Role of halogen(I) cation-transfer mechanisms in water chlorination in the presence of bromide ion

Bromide ion is rapidly converted to HOBr via BrCl by reaction with HOCl. The subsequent slow reactions of (HOCl, OCl-)/(HOBr, OBr-) mixtures are monitored directly by multiwavelength UV-vis absorbance methods and simultaneously by ion chromatographic measurement of ClO2-, ClO3-, and BrO3- (p[H+] 5.6-7.6). A first-order loss of HOCl is observed which is catalyzed by trace concentrations of Br- and BrCl. Chlorite ion forms first and is subsequently oxidized to ClO3-. The loss of HOBr is slower and is second-order in HOBr, so that BrO3- formation takes longer than ClO3- formation. Under the conditions of this work, the relative yield of BrO3- increases with increase in pH. The decomposition of HOCI by bromide proceeds primarily by a series of halogen(I) cation-transfer reactions with subsequent halide release. The presence of HOCI increases the BrO3- yield three-fold from HOBr decay alone.     

A Typology of Collaboration Efforts in Environmental Management

Collaboration involves stakeholders and the public in a process of consensus building to address some of the most difficult environmental management problems facing society today. Collaborative groups vary widely, ranging from small watershed councils to regional ecosystem collaboratives to groups addressing large-scale policy issues. While these collaboratives all match the common principles of collaboration, a closer examination reveals many differences. Using institutional theories about levels of decision making provides a way of classifying collaboratives along a spectrum from action level to organizational level to policy level. This typology is applied to thirty-six collaboration case studies in Australia and the United States that were investigated over a series of years through interviews, observation, document analysis, and surveys. The application reveals different tendencies among the case types in terms of population, size, problem significance, institutional setting, and focus of activities. The typology also reveals functional differences in the types of stakeholders involved, the management arrangements for implementation, and the approaches to implementing change. This typology can help practitioners better understand the challenges and appropriate types of collaborations for different settings. It helps highlight differences in the role of government and decentralization of power. It distinguishes the different theoretical foundations for different types of collaboratives. Finally, it elucidates the different evaluation approaches for different types of collaboratives.     

Integrated Environmental Management: Moving from Theory to Practice

Integrated environmental management (IEM) and related concepts promoting holistic approaches to environmental management have been evolving rapidly over the past few decades. Although considerable research has examined the substantive dimensions of these concepts, practitioners have forged ahead applying IEM without a clear operational model. The authors link elements of ecosystem management and related fields with interaction to offer a new operational definition and practice paradigm. Interaction among stakeholders and with the public generally is the key operational component for IEM. Focusing on stakeholder interactions, the authors analyse the principle communication and conflict resolution tools employed in integrated approaches. Two illustrative cases from the state of Wisconsin demonstrate the application of interaction techniques and tools in pursuing integrated environmental management.     

The challenges and implications of collaborative management on a river basin scale

Collaboration has rapidly become the dominant paradigm in natural resource management, but there are many dilemmas about how it is applied effectively. In southwest Oregon, agencies, watershed councils and other stakeholders are developing a river basin approach to assess ecological health and set priorities for restoration. An analysis of this process reveals considerable progress in this innovative effort and it reveals several implications for collaboration at a regional scale, including: tensions between technical complexity and open participation, difficulties with information exchange for joint management, the relationships between technical issues and policy issues, the role of regional policy in supporting collaborative efforts, and the importance of institutional arrangements.