The regional landscape of Appalachian was a testing ground for a method to define cultural landscape. Landscape Architects and land planners can learn from the existing landscape about the aesthetics and environmental constraints of an area to design and plan in such a way as to complement and strengthen regional character. This document describes in seven chapters the study undertaken to identify patterns in the cultural landscape along the New River. Chapter one introduces the study. Chapter Two explains the physical setting of the four physiographic provinces through which the New River flows. Chapter Three briefly gives an overview of the historical social context of the New River Corridor. Chapter Four describes the eleven sites surveyed as part of this research. The methods of the study are described in Chapter Five. The results of the research survey and statistical analysis are reported in Chapter Six. Lastly, Chapter Seven describes the current land uses within the four provinces, identifies the similarities between the landscape of the Blue Ridge and Great Valley Provinces and the dissimilarity of the Ridge and Valley and Allegheny Plateau Provinces. This chapter discusses how land planning profession could work to strengthen the Appalachian region along the New River and other regions with a unique cultural landscape. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 169 p. : ill., maps. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-06-29T15:50:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 derikribeirodepaiva.pdf: 8307169 bytes, checksum: 3b1448fabaff436fa6ccdfcbe5e4e90d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-07-03T13:52:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 derikribeirodepaiva.pdf: 8307169 bytes, checksum: 3b1448fabaff436fa6ccdfcbe5e4e90d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-03T13:52:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 derikribeirodepaiva.pdf: 8307169 bytes, checksum: 3b1448fabaff436fa6ccdfcbe5e4e90d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-28 / O crescente interesse na representação dos aspectos do relevo tem como justificativa a ampla gama de possibilidades de aplicação dos produtos oriundos dessa técnica cartográfica no que se refere ao planejamento. Diante disso, a demanda por documentos cartográficos que subsidiem os processos de intervenção no relevo tem aumentado. Essa crescente atenção facultada à cartografia geomorfológica nas pesquisas ambientais tem culminado num subsidio não só a Geomorfologia especificamente, como também às diversas ciências que envolvem as mais distintas esferas do planejamento. Diante dessa realidade tornam-se de substancial importância os esforços em prol da pesquisa e desenvolvimento de trabalhos voltados para a produção de mapas e cartas geomorfológicas em escala de alto nível de detalhamento, visando que estas possam vir a subsidiar o processo decisório, em âmbito local, acerca da disposição espacial e tipos de intervenção passíveis ou não de serem desenvolvidas no ambiente em questão. Assim, a presente dissertação tem como objetivo geral a elaboração da carta geomorfológica da bacia hidrográfica do rio Novo, intentando-se que esta possa subsidiar futuras pesquisas que visem a compreensão dos processos e fatores responsáveis pela conformação do relevo local. Como objetivos específicos intenta-se que a mesma possa subsidiar o processo decisório voltado para o planejamento na Zona da Mata Mineira, podendo também vir a fornecer dados básicos de entrada para outras pesquisas. A metodologia adotada para o alcance dos objetivos supracitados concerne à proposta elaborada no âmbito do IBGE, cujo princípio básico trata-se da ordenação dos fatos geomorfológicos conforme uma classificação que leva em consideração aspectos temporais e espaciais, e que viabiliza a distinção dos modelados como unidade básica do relevo, bem como os grupamentos que mantém relações hierárquicas com essas unidades básicas. Dessa forma, foram identificados os tipos de modelados, sendo estes posteriormente diferenciados e caracterizados de acordo com fatores intrínsecos à sua natureza estrutural, litológica, pedológica, climática e morfodinâmica. Como forma de expandir a compreensão acerca dos processos e dinâmicas condicionantes da conformação das paisagens da região foi levada a efeito uma interpretação de cunho morfoestrutural da área, tendo esta possibilitado a identificação de cinco distintos compartimentos morfoestruturais regionais que, em parte, abrangem a área cerne da presente pesquisa. / The increasing interest in the representation of the aspects of the relief has as justification the wide range of possibilities of application of the products coming from this cartographic technique when it comes to planning. In view of this, the demand for cartographic documents that subsidize relief intervention processes has increased. This growing attention given to geomorphological cartography in environmental research has culminated in a subsidy not only to Geomorphology specifically, but also to the various sciences that involve the most distinct spheres of planning. Faced with this reality, efforts to research and develop geomorphic maps and geomorphic charts on a high level of detail are becoming of great importance, aiming at supporting the decision-making process at the local level, about the spatial arrangement and types of intervention that may or may not be developed in the environment in question. Thus, the present dissertation has as general objective the elaboration of the geomorphological chart of the river basin of the rio Novo, trying to be able to subsidize future researches that aim at the understanding of the processes and factors responsible for the conformation of the local relief. As specific objectives, it is intended that it can support the decision-making process geared to planning in the Zona da Mata Mineira, and may also provide basic input data for other surveys. The methodology adopted for the achievement of the aforementioned objectives concerns the proposal elaborated within the scope of the IBGE, whose basic principle is the ordering of geomorphological facts according to a classification that takes into account temporal and spatial aspects, and which makes possible the distinction of those modeled as a unit as well as the groupings that maintain hierarchical relationships with these basic units. In this way, the types of modeling were identified, being later differentiated and characterized according to factors intrinsic to its structural, lithological, pedological, climatic and morphodynamic nature. As a way to expand the understanding of the processes and dynamics conditioning the landscape's conformation, a morphostructural interpretation of the area was carried out, making possible the identification of five distinct regional morphostructural compartments that, in part, cover the core area of this research.

