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Evaporation ponds that dispose of agricultural drainwater provide attractive habitat for waterbirds but may result in contaminant exposure that impairs reproduction. I estimated post-hatching survival and evaluated productivity estimates for American avocets (Recurvirostra americana) nesting at evaporation ponds in the Tulare Basin, California from 1991 to 1993. Avocets and Black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) comprised the majority of 5,969 nests found. Nest success and embryo mortality varied among ponds and between species. Embryo deformity and mortality rates associated with selenium were higher in stilts. The majority of reproductive losses were attributed to predation, especially at ponds without islands. Post-hatch survival of radiomarked avocets after 5 weeks ranged from 0.375-0.729 and differed among ponds (log-rank X²=7.12, 2 df, P=0.028). Predation accounted for 55.4% (36/65) of known mortalities. Depredated chicks ranged from 1-30 days of age with a median age of 6 days. Arsenic concentrations in avocet livers were below detection limits while boron concentrations were below detection limits at Westlake-South (WLS) and Tulare Lake Drainage District-South (TLDD-S) in 1993. Mean boron concentration in livers was 3.7 ppm at TLDD-S in 1992 and 22.9 ppm at Lost Hills Water District (LHWD). Liver selenium concentrations increased with age and differed among ponds (P=0.0001). Mercury concentrations differed among ponds (P=0.0001), but were similar to background. Growth, survival and selenium exposure were consistent to support post-hatching effects of selenium. Mortality in avocet chicks was highest at LHWD, intermediate at TLDD-S and lowest at WLS, consistent with selenium exposures. I observed lower survival, histologic lesions, lower hatchling weights, slower growth, and elevated selenium and boron in tissue at LHWD. I used capture-recapture analysis also to estimate post-hatching survival and calculated avocet productivity. Survival estimates for the first 4 weeks post-hatching, based on model averaging, ranged from 0.572 to 0.751. Productivity at some ponds was insufficient to offset adult mortality. Estimates of average annual productivity were 0.49 and 0.45 in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Juvenile survival rates necessary for recruitment to offset 10% and 20% adult mortality ranged from 0.204 to 0.408 and 0.222 to 0.444, respectively. / Graduation date: 2004

I evaluated the use of various wetlands by wintering ducks in the Tulare Lake Basin (TLB), California, during October 1982 - April 1983 and September 1983 - March 1984. Aerial waterfowl counts of the TLB were used to document spacial use patterns by ducks. Ground surveys on evaporation ponds in the Tulare Lake Drainage District (TLDD) were used to evaluate duck use of specific ponds with varying chemical and biological parameters. During mid-winter, up to 300,000 ducks used the TLB. The most abundant species (northern pintail (Anas acuta), northern shoveler (Anas clvoeata), and green-winged teal (Anas crecca)) were found on freshwater habitats. Ruddy ducks (Oxvura jamaicensis) were the only species to extensively use the evaporation ponds. With the exception of ruddy ducks, the evaporation ponds did not appear to be valuable for feeding areas, but provided sanctuary during the hunting season. The use of evaporation ponds by waterfowl may be heavier in years without the extensive floodwater that was present during this study. / Graduation date: 1991

Young people, who attend high school. Face many problems these days. Some youth seem able to marshal all the resources necessary to solve and overcome their problems; others seem barely able to hold the line, while a few, who are much publicized, are overcome by their problems. Those who are overcome by their problems, when their behavior takes on anti-social characteristics, are called juvenile delinquents. It may be juvenile delinquency or parental failure. By whatever name it is called, shortcomings are in evidence. Whenever juvenile delinquency is mentioned in a community, the signal seems to be given to variou groups or agencies to wrap white “robes of righteousness” about themselves and point out the shortcomings of other groups. Blaming others is not the purpose nor in the province of this paper. The hope is to ask a question or set forth a problem which may be answered, in some fair measure, to the good of all persons concerned. Are there categories of problems which can be uncovered by an exploratory study of cases of juvenile delinquency, which might prove useful in changing procedures in the high school in order to reduce delinquency? Efforts have been made to discover (1) whether there are problems which can be grouped; (2) whether the small city of Tulare has much or little in common with like cities or areas; and (3) whether something can be done in Tulare Union High School to change the situation.

The schools of California are becoming increasingly aware of their responsibility in the assimilation of minority groups into participation in the full life of the community. Varied studies are underway to determine effective methods of meeting the needs of these groups of differing cultural, racial, language, and economic backgrounds. One of these areas of need is that that of speech, with which this study is concerned.

From the Proceedings of the 1975 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1975, Tempe, Arizona / The Tulare Lake basin at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is the basis for water supply for several cities and a highly productive agricultural area. Little attention has been given to groundwater quality during the past one hundred years. A careful study of the salt balance produced a set of guidelines for future groundwater managers to follow. The major emphasis for future water consumption should be the efficient use of irrigation. This would produce a positive impact on groundwater quality, energy savings, and less imported water would be needed. Groundwater management in the future must consider water quality as well as quantity. Appropriate monitoring programs are urgently needed to provide data on trends in groundwater quality.