Thesis (Ph. D. - Watershed Management)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-167). Also available via the Internet.

The valuation of public recreational facilities is complicated by the absence of a market established price. In this study, existing methods for valuing non-market priced recreational resources have been refined to compensate for price absence. In addition, crosselasticities of demand between recreation resources have been comptted to describe their substitution relationships. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,000 owners of motorboats registered in Arizona to determine their socioeconomic characteristics, participation habits, expected participation during the 1967 boating season and costs of operating their boating outfit. To those respondents returning an acceptable questionnaire a returnable cost accounting ledger was mailed in which the boat owner could keep a complete record of his boating activities and costs during the study period. The expected participation information yielded by the questionnaire describes a boating season participation pattern unconstrained by short-run fluctuations due to unforeseen incidents. This exhibits the potential value of the facility for recreational use. Further, it was found that expected number of trips can be used as a single predictor variable for estimating recreation use for the forthcoming season. Since public recreation areas generally have only a token entry fee, their value may be captured by consumers in the form of a consumer's surplus. Compensated demand curves for the recreation resources were constructed to eliminate the income effect of a theoretical price change. This was accomplished by grouping consumers into cells according to their income and variable costs of participation, then calculating the differences in annual total fixed costs of participation between the marginal consumer (with the highest annual total fixed costs) and each intramarginal consumer within each cell. The value of a recreation resource obtained in the above manner represents the value to a perfectly discriminating monopolist. The value of reservoirs based on expected participation were found to be greater than resource value determined under actual participation, probably due to intercedence of short-run factors affecting actual participation plans. Demand curves for the recreation experience at different locations were constructed by linearly regressing actual and expected number of trips, respectively, on average total costs of participation. The elasticity of demand, in all instances, was inelastic, relating the relative insensitivity of the motorboat recreation market, in terms of participation adjustment, to changes in average total costs of participation. Actual participation demand, however, tended to be more elastic than expected participation demand, thus reflecting the constraints imposed on actual participation by various short-run factors. Cross-elasticities of demand between selected pairs of reservoirs were computed to describe the extent to which a shift in participation might occur at one reservoir as a result of an entrance fee imposition or increase at another assuming that the costs of attending all other reservoirs will remain constant. Three combinations of signs were found to exist among the reservoir pairs. With both signs positive the locations were assumed to bear a competitive relationship, offering a substitute recreation experience. If both signs were negative the locations were assumed to have a complementary relationship, implying that the locations do not offer a substitute recreation experience, though not necessarily independent. Finally, when one sign was positive and the other negative, the location with a substitute relationship to the other was assumed to offer the superior recreation experience. Sign combinations, however, did not remain consistent between pairs of reservoirs from actual to expected participation computations. Substitution relationships based on actual participation computations were discounted on the basis that due to such a small number of observations of actual attendance an accurate representation of the perception of the recreation experience was not obtained. Further, the substitution relationships based on expected attendance appeared more realistic than those based on actual attendance. Major factors influencing reservoir substitution relationships appeared to be the proximity of the resource locations to a major population center, their similarity in physical and/or user characteristics, accessibility and general level of facility development.

