I would like to thank Dr. Vincente Lopes for initially agreeing to be my mentor during the thesis... more I would like to thank Dr. Vincente Lopes for initially agreeing to be my mentor during the thesis process, and for introducing me to Dr. Gwendolyn Hustvedt and the unique research opportunity that has consumed the last two years of my life. Dr. Gwendolyn Hustvedt has been a constant source of guidance and insight, and is responsible in no small part for the successful completion of my masters thesis. Dr. Richard Earl is responsible for my introduction to the fascination and convoluted world of water resources, and has provided much needed emotional support throughout my two years at Texas State. Special thanks are due to Dr. Walter Rast who agreed to serve as an impromptu committee member during Dr. Lopes' sabbatical during the last year of my masters degree and thesis completion. Additionally, Dr. Paula Williamson has my sincerest gratitude for what I suspect was no small part in procuring my instructional assistantship with the Department of Biology at Texas State. I would also like to acknowledge the staff employed at the Graduate College for their patience in answering my many questions and for providing me with a graduate assistantship during my first year as a graduate student. Most importantly I have to thank my mother, Karen M. Klein, who while being in the distant land of Philadelphia, PA has never ceased to be a source of mental and economic stability in my life. Without her certainly I would have been doomed to failure. I extend also my gratitude to all those family and friends who have helped me on my journey these last couple of years.
This study examines spatial and temporal trends in Texas dams, dam failures, and dam removals. Da... more This study examines spatial and temporal trends in Texas dams, dam failures, and dam removals. Dams were examined from a state-wide perspective and within 10 major river basins that collectively account for over 80% of all dams in the state. The state-scale and basin-scale analysis revealed similar patterns of dam occurrence, however there was greater variation in the patterns observed in both the purpose of dams and the timing for when most of the storage was created in each basin. Climate factors, mainly precipitation, influenced dam location. Population was not directly measured in this study but was an obvious influence on the spatial distribution of dams and their functions. While new dams are being built in Texas to secure future water supplies, documented dam incidents/failures have occurred in 15 of the 23 major river basins in Texas, with 328 total instances occurring since 1900. As the number of newly constructed dams and dam failures continue to grow across the state, so ...
The rate of dam building has declined in the United States, but dam building is still considered ... more The rate of dam building has declined in the United States, but dam building is still considered an integral part of water supply management, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Understanding how dams affect river connectivity is a key component of river basin management. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of fragmentation in the Guadalupe-San Antonio River System (GSARS) and how these patterns were related to dam size, age, and purpose. Using a shapefile of registered dams and the National Hydrography Dataset High Resolution (NHD-HR) as input data for the Barrier Assessment Tool (BAT), six successive connectivity models were created. The average length of functional river networks (FRNs) decreased over time but the number of FRNs over 100 km stayed relatively stable. Fragmentation in the GSARS was concentrated around urban centers, and the majority of fragmentation occurred gradually as dams separated small FRNs along tributaries and headwaters. This gradual decline in longitudinal connectivity was punctuated by sporadically large separations of river networks by particular dams based on their location and time of commissioning. The methodology presented here provides a way to analyze both the extent and the temporal evolution of fragmentation in a river system.
The Austin-San Antonio, Texas metropolitan region has become one of the fastest growing U.S. conu... more The Austin-San Antonio, Texas metropolitan region has become one of the fastest growing U.S. conur-bations in recent years. One derivative of this growth has been ubiquitous gentrification and urban renewal in portions of both cities. In this paper, we develop a contextual narrative of urban change in Austin, Texas (USA) and explore media portrayals of actors and impacts of urban renewal and gentrifi-cation. We present a case study of the Rainey Street Historical District, once a low-income, majority Hispanic neighborhood, and its transformation through rezoning efforts and entrepreneurial enterprises into Austin's newest nightlife district. We used a directed-content analysis approach to analyze 48 articles from three local news outlets from 2000 to 2014. Our analysis shows that much of the narrative presented by the news media focused on neighborhood-scale development impacts, followed by impacts related to resentment and conflict and the social costs of urban change. Results indicate that city officials and residents played a prominent role in shaping the discourse of the urban change narrative. We conclude by situating our findings within two pivotal events that occurred during the study period and argue that the context in which discursive frames develop, persist, and change is important to understanding the impacts of urban renewal and gentrification on a variety of actors.
