Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this integrated project (research and Extension) are students, small-scale farmers, and coalmine workers and owners from the seven-county study area in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Changes/Problems:We requested two no-cost extensions to accomplish grant activities. A few activities were not completed in time due to delays in the hiring of a post-doctoral scholar, one of the co-PIs leaving, and delays related to inclement weather that affected soil and water sampling in the study area. The extensions were helpful to accomplish these activities and conduct the final evaluation of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three graduate students, four undergraduate students, one post-doctoral scholar, and three research assistant/associates were provided partial or full-time salary and professional development support by this grant. In addition, the grant allowed the PI to attend multiple conferences, professional development training programs, and workshops. As a result, over one dozen scientific presentations were made at multiple professional society conferences, such as American Association of Geographers (AAG), Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA), Shaping our Appalachian Region (SOAR), Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD), and the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS). The grant also supported the travel of multiple people from the Appalachian region to attend regional workshops for socially disadvantaged groups and the Small Farms Conference at Kentucky State University. Some of the Extension and outreach workshops coal mine owners and workers attended included bee-keeping and poultry farming, organic agriculture, woodland management, and economics of small farms. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of the project were presented at multiple public forums, workshops, conferences such as the Kentucky Academy of Science, American Association of Geographers (AAG), Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), and Southern Rural Sociological Society. As a part of the Extension initiative, multiple workshops were organized in Prestonsburg, KY, during the project period. Invited presentations on diversifying farm activities, such as backyard queen bee rearing, pollinators, bears and wild hogs, forest management for pollinators, small scale farm grant, bee-keeping, raising goats and rabbits, vegetable production, forest management and agroforestry practices, microenterprise development, mitigation strategies of negative impacts of surface mining, innovative use of reclaimed lands were made. Household survey results were also shared with the local residents and scientific community on multiple occasions. We also discussed drone image usage in agriculture, pasture and soil health monitoring, and improvement practices with reclaimed property owners. We also shared our research findings on the feasibility of raising cool water trout in the mine waters of reclaimed areas. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
All activities related to the three objectives of the project were accomplished successfully during the five-year project period (including 2 one-year no-cost extensions). During the final year of the project period (2018-2019), we primarily focused on preparing manuscripts, research papers, and posters to disseminate the project findings to the local and scientific communities. We also performed final comprehensive project evaluation in August 2019. An external evaluator spent about one week at Kentucky State University and the project site for the evaluation. The evaluation report was submitted to the USDA/NIFA CBG program leader in September 2019. The specific accomplishments are: Objective 1. To examine land cover change between 1980 and 2014 and evaluate patterns of surface mining and reclamation in the study region. This objective was accomplished successfully during the project period. Benchmark data on surface mining and reclamation for the seven-county study area in the Kentucky's Appalachia region was completed. These data are updated regularly and placed in a KSU server for use by students and faculty for research. Satellite images from 1980-2016 at five-year intervals was classified and current and abandoned mining areas were detected. One of the major problems on estimating mining and reclaimed areas was the poor resolution and cloud cover in the satellite images. We used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), texture, brightness, greenness, and wetness measures while classifying the images to improve accuracy of the classified images. We also looked into the correlation between vegetation change and microclimate variables in the study area. Chemical properties of water and ecological fragmentation of the landscape were studied. Three thesis and three manuscripts are developed and submitted for publication. Two manuscripts are in revision. Objective 2: To assess the effects of surface mining and reclamation on human livelihood and microclimatic conditions and develop Extension programming to address these effects. This objective was accomplished in two parts: analysis of surface mining and reclamation, and water quality data, and analysis of household survey data. For the analysis of surface mining, reclamation and chemical properties of water, a thesis was developed. The thesis assessed reclaimed age, mining and