. We therefore consider 1990 to be the first full impact year. Overall, bird abundance and species diversity were highest and approximately the same during May, June, and July. Species diversity was significantly greater on control areas during June and September, but no other differences in community level parameters were significant. Considerable annual variation in numbers of individuals and species was noted. Particularly abundant species (all seasons included) included the Ovenbird, Black-capped Chickadee, and Nashville Warbler. Other common species included Red-eyed Vireo, White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, and Black-throated Green Warbler. The most abundant species present on treatment and control segments varied among seasons. Among "abundant" species (>1 individual observed/500 m segment), five of 24 comparisons (21%; all seasons combined) revealed a significant difference between treatment and control segments in Michigan; two indicated a greater abundance on control segments. Previous analyses of vegetation on Michigan study sites (Blake et al. 1988) revealed differences between treatment and control plots. The difference most likely to influence bird populations was distribution of coniferous and deciduous habitats. Treatment segments supported more coniferous and lowland habitats than did control segments. It is important to note that habitat differences that exist between treatment and control areas will not affect our analysis of antenna effects. The Michigan study is designed as a before-and-after experiment; we can compare changes in bird abundance over time on treatment segments and on control segments. If electromagnetic fields produced by antenna operation affect bird distribution patterns, we expect to detect a change in patterns of abundance between treatment and control areas. Such changes, if they occur, would be independent of already present habitat differences. Seventeen of 114 comparisons (15%) of common species (based on prominence values, see page 7) between treatment and control segments (all segments) in Michigan were significant. Values were higher on control segments in 10 cases. Few species were consistently and significantly more abundant on either treatment or control segments among seasons within a year or within seasons among years. Differences between treatment and control segments were most likely due to habitat differences. Species were classified into guilds on the basis of foraging behavior and preferred breeding habitat. Few significant differences in abundance of birds within different guilds were found between treatment and control segments. Differences were most consistent for habitat categories (e.g., birds that prefer deciduous forest were more abundant on control segments in 4 of 5 months), providing further evidence that habitat differences were responsible for many of the observed differences in bird distribution patterns between treatment and control segments.
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Annual Report 1991
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1991) Blake, John G.; Niemi, Gerald J; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Collins, Patrick T
This investigation was designed to isolate effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by extremely low frequency (ELF) antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through Wisconsin and Michigan. Specifically, we seek to determine if bird species richness and abundance differ between areas that are close to the antenna and those that are far enough away to be unaffected by the antenna. We are pursuing this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined include total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds. Our monitoring program has included bird censuses in both states over a five month period from May to September, 1986-1991. Additional data were collected in August-September 1984 and in June 1985, in both states. Bird censuses were terminated in Wisconsin after 1989 but are continuing in Michigan. No consistent patterns have yet emerged to demonstrate that birds are more or less abundant on treatment relative to control segments in either state after effects of habitat are accounted for. Further, few significant differences have been found at the community or species level; differences in one season or year are not always repeated in subsequent years or seasons. Most differences that exist between treatment and control transects can be attributed to habitat differences or chance rather than to electromagnetic field differences.
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Annual Report 1992
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1992) Helle, Pekka J.; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J; Collins, Patrick T; Blake, John G.
This investigation was designed to detect effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by extremely low frequency (ELF) antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through Wisconsin and Michigan. Specifically, we seek to determine if bird species richness and abundance differ between areas that are close to the antenna and those that are far enough away to be unaffected by the antenna. We are pursuing this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined include total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds. Our monitoring program has included bird censuses in both states over a five month period from May to September, from 1986 onwards. Additional data were collected in August-September 1984 and in June 1985, in both states. Bird censuses were terminated in Wisconsin after 1989 but are continuing in Michigan. No consistent patterns have yet emerged to demonstrate that birds are more or less abundant on treatment relative to control segments in either state after effects of habitat are accounted for. Further, few significant differences have been found at the community or species level; differences in one season or year are not always repeated in subsequent years or seasons. Most differences that exist between treatment and control transects can be attributed to habitat differences or chance rather than to electromagnetic field differences.
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Annual Report 1993
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1993) Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J; Blake, John G.
This investigation was designed to detect effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by extremely low frequency (ELF) antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through Wisconsin and Michigan. Specifically, we seek to determine if bird species richness and abundance differ between areas that are close to the antenna and those that are far enough away to be unaffected by the antenna. We are pursuing this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined include total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds. Our monitoring program has included bird censuses in both states over a five month period from May to September, from 1986 onwards. Additional data were collected in August-September 1984 and in June 1985, in both states. Bird censuses were terminated in Wisconsin after 1989 but are continuing in Michigan. No consistent patterns are evident to demonstrate that changes in bird abundance differ between treatment relative to control segments in Michigan after the antenna became operational. No significant interactions found at the community or species level are always repeated in subsequent seasons. In addition, interactions in guild or individual species abundance patterns that exist between treatment and control areas in any season are not repeated in subsequent seasons. Number of significant interactions found at many levels of the analyses were not greater than the number expected by chance alone and are unlikely attributable to electromagnetic fields.
ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Bird Species and Communities: Final Report 1994
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1994) Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J; Blake, John G.
This investigation was designed to detect effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by extremely low frequency (ELF) antenna systems on bird species breeding in or migrating through northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Specifically, we asked whether bird species richness and abundance differed between areas that were close to the antenna and those that were far enough away to be unaffected by EM fields produced by the antenna. We pursued this question at both the community and species level. Characteristics examined included total species richness and abundance, abundances of common bird species, and abundances of birds within selected guilds. Our monitoring program included bird censuses in both states over a five month period from May to September, from 1986 onwards. Additional data were collected in August-September 1984 and in June 1985, in both states. Bird censuses were terminated in Wisconsin after 1989 and in 1993 in Michigan. Final results were reported previously for the Wisconsin study. Interpretations of ELF EM field effects in the Michigan study reported here, were based on significance of the interaction term in a repeated measures analysis of variance. For this analysis we were not interested in whether bird abundance varied annually (year effect), but whether bird abundance varied over time in the same manner in treatment and reference study areas. No significant interactions found at the community, species, or guild levels were consistent in any season. The number of significant interactions found at many levels of the analyses were not greater than the number expected by chance alone and therefore were unlikely attributable to EM fields produced by the ELF antenna.
Landscape Influences on Habitat, Water Chemistry, and Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Midwestern Stream Ecosystems
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1993) Richards, Carl; Johnson, Lucinda B; Host, George E
Landscape characteristics of 65 subwatersheds within the Saginaw Bay Watershed of central Michigan were examined to identify relationships to stream habitat, water quality, and macroinvertebrate communities. A Geographic Information System was used to compile and analyze a series of landscape data including land use, elevation, slope, and hydrography of each watershed. Land use and landcover were quantified in 65 watersheds for both entire watersheds and 200 m stream buffers. Both watershed and buffer data were then empirically related to instream habitat and surface water chemistry using multivariate analysis. Macroinvertebrates community data from each watershed were related to stream physical and chemical data to identify which reach-scale environmental factors yhat most strongly influenced observed patterns. From these analyses, the relative influences of landscape features on macroinvertebrate communities could be inferred. Results showed that stream habitat, particularly channel morphology and substrate, were most strongly influenced by the presence of non forested wetlands. All permanent vegetative landcovers were associated with decreased values for most chemical parameters. Land use heterogeneity and average watershed slope were important predictors of total suspended solids. Landscape data accounted for over 75% of the variance in total nitrogen. In general, relationships between landscape data and stream chemistry were stronger in summer than fall. Surprisingly, the use of stream buffer data did not improve the predictions of habitat and chemistry characteristics compared with use of whole watershed data. Finer scale information may be required to depict the influence of riparian zones on midwestern streams. Macroinvertebrates were most strongly related to channel morphology, substrate characteristics, and nutrient concentrations. At the largest scale, geomorphic differences among watersheds and the extremes of land use (extensive row crop agriculture) had the strongest influence on macroinvertebrate communities, through their influence on stream habitat. At smaller scales, land use patterns (type, heterogeneity) exhibited more influence through their association with water chemistry and habitat alterations.
Measuring Return on Investment of Tourism Marketing: A Review of Sixteen State Tourism Offices
(University of Minnesota Extension, 2010) Ahmed, Adeel
Modeled Prospective Regional Socio-Economic Impacts of the Back Forty Project Menominee County, Michigan
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2015) Haynes, Monica; Chiodi Grensing, Gina; Scott, Michelle; Kuhn, Austin; Eisenbacher, Travis; Haedtke, Karen
Modeled Prospective Regional Socio-Economic Impacts of the Back Forty Project Menominee County, Michigan
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2010) Skurla, James A; Jacobson, Jean; Kasim, Taha; Resch, Brian; Almquist-Minko, Vickie
National Interagency Canada Lynx Detection Survey in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2006) Burdett, Christopher L.; Lindquist, Ed; Moen, Ronald; Niemi, Gerald J; Route, Bill
A variety of non-invasive techniques including hair snagging, snow-tracking, and remote cameras can be used to monitor mammalian carnivores. The National Interagency Canada Lynx Detection Survey (NLDS) was a survey designed to detect lynx with a hair-snagging protocol applied throughout the conterminous U.S. range of the lynx. Hare-snagging stations consisted of a scent lure, a carpet piece with nails to snag hair, and a pie tin to attract the cat’s attention. We applied the NLDS protocol in the Superior and Chippewa National Forests in Minnesota, the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests in Wisconsin, and the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan. Mammalian species detected included black bears (Ursus americanus), bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), ungulates, and other canids. The NLDS did not detect lynx in the Great Lakes Geographic Area (GLGA) despite their likely presence on some of the Minnesota NLDS grids. We also opportunistically set up hair snagging stations in areas in Minnesota where we knew lynx were present to further test the efficacy of hair-snagging stations. We had limited success using hair snares to selectively sample for lynx despite placing snares in areas regularly used by lynx. We suspect the detection probability for lynx hair-snagging surveys in the GLGA may be low and other survey techniques may prove more useful, particularly for localized selective sampling for lynx presence.