Sediment resuspension due to the operation of recreational motorboats in shallow lakes was investigated. Boats equipped with 28, 50, 85, 120, and 165 horsepower engines were used for this study on Lake Claire, Florida Technological University campus, and Lake Mizell, the City of Winter Park, located in Orange County, Central Florida. Grasshopper Lake was also a test site due to its clarity for underwater photography. These motorboats were run at different speeds and water depths and the induced pressure waves on the lake bottom were measured using a hydrophone and recording system. Primary and secondary wave amplitudes and frequencies were determined for the various operating conditions and motorboats. The primary waves were formed by boat wake and the secondary waves resulted from engine effects. The primary waves were generally higher in amplitude and lower in frequency than the secondary waves. The maximum amplitudes occurred just before planing. The average primary wave amplitude after planing at normal operating speeds decreased exponentially with increasing water depth for all the boats tested and followed this equation: Aw = ae-bD where: Aw = average primary wave amplitude, ft. a = constant varied between boats = 0.68 to 1.86 ft. for boats tested b = 0.17 to 0.25 ft-1 D = water depth, ft The boat waves resuspended bottom sediments and eroded shore areas, increasing the turbidity of the lake water. Particle count and size distribution in water samples were determined using a Coulter Counter. A straight line relationship between turbidity and cummulative particle count per milliliter existed on a semi-log graph. Calculated and measured bottom water velocities showed good agreement for a limited amount of data.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-06-13T13:13:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Biblioteca.pdf: 1902006 bytes, checksum: 7d4961b62f35904b170bb537e0fae2a7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-13T13:13:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Biblioteca.pdf: 1902006 bytes, checksum: 7d4961b62f35904b170bb537e0fae2a7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-28 / CNPq / O impacto de embarcações sobre o comportamento de golfinhos tem sido particularmente importante em regiões de elevado potencial turístico-econômico, sobretudo em função da rápida expansão dessa indústria e da ausência ou ineficiência de rigorosa fiscalização ambiental. Esse estudo examinou o cumprimento da legislação ambiental vigente na Baía dos Golfinhos, Nordeste do Brasil. A partir das observações das embarcações e cetáceos registramos as seguintes informações: (i) tempo de permanência das embarcações na Baía, (ii) número das embarcações simultaneamente presentes na Baía, (iii) distância de uma ou mais embarcações para os golfinhos e (iv) número de eventos de perseguição aos golfinhos pelas embarcações. Os levantamentos foram conduzidos ao longo de 21 dias, totalizando 168 h de observação efetiva. Durante este período foram identificadas 14 embarcações adaptadas à prática de atividades turísticas, entre catamarãs, escunas e lanchas. Foram registradas infrações à legislação quanto ao tempo máximo de permanência no interior da baía, distância para os cetáceos e ocorrência de perseguição aos animais. A existência de atividades turísticas fora dos padrões recomendados indica a necessidade de ações urgentes para assegurar a proteção dos golfinhos na região. Em primeira linha, deveria haver uma fiscalização efetiva por parte das agências governamentais. Nossos achados são similares aos de outros estudos prévios e independentes realizados na Austrália e Nova Zelândia. Isso demonstra que sem uma efetiva aplicação da lei, meras regulamentações têm pouca chance de proteger os golfinhos e melhorar seu bem-estar diante de atividades náuticas de ecoturismo. Por outro lado, dois fatores exigem a atenção dos gestores ambientais: (i) a complexidade inerente às normas atuais, o que pode gerar uma deficiência na fiscalização, mesmo que existente, e (ii) a baixa rigidez dessas normas, quando se leva em consideração dados de pesquisas recentes. Portanto, faz-se necessário urgente adequação das leis, de modo que elas se tornem efetivas do ponto de vista ambiental e de fácil fiscalização. Tais passos resultariam em medidas mais efetivas para se reduzir as perturbações das embarcações na Baía dos Golfinhos. Todavia, a forma mais eficiente para se reduzir os problemas causados pelas embarcações a motor parece ser a criação de santuários costeiros para os golfinhos, onde tais embarcações não teriam permissão para entrada. / The impact of motorboats on the behavior of dolphins has been particularly important in regions with high tourism and economic potential, especially in light of the rapid expansion of this industry and the absence or inefficiency of strict environmental enforcement. This study examined the impact of tourist motorboats on the estuarine dolphin and enforcement of environmental regulations in Baía dos Golfinhos, Northeast Brazil. From the observations of vessels and cetaceans, we recorded the following information: (i) time of entry and exit of each vessel during the day, (ii) number of vessels simultaneously present in the Bay, (iii) distance of one or more vessels for dolphins and (iv) number of events of persecution to dolphins by boat. Surveys were conducted over 21 days, totaling 168 hours of effective observation. During this period, we identified 14 vessels adapted to the practice of touristic activities, including catamarans, schooners and barges. The existence of tourist activities outside the recommended standards indicates the need for urgent action to ensure the protection of dolphins in the region. Importantly, there should be an effective monitoring by the government agencies. Our findings are similar to two other previous and independent studies in Australia and New Zealand. It seems that without effective law enforcement, mere regulations have little chance to protect the dolphins and to improve their welfare from nautical ecotourism activities. Moreover, two factors require attention from environmental managers: (i) the inherent complexity of current regulations, which can weakens their enforcement, and (ii) the softness of such rules, when one takes into account recent research findings. Thus, the modernization of laws is required so that they become scientifically adequate and easier to enforce. These steps would help reducing the disturbance caused by the motorboats in Baía dos Golfinhos. However, the most efficient way to reduce the problems caused by motorboats seems to be the creation of a number of coastal sanctuaries where motorboats are not permitted.

The project developed a web site for a high school physics projected called "Electric Motorboat Drag Racing." The web site was produced following the ADDIE instructional design model (analyze, design, develop, implement, evaluate) and was designed using key usability concepts identified through research: speed, content, appearance, and navigation (SCAN). The web site was developed and tested by asking experts for their feedback and by having participants use the web site. The web site was implemented in physics classrooms and data from 43 participants were evaluated. The data showed 97 percent of the participants' boats successfully completed the five-meter drag race. It also showed that the two targeted California physics standards were selected most often by participants as the standards they most needed to apply, learn, or review to complete the project. Through testing and evaluation, the web site was made more usable and the project helped physics students learn and apply specific physics concepts while gaining hands-on experience.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 7, 2005). Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-85).

Motorboat activity can adversely effect the water quality of a reservoir. The potential impacts of motorboat activity on the Occoquan Reservoir's water and sediments were evaluated. Thirty-one sites, both marina and nonmarina, along the reservoir were selected. Sediment and water samples were collected in 1990, during peak boating activity, and in October, during low boating activity. The objectives of this research were to determine the concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediment samples and to determine if their presence was related to boating activity. The presence of other non-PAH organics was also determined. Contours of total PAH concentrations, boxplots and ANOVA analyses between marina and nonmarina sites were generated from gathered data in order to meet these objectives. PAHs were present in the water during peak boating activity and not detected during low boating activity, while PAHS were detected in the sediments during both sampling periods. The aqueous and sediment PAH concentrations were at or below the method detection limits. The PAH ratios of unalkylated PAHs confirmed PAH contamination to be of a combustion source. Boating was shown to be a PAH source to the water column, during peak boating activity, throughout the entire Occoquan Reservoir. An ANOVA between marina and nonmarina sites for the aqueous total PAH concentrations did not show a significant difference in June. This implied that boating did not cause any localized impacts to the water column and that there was another PAH source. There was a significant difference for total PAH concentrations between the marina and nonmarina sites for the sediment samples in June, showing localized impacts at marina areas due to boating activity. PAH profiles showed urban runoff as another major contributor to the PAH concentration in the water and sediments. The urbanization of Hooes Run and the hydrology of the reservoir caused urban runoff to impact localized areas. Finally, atmospheric deposition was also a source of PAHs to the sediments throughout the entire reservoir. Non-PAH organics found in a few of the water and sediment samples were the pesticides atrazine and p,p'-DDD, alkyl phosphates, alcohols and C₈ to C₁₂ hydrocarbons. / Master of Science