reclaimed lands, topographical variables, and change in water chemistry data that were collected from various watersheds in the study area. Detailed discussion was provided in the 2017-2018 report. A manuscript with these data is in development. For the analysis of household survey data, we conducted a household survey of 376 residents from the study area and collected their views on impacts onsurface mining and regulatory measures on local environment and quality of life. We found that surface mining was positively perceived among the majority of residents. They perceive it as part of their community identity and they were less concerned about the negative impacts of surface mining on the environment. Detail discussions about the findings were provided inthe 2017-2018 report. A paper was published in the Journal of Cleaner Production in 2019. The results of both objectives suggest that surface mining has impacted human livelihood, resulting in alternative land management options and income-generating activities as the primary needs for many communities. Data also revealed that mining has affected the microclimate and water quality in the region. Research on alternative land management opportunities and income earning options should be continued in the study region. Based on these findings, Kentucky State University intends to develop specific need-based outreach and Extension strategies for the residents of Appalachia. We submitted a new research proposal to NIFA to continue focused research based on the findings of the current project and the external evaluation report. Objective 3. To strengthen the research and Extension capacity of KSU faculty, field Extension staff, and students. This objective was accomplished successfully. Three graduate students were supported (partially or fully) by the project. These students conduced thesis research using data from the Appalachian region. These students graduated and have continued to doctoral programs at 1862 land-grant universities in Florida, Oklahoma, and Ohio. The PI (Dr. Gyawali) was supported to participate in multiple professional development activities, including travel, technical workshops, certification, and leadership development and grant writing workshops and training. He has received multiple competitive grants from National Science Foundation (NSF) and USDA/AFRI, USDA/RD and has been recognized with outstanding research and teaching awards multiple times. Research and Extension staff Ms. Laura Rogers and Ms. Cynthia Rice, Post-doctoral scholar Dr. Tilak Shrestha, and multiple students also received support to participate in multiple research and Extension skills development training programs and workshops and present papers and posters at professional conferences. Some of these staff also received awards. Grant funds were also used to purchase geospatial instruments (such as GPS units and drones), data, and software to enhance KSU's geospatial teaching and research lab. We also compiled adaptation and mitigation strategies to address negative impacts of surface mining on microclimate and ecosystems functions and services and shared information with the local residents via presentations. These strategies will be compiled in a training manual to use for training landowners, coalmine owners, and workers in the future.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Poudyal, N. B. Gyawali and M. Simon. Local residents' views of surface mining: Perceived impacts, subjective well-being, and support for regulations in Southern Appalachia, Journal of Cleaner Production, 217(2019):530:540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.277
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Thomas, M. Gyawali, B. Pomper K. (2019). Economic analysis of a gasification system from converting waste to energy: A case study in Kentucky with enterprise budgeting. (In press) Southwestern Journal of Economics.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Mishra, B., J. Sandifer, B. Gyawali (2019). Urban heat island in Kathmandu, Nepal: Evaluating relationship between NDVI and LST from 2000 to 2018. International Journal of Environment 8(1), 2018/19. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/IJE/article/view/22546
- Type:
Books
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Shrestha T. Gyawali, B. Shrestha P. (2018): State of Kentucky Land Cover Change Map Book (1992-2011), College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY. In Press.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Jarod J. (2019). Trends in conventional water quality parameters of headwater streams in central Kentucky: a study of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. (Masters Thesis). Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bhatta A. (2019). Effect of land cover change on sediment yield in bell watershed, Kentucky from 1992 to 2013. (Masters Thesis). Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Khadka S. (2019). Exploring relationships among landownership, landscape diversity, and ecological productivity in Kentucky. (Masters Thesis). Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Sariyildiz O (2018). Vegetation cover change and water quality assessment in coalmine impacted watersheds in eastern Kentucky. (Masters Thesis). Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rice C. (2018). Identifying Small Farmers perceptions of Food Security. (Masters Thesis). Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA.
