Hydrographic observations in Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing Harbor, California, October 1970 to November 1971. Annual report, Part 3, July 1972

In October 1970, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories began an observational program to determine/the seasonal changes in the water chemistry of Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing Harbor. This data report contains the first year of data (October 1970 - November 1971). These data are of immediate interest in determining the flushing and mixing mechanisms of the slough and in establishing the effect that local domestic and industrial effluents have on the distribution of these chemical parameters. (Document contains 78 Pages

Automation Potential and Artificial Intelligence

This Fact Sheet highlights the automation potential in the Mountain West states (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado) and its metropolitan statistical areas using the findings of Automation and Artificial Intelligence: How machines are affecting people and places, a report by the Brookings Institution

Economic Growth in Mountain West Metropolitan Areas

This Fact Sheet highlights trends in America’s economic progress, demonstrating how four metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the Mountain West region (Salt Lake City, Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, and Denver-Aurora-Lakewood) fared from 2016 to 2017 and from 2007 to 2017 compared to the national economy and the 100 largest metropolitan economies

The Urban Heat Island Effect in Nevada

This fact sheet explores the temperature difference between Nevada cities and their undeveloped surrounding areas using reports by the Urban Land Institute, Climate Central, National Public Radio (NPR), and various governmental organizations. We investigate what “urban heat islands” are, their effects, the correlation between heat and income, and factors that contribute to rising temperatures in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno

Foot Traffic & Walkable Urbanism

This fact sheet highlights the performance and expansion of WalkUPs (regionally significant, walkable areas) with a focus on Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Phoenix, and Las Vegas as detailed in Foot Traffic Ahead: Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America’s Largest Metros, a report by George Washington University

The Outdoor Recreation Economy in the Mountain West

This fact sheet provides select data from the State Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA) at the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to highlight the outdoor recreation economy in the Mountain West region, including Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado

Production, Best Management Practices, and Market Impacts of Forest Biomass Harvest and Collection in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Time motion studies were conducted at five mid-Atlantic sites that spanned various operations in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The harvest systems included integrated harvests where chips were produced in the forest, roundwood systems where only roundwood was produced, and a centralized chipping system. The study collected overall productivity and machine utilization data at the various harvesting operations. The cost per green ton of woody biomass ranged from $18.46 to$39.8 resulting in an average of $30.33 among the five systems. Hauling had the highest average price per green ton at$9.10, while loading had the lowest at $1.73 per green ton. The hauling process had the lowest productivity, with an average of 10.07 green tons per Productive Machine Hour (PMH), while chipping had the highest, with an average of 79.65 green tons per PMH. Skidders were the most utilized equipment, with an average utilization rate of 91 percent, while chipping had the lowest utilization rate, with an average of 59 percent. In the mid-Atlantic region, more information is needed regarding the producers and consumers of logging residue to help estimate the scope of the local bioeconomy. This study aims to survey the producers and consumers of biomass to gain insight into the logistics of the bioeconomy and the attitudes of those within the industry regarding the utilization of biomass. The survey has been divided into two segments, with one developed for producers of biomass (loggers and foresters, etc.) and one developed for consumers of biomass (mills, mulch producers, etc.) Consumers of biomass have been operating their businesses for an average of 17 years, have a weekly consumption rate of 690 tons, and procure biomass within a 43-mile range. Producers of biomass have been operating their businesses for an average of 20 years, have an average weekly production rate of 60 MBF, and are more likely to have crews dedicated to full-time biomass collection than part-time. Results of the study indicate that additional revenue from wood residues is the primary advantage for consumers and producers. Equipment cost was listed as the most significant disadvantage among consumers, while weak market demand was the most significant disadvantage among producers. The suitability of drones for monitoring forestry best management practices (BMPs) was investigated. Ground-based methods for assessing BMPs were used in addition to drone flights to collect data at recently harvested sites. The drone-collected data was processed through Pix4DMapper to generate orthomosaics and Digital Surface Models (DSMs), which were then analyzed using ArcGis Pro. The accuracy of the drone data was not affected by the type of harvest site. However, the residual trees and canopies found at uneven harvest sites can impede the ability to visualize ground features for assessment. The drone assessment primarily differed from the ground-based assessment regarding the maximum slope values due to the interference of tree canopies at uneven harvest sites. Landings and haul roads were found to have the highest implementation rates, while SMZs had the lowest among all sites and assessment types. The use of drones for assessing forestry BMPs not only allows for checks with compliance to state guidelines but also allows for modeling the effectiveness of BMPs opening a new pathway to further develop and refine guidelines