Publications

Critique of a Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Method Applied to Residential Open Space

Author: Sarah Rigard

To this date, little research has been done evaluating the quality of wildlife habitat provided by open space in residential areas. Quality wildlife habitat for the purposes of this study is defined as those areas which contain the physical and biological characteristics necessary to support native wildlife species of the region. This thesis critiqued a wildlife habitat assessment method used in a nationwide study of residential open space for the purpose of better understanding the research conducted by the study and to inform similar, future habitat evaluations of landscapes altered by human activity to accommodate residential land use. The methodology critiqued was a low resolution, habitat based, rapid assessment. The methodology provided information on the ecological function of the open space in each development and related that information to individual wildlife species needs to provide an estimation of habitat quality. However, an increase in sampling frequency and additional data collection would have improved the assessment.

Rigard, Sarah, “Critique of a Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Method Applied to Residential Open Space” (2010). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 643. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/643

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Imperviousness and Land-Use Policy: Toward an Effective Approach to Watershed Planning

Author: Elizabeth A. Brabec

Urban impacts to water quality and quantity have been a major focus of resource and ecosystem protection efforts since the early 1960s, focusing in the last decade on the impact of impervious thresholds. These are now commonly used as benchmarks of water quality planning and protection in local, watershed, and regional planning efforts. However, the relationship between urbanization and hydrologic impacts is much more complex than this cause-and-effect model would indicate, containing some weaknesses for effective growth management planning. This paper reviews the current literature to synthesize the development-related variables of hydrologic
impairment, placing them in a context that is useful in growth management and development mitigation. Through this critical review of the literature, the paper focuses on an outstanding question in land planning: which best management practices, individually or in concert, are the most effective in dealing with the water quality impacts of urban growth and development? Research indicates two largely overlooked areas of potential improvement in water protection efforts: the location of impervious surfaces in the watershed, and the maintenance of adequate areas of forest stands and native vegetation.

Brabec, Elizabeth A. 2009. Imperviousness and Land-Use Policy: Toward an effective Approach to Watershed Planning. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 14(4): 425-433.

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Local Surface Water Policy Under Conditions of Climate Change

Authors: Elizabeth Brabec, Elisabeth Hamin and Chingwen Cheng

An analysis of case study responses to climate change indicate that urban space to address the twin faces of climate change planning will likely come from two related
responses: the first is through more intensive multiple use of existing open space in
urban metropolitan areas, and the second is actual removal of some roads with corridors
that serve transit and adaptation functions. The resulting design and location of roads,
transportation systems, stormwater management systems, urban development patterns
and the green infrastructure that support all of those land uses will be substantially
different under conditions of climate change.

Brabec, Elizabeth, Elisabeth Hamin and Chingwen Cheng. 2010. “Local Surface Water Policy Under Conditions of Climate Change (abstract),” LANDSCAPE LEGACY: Landscape Architecture between Art and Science, joint conference of the International Study Group on the Multiple Use of Lands (ISOMUL) and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, Maastricht, Netherlands, May 12‑14, 2010.

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CELA 2019 – An Evaluation of Open Space Quality in Suburban Residential Communities: A comparison of neotraditional, cluster and conventional developments.

Authors: Elizabeth Brabec and Sarah Rigard

This paper analyzes the success of protected openspaces in fifteen suburban residential developments across the United States. Using case studies from five regions across the country, neo-traditional, conservation and conventional residential developments are analyzed and compared for their habitat, recreational, visual landscape quality and water quality goals. The paper identifies and analyzes the original open space and green infrastructure protection goals of the developments and their outcomes, along with pre- and post-development forest stand and open space protection success.

Brabec, Elizabeth and Sarah Rigard. 2009. An Evaluation of Open Space Quality in Suburban Residential Communities: A comparison of neotraditional, cluster and conventional developments. CELA 2008-2009 Teaching + Learning Landscape, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, January 14-17, 2009, p. 250-251.

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An Evaluation of open space quality in a neo-traditional community: A case study of Kentlands.

Author: Elizabeth Brabec

Using Kentlands as a case study, this paper analyzes the success of a neotraditional development for recreational, habitat, visual and water quality goals. The paper identifies and analyzes open space and green infrastructure protection goals and their outcomes, along with pre-and post-development forest stand and open space protection.

Brabec, Elizabeth. 2007. An evaluation of open space quality in a neo-traditional community: A case study of Kentlands. Negotiating Landscapes, CELA 2007, The Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Conference, Penn State University, August 14-19, p. 13-14.

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ACSP 2009 – An Evaluation of Open Space Quality in Suburban Residential Communities: A comparison of neotraditional, cluster and conventional developments.

Author: Elizabeth Brabec

This paper analyzes the success of protected open spaces in fifteen suburban residential developments across the United States. Using case studies from five regions across the country, neotraditional, conservation and conventional residential developments are analyzed and compared for their habitat, recreational, visual landscape quality and water quality goals. The paper identifies and analyzes the original open space and green infrastructure protection goals of the developments and their outcomes, along with pre-and post-development forest stand and open space protection success.

Brabec, Elizabeth. 2009. An Evaluation of Open Space Quality in Suburban Residential Communities: A comparison of neotraditional, cluster and conventional developments. ACSP 5th Anniversary Conference, Reinvesting in America: The New Metropolitan Planning Agenda, Crystal City, Virginia, October 1-4, 2009, p. 51-52

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