|
Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this integrated project (research and Extension) are faculty, students, small farmers and producers, part-time farmers,and coalmine workers and owners from the seven-county study area in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Changes/Problems:Some problemsoccurredthat required us to request for a no-cost extension for the fifth year. A field visit for soil sampling and other groundwork, which was planned for 2018, was not completed due to the unexpectedly harsh and extended winter in the study area. These unexpected problems caused delays in the preparation and analysis of soil and other data analysis as well as delaying development of publications and Extension/outreach efforts. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student, Oguz Sariyildiz, was provided graduated assistantship from this grant for his graduate thesis work and manuscript preparation. A post-doctoral scholar, Environmental Research Associate (Dr. Tilak Shrestha), has been supported full-time by this grant to analyze land cover data. A few undergraduate students were supported for experiential research and for attending trainings and conferences. The project has also provided opportunities for the project director, graduate students, and Extension staff to visit research sites periodically and attend workshops and annual conferences on the broader nexus of agriculture practices, alternate land management opportunities, bee-keeping and poultry farming, organic agriculture, mining and land use, climate change, and community well-being. The project director (Dr. Buddhi Gyawali), the post-doctoral scholar (Dr. Tilak Shrestha), and graduate and undergraduate students received financial support for paper and poster presentations at the Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals (KAMP) and Kentucky Academic of Science (KAS) Annual conferences in Louisville, KY; , the Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA) Annual Meeting in Mobile, AL; the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual meeting in New Orleans, LA; Shaping our Appalachian Region (SOAR) in Pikeville, KY; and various professional training programs on Trimble GPS, LiDAR, unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) and LP360 software for processing of LiDAR data, and drone and other aerial images. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest??The research results were presented at multiple conferences, such as the Kentucky Academy of Sciences, American Association of Geographers (AAG), and Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR),Rural Sociological Society (RSS), International Mining Conference in Las Vegas, International Symposium on Energy from Biomass, As a part of the Extension initiative, Mr. Jeremy Sandifer (project support staff), Oguz Sariyildiz, and Cynthia Rice presented project information and research posters at the one-day Shaping of Appalachian Region (SOAR) Conference in Pikeville, KY. Extension personnel discussed STEM fields, projects and technical assistance for underserved mining communities, geographic information systems, and drone usage in agriculture and other educational outreach efforts. These topics are key to advancing the Appalachian region into 21st-century economic development. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We applied for second year no-cost extension until August 2019 and received approval to accomplish remaining activities, primarily related to the extension component of the grant. During the reporting period (September 2018 to August 2019), we plan to accomplish the following activities: (1) Preparation of additional research papers using survey data (specifically, papers titled "Place attachment, risk perception, and attitude towards the surface mining" and "Environmental pollution perceptions of residents in Kentucky's coal mining areas") for publishing in peer-reviewed journals. This work will be completed in collaboration with sub-awardee, Dr. Neelam Poudyal from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. (2) Completion of soil sampling in reclaimed mine sites. Some samples were already collected. Soil data will be used to publish a paper about changes in soil properties in reclaimed mines and impacts on runoff and flooding. Dr. Tilak Shrestha is also working on biomass estimation of the forest lands of the study area. We will prepare this paper for publication. Results of the surveys, water quality, and soil sampling will be shared with the local stakeholders via posters, presentations, and workshops at the Kentucky State University Small Farmers Conference and Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) Conference in the in the study region. Extension and educational materials will be developed for alternate land management strategies for reclaimed properties.