The present study involved the implementation of one component, Community Health Status Assessment, of a comprehensive, strategic planning tool, Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), to qualitatively uncover the perceptions of the quality of life and local health care system of 28 residents in New River Valley (NRV), Virginia. The current study represents the initial qualitative study utilizing MAPP in Virginia. Interviewees perceived an overall good quality of life (e.g., ample green space, safe neighborhoods), with an urgent need for health care reform, affordable insurance, and transportation, particularly for after-hours medical care. The current study also reviews the specific findings from the one-on-one interviews, and provides a step-by-step look at the MAPP process for potential users as applied to a real-world community, specifically, the NRV. / Ph. D.

The present study implemented Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), a comprehensive, multi-component, strategic planning model and tool, in the New River Valley (NRV), Virginia to mobilize the NRV community to improve its own health status and the quality of life of its residents. The current mixed methods study represents one of the first to utilize MAPP in southwest Virginia and Virginia and is the most comprehensive community health needs assessment and strategic planning effort to date in the NRV. Through MAPP, the NRV community strived to determine the most effective ways to achieve optimal community health by considering its unique circumstances and needs, prioritizing public health system issues, identifying resources, and then developing integrated plans and forming effective partnerships for strategic action. The NRV MAPP process provided a solid framework for creating a community-driven needs assessment and strategic planning approach and initiative that brought together diverse public, private, non-profit, and voluntary organizations/agencies, businesses, faith communities, academia, local government, community members, and others who shared the commitment to and had a role in the NRV community's health and overall well-being. The current study also reviews the specific findings, summarizes the benefits and successes, and highlights lessons learned (including challenges and limitations) from the NRV MAPP experience, as well as makes recommendations for current practice and future research. Additionally, it provides a step-by-step overview of the entire MAPP process for potential users as applied to a real-world community, specifically the NRV. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate current management strategies for the New River, Virginia, muskellunge Esox masquinongy fishery, which is the premier muskellunge fishery in the state. The primary objectives were to evaluate potential benefits and angler support for more restrictive harvest regulations and to quantify habitat selection at multiple spatial scales. A secondary objective was to develop an alternative procedure for testing differences in muskellunge condition from relative weight Wr data that incorporates uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the standard weight equation and that is based on derived statistical properties of the Wr index. Abundance of memorable-length (³1,070 mm) muskellunge was predicted to increase with minimum length limits of 914, 1,016, and 1,143 mm. Although yield per recruit would decline under a 1,143-mm minimum length limit, it was predicted to remain fairly stable at length limits of 914 and 1,016 mm due to fast growth rates of young fish. Even though most anglers defined trophy muskellunge to be in excess of 1,016 mm, angler support for length limits in excess of 1,000 mm was low. Habitat variables that were most strongly related to muskellunge habitat selection were measures of patch shape complexity and water depth. Increased river discharge was found to significantly affect muskellunge habitat use and selection, with fish abandoning deeper open-water habitats and moving to shallower areas closer to the shoreline during periods of high discharge. As for the secondary objective, a new statistical test (R-test) was developed that can be used to test for differences in Wr between and within fish stocks. Comparison with other statistical tests indicated that the R test provides more conservative results than traditional statistic procedures, and that substantial variability in standard weight equations will make it more difficult to detect statistical differences. Management recommendations for the New River muskellunge fishery include increasing the minimum length limit to approximately 965 to 1,067 mm and limiting the stocking of muskellunge only to those areas with sufficient juxtaposition of shallow- and deep-water habitat patches. / Ph. D.

