Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 191 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-119).

Thesis (M.A. in economics)--Washington State University, August 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 10, 2009). "School of Economic Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-57).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2010. / Principal faculty advisors: James J. Corbett and Jeremy M. Firestone, College of Earth, Ocean, & Environment. Includes bibliographical references.

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-115). Also available online in Scholars' Bank.

xiv, 115 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Over the past 25 years wetland mitigation banking has emerged as an increasingly popular market-based regulatory system designed to offset wetland losses through the use of pre-constructed, government-approved wetland mitigation banks. While research highlighting the biophysical effectiveness of this approach is prevalent, little is known about the spatial and social characteristics of mitigation sites when compared to sites of permitted wetland loss. This study used wetland mitigation banking records from four Oregon counties to determine the extent to which wetland displacement has occurred, if social characteristics differ between sites of wetland loss and bank sites and if the density of wetlands near permits differs from banks. Results suggest that banks have been located an average of 11 miles from the removal-fill site. Additionally, when compared to removal-fill sites, populations living near banks were wealthier, less densely populated and less ethnically diverse. / Committee in Charge: Marc A. Schlossberg, Chair; Scott D. Bridgham; Donald G. Holtgrieve

No description available.

This dissertation used an organizational structure framework to examine the current status of hazard mitigation from the perspective of emergency managers from four organizational structure categories. This study addressed three primary research questions: (1) What is the role of the local emergency management office in hazard mitigation and what is the function of other stakeholders as perceived by local emergency managers? (2) What are the challenges to achieving hazard mitigation objectives and what are the strategies used to overcome them? and (3) How do local emergency managers define hazard mitigation success? Thirty North Central Texas emergency managers were recruited for participation in this study, and data was collected through telephone interviews and an internet survey. A mixed methodology was used to triangulate qualitative and quantitative findings. Qualitative analyses consisted of inductive grounded theory, and quantitative data analyses consisted of independent samples t-test analyses, correlation analyses, and Chi-square analyses. Findings indicate that emergency managers from the different emergency management office categories have six self-identified roles in hazard mitigation planning and strategy implementation; have a similar reported level of involvement in different hazard mitigation-related activities; and perceive stakeholders as having four key functions in hazard mitigation planning and strategy implementation. Second, participants describe five obstacles that are categorized as internal organizational challenges and two obstacles that are categorized as outside organizational challenges. The Disinterested Stakeholders Challenge is rated as a more significant obstacle by participants from the Non-Fire emergency management office category. Emergency managers describe the use of four strategies for overcoming hazard mitigation challenges, and the ability to master these strategies has implications for achieving hazard mitigation success. Third, emergency managers define a tangible and intangible category of hazard mitigation success, and each category is comprised of distinct indicators. Lastly, the organizational characteristics of emergency management offices had significant relationships with their reported level of involvement in select hazard mitigation activities; the rating assigned to select hazard mitigation challenges; and the rating assigned to select hazard mitigation success measures. For integrated emergency management offices, their parent agency is found to be an asset for achieving hazard mitigation objectives.

Planning researchers believe that property losses from natural hazards, such as floods can be reduced if governments address this issue and adopt appropriate policies in their plans. However, little empirical research has examined the relationship between plan quality and actual property loss from floods. My research addresses this critical gap in the planning and hazard research literature by evaluating the effectiveness of current plans and policies in mitigating property damage from floods. Specifically, this study: 1) assesses the extent to which local comprehensive plans integrate flood mitigation policies in Florida; and 2) it examines the impact of the quality of flood mitigation policies on actual insured flood damages. Study results show that fifty-three local plans in the sample received a mean score for total flood mitigation policy quality of 38.55, which represents 35.69% of the total possible points. These findings indicate that there is still considerable room for improvement by local governments on flooding issues. The scores of local plans varied widely, with coastal communities receiving significantly higher scores than non-coastal communities. While most communities adopted land use management tools, such as permitted land use and wetland permits as primary flood mitigation tools, incentive based tools/taxing tools and acquisition tools were rarely adopted. This study also finds that plan quality associated with flood mitigation policy had little discernible effect on reducing insured flood damage while controlling for biophysical, built environment and socio-economic variables. This result counters the assumption inherent in previous plan quality research that better plans mitigate the adverse effects associated with floods and other natural hazards. There are some possible explanations for this result in terms of plan implementation, land use management paradox and characteristics of insurance policies. The statistical analysis also suggests that insured flood loss is considerably affected by wetland alteration and a community's location on the coast. Another finding indicates that very strong leadership and dam construction are factors in mitigating flood loss.

Thesis (M.E.S.)--The Evergreen State College, 2004. / Title from title screen (viewed 3/11/2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-150).