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. To examine land cover change between 1980 and 2014 and evaluate patterns of surface mining and reclamation in the study region. Benchmark data for the seven-county study area (Pike, Floyd, Knott, Martin, Letcher, Perry, and Magoffin) in eastern Kentucky was completed, placed on a server, and updated regularly. Dr. Tilak Shrestha, a post-doctoral Research Associate, has been involved in compiling and updating the data. Dr. Shrestha classified the satellite images (1985-2015 in five-year intervals) and conducted accuracy assessment of the classified images. Land cover changes between 1986 and 2015, using the publicly available LandSat-TM images (1986, 2000, and 2015) were classified to obtain six land cover classes. National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) images (2016) were also classified to check the images (other than Landsat). One major problem in estimating land cover classes using satellite images is the low accuracy. To improve the accuracy of the measurements, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Texture, Brightness, Greenness, Wetness measures were derived. For accuracy analysis the publicly available NAIP images, National Land Cover Database (NLCD) images, Digital Ortho-photo Quadrangle (DOQ), black and white, 1-meter resolution images were used. The publicly available polygons of mined areas, roads, and water body were also used. The accuracy of the classifications and changes in the land cover classes were reported. Two manuscripts are being prepared for publication consideration. One manuscript on land fragmentation at watersheds level was rejected and we are submitting it to another journal. Another article on land cover classification between 1986 to 2015 is at the final stage of preparation before submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Objective 2: To assess the effects of surface mining and reclamation on human livelihood and microclimatic conditions, and develop extension programming to address these effects. This objective is divided into two sections: (1) Analysis of surface mining, reclamation and water quality data and (2) Analysis of Household survey data to understand surface mining and reclamation effects in quality of life. (1). Analysis of surface mining, reclamation and water quality data. A graduate student Mr. Oguz Sariyildiz completed a thesis project on this topic. A manuscript titled Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal Mine Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA has been prepared and submitted to the International Journal of Coal Energy, and it is currently under review. This study explored relationships between actively mined and reclaimed areas and vegetation change and water quality parameters. The study evaluated 58 watersheds with Landsat-derived variables (reclamation age, mining percentage, reclaimed forest percentage, and reclaimed woods percentage) as well as topographic variables (such as elevation, slope, drainage density, and infiltration). Water samples were collected in spring (n=9), summer (n=14), and fall (n=58) 2017 to study changes in water quality variables (SO42-, alkalinity, conductivity, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Al3+, and Fe2+,3+) in response to changes in land cover. Pearson correlation analyses indicated conductivity has strong to very strong relationships with other variables of water quality variables related to coal mining. Results suggest that the quantity of reclaimed forests may be a predictor of mining percentage and reclamation age. This study also indicated that conductivity is a predictable water quality indicator that is highly associated with Coal Mine Related Stream Chemistry in areas where agriculture and urban development are limited. These findings may help the scientific community and key state and federal agencies improve their understanding of water quality attributes in watersheds affected by coal mining as well as refining land reclamation practices. 2) Analysis of Household survey data to understand surface mining and reclamation effects in quality of life. A manuscript titled Local residents' views of surface mining: Perceived impacts, subjective well-being, and support for regulations in Southern Appalachia has been submitted to Journal of Cleaner Production and it is now in second review. This study surveyed 376 long-term residents of predominantly mining counties in eastern Kentucky to assess how residents perceive environmental change and subjective well-being relative to mining activities and how the perceived impacts of mining and their confidence in reclamation influence their support for public policies regulating surface mining. While residents noted some changes in natural environment conditions over the years, mining operations was not perceived as a responsive factor for those changes. We also found that surface mining currently enjoys overwhelming public support, mainly because local residents view mining as part of their community identity and are skeptical about environmental concerns relative to the benefit mining brings. Occupation in mining, perceived past impact, and future risk were all negatively related to subjective well-being. Support for regulations to stop surface mining in the region was significantly impacted by perceived risks and benefits, confidence in reclamation efforts, attitudes toward the mining industry, and trust in local institutions. Considering the ongoing policy debates surrounding cleaner technology and concerns for economic growth in rural areas, this study provides insights on community perception and acceptability of surface mining that will inform policy making and regional development planning in Southern Appalachian and similar regions. Objective 3. To strengthen the research and extension capacity of KSU faculty, field extension staff, and students by creating research and extension skills enrichment and experiential learning opportunities. The accomplishments related to this objective are extensive. The project team and students participated in many research- and Extension-related professional development activities. Three workshops for farmers in eastern Kentucky were organized to provide educational information about alternative land management activities. We have extended the grant until August 2019 to develop Extension/outreach materials for alternative management options of reclaimed properties and provide technical assistance to the people who need this information.