Rigorous modeling of the spatial species distributions is critical in biogeography, conservation, resource management, and assessment of climate change. The goal of chapter 2 of this dissertation was to evaluate the potential of using historical samples to develop high-resolution species distribution models (SDMs) of stream fishes of the United States. I explored the spatial transferability and temporal transferability of stream–fish distribution models in chapter 3 and chapter 4 respectively. Chapter 2 showed that the discrimination power of SDMs for 76 non-game fish species depended on data quality, species' rarity, statistical modeling technique, and incorporation of spatial autocorrelation. The area under the Receiver-Operating-Characteristic curve (AUC) in the cross validation tended to be higher in the logistic regression and boosted regression trees (BRT) than the presence-only MaxEnt models. AUC in the cross validation was also higher for species with large geographic ranges and small local populations. Species prevalence affected discrimination power in the model training but not in the validation. In chapter 3, spatial transferability of SDMs was low for over 70% of the 21 species examined. Only 24% of logistic regression, 12% of BRT, and 16% of MaxEnt had AUC > 0.6 in the spatial transfers. Friedman's rank sum test showed that there was no significant difference in the performance of the three modeling techniques. Spatial transferability could be improved by using spatial logistic regression under Lasso regularization in the training of SDMs and by matching the range and location of predictor variables between training and transfer regions. In chapter 4, testing of temporal SDM transfer on independent samples resulted in discrimination power of the moderate to good range, with AUC > 0.6 for 80% of species in all three types of models. Most cool water species had good temporal transferability. However, biases and misspecified spread occurred frequently in the temporal model transfers. To reduce under- or over-estimation bias, I suggest rescaling the predicted probability of species presence to ordinal ranks. To mitigate inappropriate spread of predictions in the climate change scenarios, I recommended to use large training datasets with good coverage of environmental gradients, and fine-tune predictor variables with regularization and cross validation. / Ph. D.

The mechanism through which the Appalachian Mountains have maintained moderate relief some ~300 Myr after the cessation of mountain building has long puzzled geomorphologists. As recent studies have shown that Appalachian exhumation has occurred at slow rates consistent with isostatic rebound of thickened crust, the driving forces behind localized episodes of accelerated incision and the associated rugged topography have been difficult to explain given the absence of tectonic uplift. This study uses previously undocumented relict fluvial gravels and knickpoint location to confirm the role of drainage rearrangement in producing local base level drop and subsequent basin-scale transient incision in the southern Appalachians. This process is fundamentally driven by the high potential energy of streams flowing across the elevated, slowly eroding Blue Ridge Plateau relative to the present Atlantic and landward interior base levels. Gravel deposits confirm that repeated capture of landward-draining Plateau streams by Atlantic basin streams, whose immediate base level is 250-300 m lower, forces episodic rapid incision and overall erosional retreat of the Blue Ridge Escarpment along the Plateau margin. The distribution of knickpoints, bedrock gorges, and relict surfaces in the interior of the Plateau indicate that the New River, which drains to the continental interior, is actively incising the low-relief Plateau surface due to episodic drops in landward base level. The origin of landward base level perturbation is unclear, but it may be the result of glacially-driven shortening and steepening of the lower New River during the Pleistocene. Collectively, these data indicate that rapid base level drop through drainage reorganization can energize streams in otherwise stable landscapes and accelerate fluvial incision and relief production without uplift of the land surface. This process is likely quite significant in post-orogenic settings, where inherited drainage patterns may not reflect the most direct, and thus energetically appropriate, path to present base level. Passive margins may therefore never achieve a topographic steady-state, despite uniformly slow and constant uplift due to isostatic rebound. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to determine the food habits of age-O smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu Lac~p~de) in the New River and to examine spatial, temporal, and size-related differences in foraging success. Understanding factors that regulate foraging success of age-O smallmouth bass may provide further insight into factors regulating yearclass strength in smallmouth bass populations. Larval and juvenile smallmouth bass (8.5-85 mm Total Length; TL) were collected from two sites in the New River, West Virginia in the late spring and early summer of 1990. Stomach analysis revealed that the first foods of smallmouth bass (TL - 9 mm) were primarily Chironomidae and Copepoda. Aquatic insects, primarily Ephemeroptera, became more abundant in the stomachs as TL increased. A shift in the proportions and types of prey consumed occurred at approximately 15 mm TL and was attributed to increased mouth width and fin development. / Master of Science