Digital inequality in the Appalachian Ohio: Understanding how demographics,internet access,and skills can shape vital information use (VIU)

Access to information and resources via the Internet is an increasingly vital dimension of contemporary life. However, there can be several impediments to optimal Internet utilization in the form of access, skills, and motivation. Even when access is available, several digital inequalities arise as citizens often lack the skills and motivations to pursue those vital uses through the Internet to the best of their advantage. Digital inequalities in the hills of the Appalachian area of Ohio are often manifested in terms of social, cultural and geographic divides. Not only do the hills block wireless signals and make cables expensive to install, but regional poverty also drives away telecom investment. We conducted a survey of Appalachian Ohio to explore digital inequity issues and the determinants of online participation for things that matter. Through a number of analyses, we explore how Internet access and digital skills impact online contribution to the community in terms of services and resources considered to be basic social needs: health, employment, education, and social media. These social needs, what we have called Vital Internet Use (VIU) can determine citizens’ political and civic participation, societal contribution, and overall benefit to their communities. Centered on the concepts of digital access, Internet skills, and benefit outcomes, we extend knowledge in this domain and propose a comprehensive framework of VIU.     

Specific conductivity sensor performance: I. Laboratory evaluation

The focus on specific conductivity in the Central Appalachian Coal Fields of the USA has highlighted the need to obtain accurate specific conductivity measurements, particularly in light of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance that water discharged from mine sites in this region should have specific conductance levels less than 300–500?μS?cm^?1. Being able to accurately determine the specific conductance levels of mine discharged waters has significant implications for the USEPA as well as mine operators particularly when specific conductance levels approach this designated threshold. Presently, a number of sensors are available on the market for recording specific conductance measurements; however, a detailed study comparing sensor performance under controlled conditions (e.g. temperature and specific conductance levels) has not been performed. This paper compares the performance of four commonly used sensors YSI 6600 V2-4 data sonde, HOBO U-24-001, Solinst Model 3001 LTC Levelogger Junior, and In-situ Aqua TROLL 100. Results of this laboratory study indicated that for conditions more frequently encountered in Kentucky streams, the HOBO and Solinst sensors were most accurate.     

Specific conductivity sensor performance: II. Field evaluation

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has issued guidance on the specific conductivity (EC_25°C) of waters discharged from mined lands in the Appalachian Coal Belt Region of the USA. In this guidance, the USEPA states that these waters should have an EC_25°C less than 300–500 μS cm^?1. Such a requirement places great importance on accurately determining EC_25°C. Building upon a laboratory-based evaluation of four types of commercially available continuous logging conductivity sensors, this study examined sensor performance in the more harsh and variable field environments at forested and mined land streams in eastern Kentucky. The objectives of this study were to calculate the white noise variance associated with each sensor type and to evaluate white noise variance in relation to variations in EC_25°C and discharge. Results of the study indicate that predominant increases in EC_25°C, and to some extent increases in discharge, explain between 35 and 65% of the white noise variance.     

Using Aquaculture as a Post-mining Land Use in West Virginia

Using aquaculture as a post-mining land use has resulted in financial savings in site reclamation, increased positive media attention for coal companies, and new biosecure water sources for commercial aquaculture operations in the West Virginia coal region. Large underground coal mines in Appalachia have created numerous gravity flow sources of water. These mine water sources are often nearly ideal in temperature, alkalinity, and pH for trout and have the additional value of being devoid of any serious fish pathogens. At one site, modifying the post-mining land use permit to allow the water flowing from the portal of a closed mine to be used to produce commercial rainbow trout for the recreational market reduced site reclamation costs by nearly $450,000 (US). At another site, an acid mine water treatment plant was converted into a quality public fishing park with healthy warm water species (channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill sunfish). The county park is now being used for educational and recreational purposes to the benefit of the whole community.     

STREAM HABITAT MODELLING FOR CONSERVING A THREATENED HEADWATER FISH IN THE UPPER CUMBERLAND RIVER,KENTUCKY

The conservation of stream biodiversity requires more explicit knowledge on the distribution of aquatic species within the context of their specific environmental settings and stresses. Although species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used for organisms occupying contiguous spatial extents, the implementation of SDMs in relatively complex and segmented riverine networks is still at its early stage. In this study, we explicitly modelled the headwater stream habitat for the threatened blackside dace (Phoxinus cumberlandensis) endemic to the upper Cumberland River, Kentucky, USA. An occurrence record data set, along with variables describing stream properties and land use impacts, was used to predict the fish habitat suitability at the stream segment level. An approach combining geographic information systems and the maximum entropy species distribution modelling (MaxEnt) was adopted. Results demonstrated that natural conditions and land use disturbances, respectively, form the primary and secondary environmental constraints on the species' habitat. We generated regional‐scale management‐friendly maps showing subwatershed habitat suitability and locations of the clustered suitable habitats (hotspots) and thus set an example for spatially explicit management of threatened and endangered riverine species. This study demonstrates the usefulness of SDMs for stream network–based environments in the facilitation of biogeographic conservation efforts and studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of coal mine reclamation seed mixes in Kentucky: implications for grassland establishment in Appalachia

With approximately 450,000 hectares of mine land pending reclamation, surface coal mines present an opportunity for large-scale grassland establishment to benefit wildlife. Herein, an alternative reclamation technique is presented that encourages a transition from typical reclamation to wildlife-friendly reclamation. Efficacy of typical, wildlife-friendly and hybrid seed mixes was compared and results indicate that wildlife-friendly mixes met vegetative cover requirements for reclamation in Kentucky. Results demonstrate that alternative methods to typical reclamation have potential to establish large areas of grassland habitat in Appalachian coal regions. Partnerships among mining companies, oversight entities and resource managers are needed to facilitate a transition to wildlife-friendly reclamation.