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Sariyildiz, O., Gyawali B (October 2018). Water Quality Assessment in Coal-Mine Impacted Watersheds in Eastern Kentucky. A paper presented at Geological Society of America (GSA) 130th Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN, November 4-7, 2018.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Buddhi Gyawali Marion Simon, and Neelam Paudyal (February 2018). Community Perceptions on Surface Mining, Reclamation Impacts and Trust on Public Entities in the Eastern Kentucky. An oral presentation at 49th SRSA conference, Jacksonville, FL. February 3-6, 2018.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Sariyildiz O., Gyawali B., (October 4, 2017) Vegetation Cover Change and Water Quality Assessment in Coal Mine Watersheds, paper presented at the annual meeting of Kentucky Academy of Science, Murray, KY
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Sariyildiz O., Gyawali B., Mr., Sandifer J., Shresta T., Shresta P. (2017) Spatiotemporal Analyses of Water Quality and Vegetation Growth in Coal Mine Areas in Eastern Kentucky, paper presented at the annual meeting of National Association of Abandoned Mined Land Program, Lexington, KY
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Sariyildiz O., Gyawali Buddhi (2017) Vegetation Growth in Reclaimed Lands in Eastern Kentucky, paper presented at the annual meeting of Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals, Louisville, KY
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Cynthia Rice, Buddhi Gyawali, Jeremy Sandifer, William Lyons (September 2017). Shelby County Land cover change and implications for small farmers in a small farm-dominant county in adapting strategies for food security/climate change. paper presented at the annual meeting of Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals, Louisville, KY.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tilak Shrestha, Buddhi Gyawali, Jeremy Sandifer, Prabisha Shrestha, Ken Bates. Land Cover Classification using LandSat Image and Accuracy Enhancements using NAIP Image. Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals Convention , September 7, 2017; Louisville, KY.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Prabisha Shrestha and Buddhi Gyawali. Watershed scale study of forest fragmentation in Feds Creek-Levisa Fork Watershed, Pike County, KY. An oral presentation at NAAMLP 39th Annual Conference, Lexington Kentucky.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Neelam Poudyal, Buddhi Gyawali, Marion Simon (Nov 2017). Rural communitys perception of surface minings impact on subjective well-being. A guest lecture at Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Nov 1, 2017.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Jeremy Sandifer, Oguz Sariyildiz, Buddhi Gyawali, DAndre Garrison, and Jarod Jones (September 25, 2017). Understanding the Impact of Spatial Scale on Measurements of Biological and Physical Properties of Reclaimed and Former Mine Areas. NAAMLP 2017 Conference. Lexington, Kentucky.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Lyons, W., Gyawali, B., Sandifer, J. (April 2018). Use of Drone Optical and Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing to Locate Plow Pans in Crop Fields. Poster presented at American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. April 13, 2018
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Poudyal, N., Gyawali, B., & Simon, M. (2018). Local residents' views of surface mining: Perceived impacts, subjective well-being, and support for regulations in Southern Appalachia. Journal of Cleaner Production. (In second review).
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Sariyildiz, Oguz (2018). Vegetation Cover Change and water quality assessment in Coal Mine impacted watersheds in Eastern Kentucky. College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment, Kentucky State University.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Mishra, B. Gyawali, B., Paudel, K., Poudyal, N., Simon, M., Antonious, G., & Dasgupta, S. (2018). Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices among Kentucky Farmers. Environmental Management.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-018-1109-3.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Gyawali, B., Sandifer, J., Sariyildiz, O. Evaluating variations in above-ground biomass accumulation and carbon balance impacts on reforested reclaimed coal mine sites: A case study in eastern Kentucky from 1980 to 2017. Proceedings VENICE2018. � 2018 CISA Publisher. All rights reserved / www.cisapublisher.com. Available at https://members.venicesymposium.it/2018/pdf/132.pdf
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Sariyildiz, O., Gyawali, B., & Pomper, K, Cristan, R. (2018). Geospatial Habitat Characterization of Bush Honeysuckle, Japanese Honeysuckle, and Native Plants in the Understory of a Northcentral Kentucky Forest. Biological Invasion (in Review).