Laguna Pond is an irregularly shaped pond located on Freeman Ranch in the Edwards Aquifer Recharg... more Laguna Pond is an irregularly shaped pond located on Freeman Ranch in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone of south-central Texas. To determine the potential usefulness of Laguna Pond for the management of Freeman Ranch, the pond’s drainage area, storage capacity, and yearly water budget were determined using a Global Positioning System unit and geographic information systems analytical tools. Preliminary analysis of the data revealed a negligible drainage area and a storage capacity of 3.71 acrefeet (161,608 cubic feet or 1,208,908.79 gallons) with a surface area of 0.29 acres (12,632 ft2). The preliminary water budget revealed a deficit of approximately 29 in per year, which would require the ranch to pump 8.97 af/year (2, 921,529.604 gallons/ year) to create a perennial pond. The exorbitant amount of water required to maintain the pond makes the Laguna an unlikely candidate for utilization as a stock pond or source of recreation for the ranch.
Unionid freshwater mussels are a threatened fauna, and understanding their distribution is essent... more Unionid freshwater mussels are a threatened fauna, and understanding their distribution is essential to aid and promote conservation efforts. Therefore, we (1) compared patterns of species richness and endemism of Texas mussel and fish species, as mussels depend on fish for their reproduction and dispersal; (2) examined how distribution and community composition of mussels and fishes varies across river basins; and (3) how much variation in mussel community composition could be explained by the distribution of potential host fish, river basin (as a spatial component), ecoregion (as proxy for large-scale environmental differences), and flow variability. Mussel and fish community compositions in rivers differed significantly between river basins with an east-to-west gradient of decreasing species richness following the transition from sub-humid to arid climate. River basin explained 25% of the variation in mussel community composition, and potential host fish presence explained 20%. The total variation explained by both variables was 34%, as part of the variation in host fish presence (11.5%) was spatially structured by differences in river basins. Flow variability explained an additional 14% of the variation in mussel community composition, and ecoregion an additional 9% compared with river basin alone. Locations of significantly higher mussel species richness and/or endemism were present in rivers from all regions of Texas. These locations should be protected, especially as human population continues to expand and urbanize in these regions. A better understanding of mussel–host fish relationships and the impact of flow variation on the distribution of mussels will be needed to inform conservation efforts.
One impact of climate change being felt by households is the increasing unpredictability of the a... more One impact of climate change being felt by households is the increasing unpredictability of the availability and quality of water supplies. Given the critical circumstance and timely needs created by droughts, this research aimed to explore the relationships among US consumers' perceptions of drought severity, perceived importance of water conservation drivers, participation in water/energy conscious consumption and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) in general environmental issues as well as specifically in drought. A survey of 273 consumers in the US state of Texas was conducted during the most severe single-year drought in the region's history. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used for data analysis. The results of this study support the importance of PCE in sustainable consumer behaviour and suggest that PCE for a specific issue has a more direct impact on relevant consumer behaviour than PCE for a generalized issue. Further, the results of this study lead to the suggestion that policy makers focus upon water restrictions and educational campaigns as part of their demand side management of water resources, as opposed to providing incentives for water conservation technologies. Lastly, the exploratory variable used to measure water/energy conscious consumption has been validated in this study and suggests that at least a partial percentage of consumers are consciously making water/energy purchase decisions within a larger framework of reduced resource availability. bs_bs_banner International Journal of Consumer Studies
I would like to thank Dr. Vincente Lopes for initially agreeing to be my mentor during the thesis... more I would like to thank Dr. Vincente Lopes for initially agreeing to be my mentor during the thesis process, and for introducing me to Dr. Gwendolyn Hustvedt and the unique research opportunity that has consumed the last two years of my life. Dr. Gwendolyn Hustvedt has been a constant source of guidance and insight, and is responsible in no small part for the successful completion of my masters thesis. Dr. Richard Earl is responsible for my introduction to the fascination and convoluted world of water resources, and has provided much needed emotional support throughout my two years at Texas State. Special thanks are due to Dr. Walter Rast who agreed to serve as an impromptu committee member during Dr. Lopes' sabbatical during the last year of my masters degree and thesis completion. Additionally, Dr. Paula Williamson has my sincerest gratitude for what I suspect was no small part in procuring my instructional assistantship with the Department of Biology at Texas State. I would also like to acknowledge the staff employed at the Graduate College for their patience in answering my many questions and for providing me with a graduate assistantship during my first year as a graduate student. Most importantly I have to thank my mother, Karen M. Klein, who while being in the distant land of Philadelphia, PA has never ceased to be a source of mental and economic stability in my life. Without her certainly I would have been doomed to failure. I extend also my gratitude to all those family and friends who have helped me on my journey these last couple of years.