Reds, racial justice, and civil liberties: Michigan Communists during the Cold War
(MEP Publications, 1997) Pintzuk, Edward C., 1914-
This book calls into question commonly held assumptions about the U.S. Communist Party by examining its work in Michigan in the decades immediately after World War II. As Cold War ideologies hardened, 1945-1960 was a difficult period in the history of the Left, and Edward C. Pintzuk demonstrates that this history has continued to be misunderstood. He delves into unpublished papers in library archives and private collections, examines FBI files, analyzes court decisions, interviews participants. He weighs the charge of Soviet domination. His specific concerns are the concrete details of what Michigan Communists did--their goals and methods, as well as what they actually accomplished--during those years. Working through the Civil Rights Congress, the Michigan District of the CPUSA organized the defense of victims of racial injustice, perhaps the most searing case being that of Lemas Woods, an African American soldier convicted of murder on flimsy evidence. Government efforts to deport almost 60 Michiganders for political reasons were another focus of activity. Michigan Communists also joined such significant national campaigns as that against the House Un-American Activities Committee. The Party made political misjudgments that damaged its own effectiveness, caused in part by unrelentingly hostile media and government persecution. Pintzuk argues that nonetheless Communist activities during the Cold War were able to challenge racial bigotry and oppression, strengthen Bill of Rights protections, and raise left and liberal political consciousness. --Publisher's summary.
Review of Michigan's Rural Intersection Crashes: Application of Methodology for Identifying Intersections for Intersection Decision Support (IDS)
(2006-08-01) Preston, Howard; Storm, Richard; Donath, Max; Shankwitz, Craig
The objective of the Intersection Decision Support (IDS) research project, sponsored by a consortium of states (Minnesota, California, and Virginia) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is to improve intersection safety. The Minnesota team's focus is to develop a better understanding of the causes of crashes at rural unsignalized intersections and then develop a technology solution to address the cause(s).
In the original study, a review of Minnesota's rural crash records and of past research identified poor driver gap selection as a major contributing cause of rural intersection crashes. Consequently, the design of the rural IDS technology has focused on enhancing the driver's ability to successfully negotiate rural intersections by communicating information about the available gaps in the traffic stream to the driver.
In order to develop an IDS technology that has the potential to be nationally deployed, the regional differences at rural intersections must first be understood. Only then can a universal solution be designed and evaluated. To achieve this goal of national consensus and deployment, the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Transportation initiated a State Pooled Fund study, in which nine states are cooperating in intersection-crash research. This report documents the crash analysis phase of the pooled fund study for the State of Michigan, culminating in a recommendation of an intersection for instrumentation. The driver gap acceptance behavior data to be collected at the selected intersection will feed into the Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System (CICAS) Stop Sign Assist Program.
Seasonal Air-Water Exchange of Toxaphene in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior
(2013-12) Kvale, Dorian
Studies from the turn of the century reported annual net volatilization of toxaphene from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior to the atmosphere. Net volatilization from Lake Superior was predicted to shift to net absorption before the year 2010. To measure current toxaphene concentrations and calculate instantaneous air-water fluxes, this study collected paired air-water samples in 2004 and 2005 on Lake Michigan and in 2006 on Lake Superior. Average(±SD) dissolved water concentrations were 380(±180) ng/m3 for Lake Michigan and 730(±85) ng/m3 for Lake Superior. Average gas-phase concentrations were 9.4(±4.1) pg/m3 over Lake Michigan and 22(±20) pg/m3 over Lake Superior. Instantaneous air-water fluxes averaged 240(±530) ng/m2-season for Lake Michigan and 370(±1000) ng/m2-season for Lake Superior. Mass budgets estimated a net export of 81(±30) kg/yr of toxaphene from Lake Michigan and 365(±64) kg/yr from Lake Superior. Half-lives were approximately 17 years for both lakes. These long residence times have prolonged toxaphene's elevated concentration in the upper Great Lakes, and will sustain it as a concerning contaminant in Lake Superior for well over 50 years.

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