Social organization in deer: Implications for localized management

Populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) inhabiting many state and national parks and suburban areas have grown to the point that they conflict with human activities. Conflicts range from destruction of vegetation through browsing to public perception that diseases carried by deer pose threats to human health. Traditional modes of hunting to control populations are inappropriate in many of these areas because of intense human development and activity. This article explores an alternative approach for population reduction based on deer social organization. Female white-tailed deer are highly philopatric and female offspring remain near their dams for life. This suggests that a population expands slowly as a series of overlapping home ranges in a form analogous to the petals on a rose. Incorporating the rose petal concept into a model of population growth shows that removal of deer by family unit can potentially alleviate conflicts in localized areas for as many as 10–15 yr.     

A RISK-BASED MODEL FOR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANNING1

ABSTRACT: A risk-based model is presented for determining action levels in real-time operation of public water supplies under drought conditions. The model, applicable to surface water supplies, is built around the almost universally adopted structure for drought management, a sequence of increasingly stringent measures to reduce demand. Action levels are determined by finding minimum storage levels that will satisfy a prescribed set of probability constraints over the remainder of a drawdown-refill cycle. Results are presented for the City of Raleigh, NC.     

PARTITIONING SMALL SCALE SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF RUNOFF AND EROSION ON SAGEBRUSH RANGELAND1

ABSTRACT: Most hydrologic models require input parameters which represent the variability found across an entire landscape. The estimation of such parameters is very difficult, particularly on rangeland. Improved model parameter estimation procedures are needed which incorporate the small-scale and temporal variability found on rangeland. This study investigates the use of a surface soil classification scheme to partition the spatial variability in hydrologic and interrill erosion processes in a sagebrush plant community. Four distinct microsites were found to exist within the sagebrush coppice-dune dune-interspace complex. The microsites explained the majority of variation in hydrologic and interrill erosion response found on the site and were discernable based on readily available soil and vegetation information. The variability within each microsite was quite low and was not well correlated with soil and vegetation properties. The surface soil classification scheme defined in this study can be quite useful for defining sampling procedures, for understanding hydrologic and erosion processes, and for parameterizing hydrologic models for use on sagebrush range-land.     

Time series analysis of coal mine accident experience

This study investigates several forecasting techniques that can be useful to mine safety managers for studying mine accident rate behavior. Three time series models were studied for extrapolation of accident rates. These models are applied to historical accident incidence data from a coal mine. Further, a method is presented for evaluating the three models for the selection of an appropriate model. For this particular mine application, it is concluded that the more complex Box-Jenkins ARMA model as well as first order autoregressive model do not give better results than the simple exponential smoothing model. However, when the random variations or autocorrelations in the accident experience rates between periods are different, the models may predict differently. As such, specific models must be developed for each mine on the basis of statistical analysis of the mine accident experience data over time. Moreover, the importance of incorporating human judgement to interpret the results of statistical forecasting cannot be overemphasized. Integration of policy or operating changes, which may impact mine safety performance, with statistical forecasting techniques is essential to arrive at a realistic prediction of future performance.     

Continuous improvement at EG&G: The waste reduction pays (WARP) initiative

EG&G is a Fortune 200 company with annual sales of $2.7 billion. It designs and manufactures laboratory and field-test instruments and electronic and mechanical components for commercial customers. EG&G provides systems engineering, precision component manufacturing, and test-site operating and management services to many government agencies and laboratories. It employs 34,000 people worldwide. Recognizing the need to improve its business practices as they related to environmental excellence, EG&G initiated policies, procedures, and programs to establish itself as an environmentally responsible company. Waste reduction was designated priority number one in EGG's environmental program. Our major customers are also making waste reduction a high visibility program. For example, on August 3, 1993, the president signed Executive Order 12856 making pollution prevention at federal facilities a goal of this administration. This article describes the EG&G Waste Reduction Pays (WARP) program, developed for use by all its operating entities, and why it is a model program to implement Executive Order 12856. It also depicts how the implementation of the program at federal facilities differs, in some respects, from that at other EG&G operating units.     

Study of factors associated with risk of work-related stairway falls

This report describes a study of stairway risk factors based on video tape recordings of workers using 31 flights of stairs selected from among the industries with the highest frequency and severity rates for stair-related injuries. The video tapes were reviewed to identify all incidents, i.e., falls, trips, slips, missteps, and moments of temporary instability. The characteristics of the 98 stair users who were involved in an incident were compared to the characteristics of a matched group of stair users who did not have incidents. The factors that best discriminated between the incident group and the nonincident group were: (a) The incident group tended to be those whose movement was impeded by others and who were older; and (b) The nonincident group tended to be those who were wearing glasses and those who were very large or heavy individuals. The influence of stairway physical features on the risk of injury was examined using correlation analysis. The measure of risk was the incidence rate (observed incidents per number of observed uses) for each flight as well as for each tread. Among the several variables significantly correlated with higher incidence rate are: (a) higher effective riser height and less effective tread depth; the safest stairs have an effective riser height not greater than 7 in. (18 cm) and an effective tread depth no less than 11 in. (27 cm); and (b) for descent only (92% of the injuries), the size of the nosing projection; it appears that nosing projections that exceed $\text{11}\text{16}$ in. (1.8 cm) are associated with higher incidence rates.     

Gordon below Franklin dam,Tasmania, Australia: Environmental factors in a decision of national significance

Summary In Tasmania's rugged south-west, the Gordon River Power Development, Stage 1, with several dams and one power station has been in operation since 1978. A Committee of Enquiry severely criticised environmental aspects of the scheme. The Gordon River Power Development, Stage II, with the construction of another dam and power station on the Gordon River, was put forward by the Hydro Electric Commission of Tasmania to satisfy the electricity demand growth rate expected. Many objections were raised.A Senate Select Committee on South-west Tasmania received many submissions disputing the need for the dam, objecting to its intrusion into the World Heritage Wilderness area and disagreeing on several scientific aspects. Simultaneously, extensive debate was carried on in the media and in technical and scientific journals. A popular protest movement against building the dam grew throughout Australia and a blockade against the work of the Hydro Electric Commission was successfully maintained. Elections, influenced by the popular movement against the dam, changed the Government of Australia in March 1983. In July 1983, the High Court of Australia determined that construction of the Gordon below Franklin Dam was illegal and work by the Hydro Electric Commission in the area had to be terminated.This case illustrates that the importance of environmental implications of water structures must never be under-estimated. In special cases, popular support can be gained, to bring about political and legal action to counteract transgression of environmental principles. It is to be hoped that in future the kind of situation which developed in this case will not recur.We will be judged, not by what we built, but by what we destroyed.Mr H. Bandler is a civil and environmental engineering consultant operating from Sydney, Australia.