This study examines spatial and temporal trends in Texas dams, dam failures, and dam removals. Da... more This study examines spatial and temporal trends in Texas dams, dam failures, and dam removals. Dams were examined from a state-wide perspective and within 10 major river basins that collectively account for over 80% of all dams in the state. The state-scale and basin-scale analysis revealed similar patterns of dam occurrence, however there was greater variation in the patterns observed in both the purpose of dams and the timing for when most of the storage was created in each basin. Climate factors, mainly precipitation, influenced dam location. Population was not directly measured in this study but was an obvious influence on the spatial distribution of dams and their functions. While new dams are being built in Texas to secure future water supplies, documented dam incidents/failures have occurred in 15 of the 23 major river basins in Texas, with 328 total instances occurring since 1900. As the number of newly constructed dams and dam failures continue to grow across the state, so ...
The rate of dam building has declined in the United States, but dam building is still considered ... more The rate of dam building has declined in the United States, but dam building is still considered an integral part of water supply management, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Understanding how dams affect river connectivity is a key component of river basin management. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of fragmentation in the Guadalupe-San Antonio River System (GSARS) and how these patterns were related to dam size, age, and purpose. Using a shapefile of registered dams and the National Hydrography Dataset High Resolution (NHD-HR) as input data for the Barrier Assessment Tool (BAT), six successive connectivity models were created. The average length of functional river networks (FRNs) decreased over time but the number of FRNs over 100 km stayed relatively stable. Fragmentation in the GSARS was concentrated around urban centers, and the majority of fragmentation occurred gradually as dams separated small FRNs along tributaries and headwaters. This gradual decline in longitudinal connectivity was punctuated by sporadically large separations of river networks by particular dams based on their location and time of commissioning. The methodology presented here provides a way to analyze both the extent and the temporal evolution of fragmentation in a river system.
The Austin-San Antonio, Texas metropolitan region has become one of the fastest growing U.S. conu... more The Austin-San Antonio, Texas metropolitan region has become one of the fastest growing U.S. conur-bations in recent years. One derivative of this growth has been ubiquitous gentrification and urban renewal in portions of both cities. In this paper, we develop a contextual narrative of urban change in Austin, Texas (USA) and explore media portrayals of actors and impacts of urban renewal and gentrifi-cation. We present a case study of the Rainey Street Historical District, once a low-income, majority Hispanic neighborhood, and its transformation through rezoning efforts and entrepreneurial enterprises into Austin's newest nightlife district. We used a directed-content analysis approach to analyze 48 articles from three local news outlets from 2000 to 2014. Our analysis shows that much of the narrative presented by the news media focused on neighborhood-scale development impacts, followed by impacts related to resentment and conflict and the social costs of urban change. Results indicate that city officials and residents played a prominent role in shaping the discourse of the urban change narrative. We conclude by situating our findings within two pivotal events that occurred during the study period and argue that the context in which discursive frames develop, persist, and change is important to understanding the impacts of urban renewal and gentrification on a variety of actors.
Laguna Pond is an irregularly shaped pond located on Freeman Ranch in the Edwards Aquifer Recharg... more Laguna Pond is an irregularly shaped pond located on Freeman Ranch in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone of south-central Texas. To determine the potential usefulness of Laguna Pond for the management of Freeman Ranch, the pond’s drainage area, storage capacity, and yearly water budget were determined using a Global Positioning System unit and geographic information systems analytical tools. Preliminary analysis of the data revealed a negligible drainage area and a storage capacity of 3.71 acrefeet (161,608 cubic feet or 1,208,908.79 gallons) with a surface area of 0.29 acres (12,632 ft2). The preliminary water budget revealed a deficit of approximately 29 in per year, which would require the ranch to pump 8.97 af/year (2, 921,529.604 gallons/ year) to create a perennial pond. The exorbitant amount of water required to maintain the pond makes the Laguna an unlikely candidate for utilization as a stock pond or source of recreation for the ranch.
