Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1974. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

In this research a model is developed to predict population for relatively rural areas experiencing rapid economic development. Of the many ways to predict population size, in this research a "demographic-economic" model is chosen for use. The economic variables which aid in projecting population are total employment, and net changes in employment associated with economic growth. The model developed for this research is applied to Oregon's Northern Columbia River Basin Counties of Morrow, Umatilla, and Gilliam. Each county is or is expected to experience rapid growth in its agricultural and/or industrial sectors in the next few years. Using employment projections to the year 1990, population projections are made at five-year intervals between the years 1970 and 1990. / Graduation date: 1977

Variable electrical generation (VG) sources such as wind farms are an increasing percentage of total electrical generation in the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) balancing area and are starting to impact the ability of the regional balancing authority to control the electric grid. Wind farms are not dispatchable and challenge historical electric grid control methods. Successful integration of VG at high penetration levels of wind needs to address increased overall system variability and the rapid power ramp rates caused by wind. One of the new control paradigms needed is accurate wind speed prediction which directly relates to wind farm power output. With an accurate wind speed forecast other generation sources can be dispatched as needed to ensure grid stability. This work uses BPA metrology station (MS) data to make predictions for short-term wind speed where short-term is defined as a one hour prediction horizon. It is shown that, using the available metrology station data and several different prediction methodologies, only small improvements in short-term wind speed prediction can be achieved with the available data for the algorithms analyzed. / Graduation date: 2013

This study presents a preliminary compilation of 1) archaeological sites or geographic locations in the lower Columbia River valley where mobile prehistoric zoomorphic and anthropomorphic stone sculptures have been found, 2) a descriptive listing of the sculptures found at each of these sites or locations, and 3) insofar as possible an evaluation of the significance of these sculptures in the culture history for the area. Such an evaluation is based primarily on evidence derived from archaeological, ethnographic and historic contexts wherever they can be ascertained. However, the evaluation is also based upon a general analysis of the inherent design characteristics of the carvings.

According to most climatologists the recent weather extremes are symptomatic of the return to a more variable climate after an unusually warm and stable thirty to forty years that came to an end in the early 1970s. This prolonged climatic stability has institutionalised the concept of a stable climate among most policy and decision makers and consequently, most life support systems, food, energy and water have been planned for too narrow a range of climatic variability. Recent events begin to illustrate the serious impacts that a more variable, but more normal, climate has on these systems. This thesis has attempted to: 1. Assess the impact of increased climatic variability on the generating capacity of the Mica and Revelstoke Dams projects and other components of B.C. Hydro's integrated power generation system. 2. Develop a planning response to climatic variability in the context of electricity generation planning in British Columbia. The study included a review of literature on climatic change, a review of literature on planning under uncertainty, the development of a planning model and the application of this model to the hydroelectric developments in the Upper Columbia River Basin. The planning model is iterative and recognises seven phases: problem recognition, system identification, identification of uncertainty, exploration of uncertainty, formulation of alternatives, evaluation, and development of a commitment package. The case study provides an application of this model to the management of the Mica and Revelstoke Dams, and the construction and management of other components of the integrated generation system. The forty year streamflow record (1928-1968), the basis of generation planning, appears to be unusually stable when compared to historic variability as indicated by relevant tree-ring data. The "critical" period on which the system's firm energy capability is based is exceeded in the Lake Athabasca chronology. This tree-ring chronology, which correlates well with the Columbia River streamflow, contains evidence of a drought, twice the magnitude and three times the duration of the critical period, which might have struck the Rocky Mountains between 1864 and 1880. Under these conditions the Mica and Revelstoke Dams would generate respectively 19$ and 17-8$ below design production. These losses could be absorbed by the,integrated system, but further reductions in output, possibly arising in the post draw-down period might, beyond 1980, lead to overall supply shortfalls. If this drought were to simultaneously affect all hydroelectric generation plants, power shortages of between 2$ and 6$ of annual demand loads could be expected. To improve the electricity generating system's resilience to climatic variability, it is recommended that initially B.C. Hydro develop and implement an energy conservation program, which would reduce forecasted demands by 6% by 1980, contract power to new industrial customers on an interruptible basis, extend the streamflow records of the Peace and Columbia Rivers by means of tree-rings and monitor climatic research. The extended record should form the basis of a new energy capability balance and some of the options the authority could then consider are the creation of a thermal power reserve, the increase of live storage in existing and future reservoirs, the installation of additional generating equipment and the development of contingency plans to further curtail demand and utilise the thermal reserve. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 272-296). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

Numbers of wild Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have increased dramatically during the past 30 years in the lower Columbia and Willamette Valley systems. The damage they cause by grazing and trampling plants can be substantial. The objectives of this research were to: 1) Develop methods that provide reliable estimates of goose impact on wheat yield and quality, and 2) Develop methods to separate goose damage from other factors that lower yield such as poor soil or waterlogging. To document grazing impacts, color aerial photography was combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) and precision farming technology. Field-scale color aerial photographs (1:14,000 scale) were acquired four times during each growing season: in January, March, April, and just prior to harvest in July. Each flight was coupled with ground truth data collection to verify exact cause of spectral signature variation or variations in wheat cover. Such data included wheat height, number of goose droppings, and a relative rating of goose grazing intensity. At each sampling point a platform photograph and a GPS location were taken. Wheat yield impact varied considerably as field size, shape and proximity to road varied. Yield maps revealed that, goose grazing had reduced grain yield by 25% or more in heavily grazed areas. At harvest time during the first year, wheat grain in the heavily grazed areas had higher moisture content due to delayed maturity. Therefore those areas were harvested two weeks later. Heavily grazed areas also had more weeds than ungrazed portions of the field. Late-season (April) grazing was more damaging to wheat yield than was earlier season grazing, but early season grazing did have an impact on yield. Intensely hazed fields had lower levels of damage than did fields or portions of fields that were not as vigorously guarded. Our results illustrate very practical ways to combine image analysis capability, spectral observations, global positioning systems, precision farming and ground truth data collection to map and quantify field condition or crop damage from depredation, standing water, or other adversities. Image analysis of geopositioned color platform photographs can be used to stratify winter wheat fields into impact units according to grazing intensity. Ground-truth data, when collected in conjunction with a GPS, provided the information needed to locate and establish the spectral properties of impacted areas. Once the spectral properties of a representative area were identified, information could be extrapolated to other areas with the same characteristics. In addition, this method could be used in conjunction with aerial photography to verify areas of grazing. The combination of two or more of these tools would provide farm managers and agricultural consultants with a cost-effective method to identify problem areas associated with vegetation stress due to heavy grazing by geese or other factors. / Graduation date: 1999

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 556-580). / Microfiche. / 2 v. (xv, 580 leaves, bound) ill., maps, col. photos. 29 cm

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 272-296). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.