Development of plans to restore degraded areas in the Great Lakes

The International Joint Commission's Water Quality Board has identified 42 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes ecosystem where Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement objectives or jurisdictional standards, criteria or guidelines, established to protect uses, have been exceeded and remedial actions are necessary to restore beneficial uses. As a result of the 1985 report of the Water Quality Board, the eight Great Lakes states and the Province of Ontario committed themselves to developing a remedial action plan (RAP) to restore all uses in each Area of Concern within their political boundaries. Each RAP must identify the specific measures necessary to control existing sources of pollution, abate existing contamination (e.g., contaminated sediments), and restore all beneficial uses. Points which must be explicitly addressed in each RAP include: geographic extent of problem, beneficial uses impaired, causes of problems, remedial measures and a schedule for implementation, responsible agencies, and surveillance and monitoring activities that will be used to track effectiveness of remedial actions. The jurisdictions are responsible for developing RAPs, and the International Joint Commission is responsible for evaluating the adequacy of each RAP and tracking progress in restoring beneficial uses.     

"大太白山"旅游整体开发战略研究

立足太白山旅游发展现状,提出当前阻碍太白山旅游发展的四大问题.为了提升太白山整体旅游水平,提供可持续发展的合理途径,将太白山南、北坡相关保护单位与景区联系起来,以"南北统筹,差异开发"为指导思想,探讨在"大太白山"框架之下的旅游整体开发模式.在此基础上将大太白山旅游区划分为"两片四区",提出了相应的产品对策.     

Rendering reform: local authority planners and perceptions of public participation in Great Britain

Public participation in planning is frequently linked to ideas of environmental justice and sustainability; yet, despite the voluminous literature on the topic, the reaction of frontline planning professionals to the broadly pro-participation agendas of central and devolved government in Great Britain has not been sufficiently examined. This is important because of their role in implementing such agendas, and the space for frontline professionals to shape the contours of reform. Drawing on extensive empirical material, I explore the reaction of local authority planners to participation policies, finding divided opinion as to whether more participation is needed to improve planning, but a strong framing of participation as something requiring careful management. I conclude that planners are broadly supportive of participation so long as they are in control, which can be understood through an institutionalist perspective that suggests there will be a similar reaction to further, ongoing, efforts to make planning more participatory.     

英国和丹麦安全生产立法及监察的启示和思考

国家安全生产监管总局赴英国、丹麦组织安全生产法律法规标准化考察团针对英国、丹麦和国际劳工组织的职业安全健康立法、执法和监察等方面进行了座谈和交流。作为发达国家,英国和丹麦的职业安全健康绩效在全球处于领先地位,主要介绍了英国职业健康安全组织机构和职责、健康安全法律法规制修订程序、健康安全法律法规体系和立法执法及监察经验,以及丹麦职业安全健康组织机构、安全健康法律法规体系和安全健康监察经验。以此为基础,在关于法律原则和定位方面、法律法规落实、落实企业的安全生产主体责任和监察人员履行监察职责、基于风险的分级监察和建立企业安全生产诚信评级系统等五方面提出对我国安全生产立法及监察工作的启示和思考。     

POTENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CHANGES IN WATER AVAILABILITY ON AGRICULTURE IN THE TRUCKEE AND CARSON RIVER BASINS,NEVADA, USA1

ABSTRACT: Effects of climate change are likely to be detected in nearly all sectors and regions of the economy, with both winners and losers. One of the consequences of climatic changes could be altered regional water supplies. This paper presents an investigation of regional agricultural implications of changes in water availability. Specifically, using a profit maximization approach, the economic consequences of altered water availability in the Great Basin of Nevada are analyzed in terms of the effects on net returns of agricultural producers. Under the scenarios analyzed in this paper, it is found that with adequate water systems, increase in streamflow and consequent increase in water availability could significantly benefit agricultural producers of this region. Net returns to irrigators could increase by 8 to 13 percent, not taking into account the possibility of changes in crop yields and prices. It is also shown that the benefits from increased water availability are sensitive to likely crop yield and price changes. The potential for adverse effects of climatic changes on water supply is also considered by analyzing the effects of decreased water availability. Under decreased water availability scenarios, farmer net returns decrease substantially.     

Measuring the Net Economic Value of Recreational Boating as Water Levels Fluctuate1

Abstract: The purpose of this article was to show how the value of recreational boating can be assessed and how that value can be linked to water levels. Data were gathered via a survey of recreational boaters to determine days boated and willingness‐to‐pay (net economic value) for boating on Lake Ontario and on the St. Lawrence River in 2002. Depth measurements were taken at marinas and yacht clubs, boat launch ramps, and private docks. Stage‐damage curves were used to pinpoint at what water levels and to what extent boaters would be impacted. Boaters recreated an estimated 1.3 million days in 2002 and spent an estimated US$178 million in New York counties bordering Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The mean net economic value per day per boat (above current expenditures) was $69.36, with an estimated total net economic value of US$90 million. Using Lake Ontario as an example, the stage‐damage curves show that the overall negative impact would be small, between 245 and 248 ft. Maintaining water levels within that range for the entire boating season would be ideal for Lake Ontario boaters and associated businesses.     

SATELLITE DETECTION OF SEICHES IN GREAT SALT LAKE,UTAH1

ABSTRACT: On June 15, 1977, an unusual brightness anomaly was detected in the north arm of Great Salt Lake, Utah, on NOAA-5 Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) visible band imagery and on Landsat-2 multispectral visual band imagery. Retrospective inspection of NOAA-3, 4, and 5 satellite imagery from 1974–77 revealed 12 previous cases of the anomaly, whereas post monitoring documented nine other cases through May 1978. Comparison of lake levels in the north arm with meteorological parameters leads to the conclusion that the anomalous brightness is associated with wind induced seiches in the north arm. Apparently the wind induces a lower water depth, turbulence, and mixing throughout the water column in the western third of the north arm, thus increasing the brightness of the surface waters chiefly from sediment resuspension.     

LAKE HURON SURFACE WATER TEMPERATURE MAY – NOVEMBER, 19661

ABSTRACT. Data from seven vessel cruises from late May to early November permitted definition of the surface water temperature regime of Lake Huron on a monthly basis. Quantitative values are furnished for a portion of the warming, stable, and cooling periods. The lowest temperatures occurred near the center of the lake, southwest of Manitoulin Island, and at De Tour Passage. The highest temperatures occurred at the mouth of Saginaw Bay and in the southernmost portions of the lake. Comparison of the surface water temperatures with temperatures in the 21 - 30 m layer shows the heat storage lag characteristic of large lakes.     

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO RIVER DIMENSIONS1

ABSTRACT: Biophysical and socioeconomic effects are identified in reservoir, downstream, division channel, and receiving water body areas. Overall, the projects have been socially useful, especially from the perspective of hydroelectric, log driving, and economic development benefits. However selected socially inequitable aspects of the projects and other problems related to erosion, turbidity, multiple resource use, failure to clear trees, and heritage resource losses are identified. Suggestions for planning similar projects are presented.