Unionid freshwater mussels are a threatened fauna, and understanding their distribution is essent... more Unionid freshwater mussels are a threatened fauna, and understanding their distribution is essential to aid and promote conservation efforts. Therefore, we (1) compared patterns of species richness and endemism of Texas mussel and fish species, as mussels depend on fish for their reproduction and dispersal; (2) examined how distribution and community composition of mussels and fishes varies across river basins; and (3) how much variation in mussel community composition could be explained by the distribution of potential host fish, river basin (as a spatial component), ecoregion (as proxy for large-scale environmental differences), and flow variability. Mussel and fish community compositions in rivers differed significantly between river basins with an east-to-west gradient of decreasing species richness following the transition from sub-humid to arid climate. River basin explained 25% of the variation in mussel community composition, and potential host fish presence explained 20%. The total variation explained by both variables was 34%, as part of the variation in host fish presence (11.5%) was spatially structured by differences in river basins. Flow variability explained an additional 14% of the variation in mussel community composition, and ecoregion an additional 9% compared with river basin alone. Locations of significantly higher mussel species richness and/or endemism were present in rivers from all regions of Texas. These locations should be protected, especially as human population continues to expand and urbanize in these regions. A better understanding of mussel–host fish relationships and the impact of flow variation on the distribution of mussels will be needed to inform conservation efforts.
One impact of climate change being felt by households is the increasing unpredictability of the a... more One impact of climate change being felt by households is the increasing unpredictability of the availability and quality of water supplies. Given the critical circumstance and timely needs created by droughts, this research aimed to explore the relationships among US consumers' perceptions of drought severity, perceived importance of water conservation drivers, participation in water/energy conscious consumption and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) in general environmental issues as well as specifically in drought. A survey of 273 consumers in the US state of Texas was conducted during the most severe single-year drought in the region's history. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used for data analysis. The results of this study support the importance of PCE in sustainable consumer behaviour and suggest that PCE for a specific issue has a more direct impact on relevant consumer behaviour than PCE for a generalized issue. Further, the results of this study lead to the suggestion that policy makers focus upon water restrictions and educational campaigns as part of their demand side management of water resources, as opposed to providing incentives for water conservation technologies. Lastly, the exploratory variable used to measure water/energy conscious consumption has been validated in this study and suggests that at least a partial percentage of consumers are consciously making water/energy purchase decisions within a larger framework of reduced resource availability. bs_bs_banner International Journal of Consumer Studies
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Papers by Erin D Dascher
Texas. To determine the potential usefulness of Laguna Pond for the management of Freeman Ranch, the pond’s drainage area,
storage capacity, and yearly water budget were determined using a Global Positioning System unit and geographic information
systems analytical tools. Preliminary analysis of the data revealed a negligible drainage area and a storage capacity of 3.71 acrefeet
(161,608 cubic feet or 1,208,908.79 gallons) with a surface area of 0.29 acres (12,632 ft2). The preliminary water budget
revealed a deficit of approximately 29 in per year, which would require the ranch to pump 8.97 af/year (2, 921,529.604 gallons/
year) to create a perennial pond. The exorbitant amount of water required to maintain the pond makes the Laguna an unlikely
candidate for utilization as a stock pond or source of recreation for the ranch.
Texas. To determine the potential usefulness of Laguna Pond for the management of Freeman Ranch, the pond’s drainage area,
storage capacity, and yearly water budget were determined using a Global Positioning System unit and geographic information
systems analytical tools. Preliminary analysis of the data revealed a negligible drainage area and a storage capacity of 3.71 acrefeet
(161,608 cubic feet or 1,208,908.79 gallons) with a surface area of 0.29 acres (12,632 ft2). The preliminary water budget
revealed a deficit of approximately 29 in per year, which would require the ranch to pump 8.97 af/year (2, 921,529.604 gallons/
year) to create a perennial pond. The exorbitant amount of water required to maintain the pond makes the Laguna an unlikely
candidate for utilization as a stock pond or source of recreation for the ranch.