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this integrated project (research and Extension) are students, small farmers, and coalmine workers and owners from the seven-county study area in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Changes/Problems:Due to the delay inthe hiring of a post-doctoral scholar and difficulty in receiving adequate survey responses, we have extended the project for another year (until August 2018). The quality of Landsat satellite images of 1980s and 1990s were not satisfactory due to poor resolution and an excessive amount of cloud coverage, which resulted in low accuracy of the classified images. This will require additional time to classify images and improve accuracy. In addition, active and reclaimed mine polygons were not available in a digitized format for all counties. These unexpected limitations have caused delays in the preparation and analysis of data for publication and Extension/outreach efforts. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has continuously provided funding support to one faculty member, one graduate student, a post-doctoral scholar, a research assistant, and a few undergraduate students for various professional development activities. The project has also provided opportunities for the project director, graduate students, and Extension staff to visit research sites periodically and attend workshops and annual conferences on the broader nexus of agriculture practices, alternate land management opportunities, bee-keeping and poultry farming, organic agriculture, mining and land use, climate change, and community well-being. The project director (Dr. Buddhi Gyawali), the post-doctoral scholar (Dr. Tilak Shrestha) and graduate and undergraduate students received financial support for paper and poster presentations at the Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals (KAMP) and Kentucky Academic of Science (KAS) Annual conferences in Louisville, KY; , the Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA) Annual Meeting in Mobile, AL; the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual meeting in Boston, MA; Shaping our Appalachian Region (SOAR) in Pikeville, KY; and various professional training programs on Trimble GPS, LiDAR, unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) and LP360 software for processing of LiDAR data, and drone and other aerial imageries. Dr. Neelam Poudyal, the co-PI from the University of Knoxville-Tennessee presented the preliminary findings of the survey in Rural Sociological Society Annual meeting in Columbus, OH. Dr. Bishwa Acharya (project consultant) provided technical assistance and support to the students about compiling and processing of satellite imageries. Dr. Tilak Shrestha and Dr. Acharya presented preliminary results of the land cover change data in Association of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The preliminary results of the project were presented at multiple conferences such as Kentucky Academic of Science, American Association of Geographers (AAG), and Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), Rural Sociological Society (RSS), etc. As a part of the Extension initiative, a one-day workshop "Managing and Diversifying Small and Reclaimed Lands for economic returns" was organized in Jenny Wiley State Park, Prestonsburg, KY. Over 120 local farmers, mineworkers, and other stakeholders attended the workshop. Presentation topics were focused on diversifying farm activities such as backyard queen bee rearing, pollinators, bears and wild hogs, forest management for pollinators, small scale farm grant, bee autoclave, value-added grant, raising goats and rabbits, vegetable production, forest management and agroforestry practices, microenterprise development, and basics about tax and financial literacy. Survey results were also shared with the participants. A demonstration of a drone to help beekeepers to find sources of nectars was conducted. Mr. Jeremy Sandifer (project support staff) presented information and research posters at the SOAR Conference in Pikeville, KY. Extension personnel discussed STEM fields, geographic information systems, and drone usage in agriculture and other educational outreach efforts. These topics are key to advancing the Appalachian region into 21st-century economic development. Graduate research assistant Cynthia Rice presented the research posters, "Kentucky State University Serving the Community: Education and Outreach in the Appalachian Region," and "Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Agricultural Production: Use of Story Maps, Map Books, and Other Benefits of GIS." Another graduate student, Oguz Sariyildiz, shared his preliminary research findings on the feasibility of raising cool water trout in the mine waters of reclaimed mines, which would aid in economic development needed by this region. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, the emphasis will be to finalize the results, finalize the manuscripts, and submit them for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Two manuscripts are in the final stages of development. A graduate student will finish his thesis on the relationship between vegetation change and water quality. A total of three manuscripts will be submitted for publication. Three presentations will be provided in the professional conferences and results will be shared via posters, papers, and panel discussions. A workshop will be organized in the summer of 2018 to share the results with the stakeholders and provide training about alternate management of reclaimed properties and other small-scale income earning activities, adaptation, and mitigation strategies to cope with the effects of surface mining.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. To examine land cover change between 1980 and 2014 and evaluate patterns of surface mining and reclamation in the study region. Compilation of benchmark data for the seven-county study area (Pike, Floyd, Knott, Martin, Letcher, Perry, and Magoffin) in Eastern Kentucky was completed and placed in a server. We are regularly updating the server and data from the study region. With assistance and guidance by Mr. Ken Bates and Dr. Bishwa Acharya (a consultant to this project), Dr. Tilak Shrestha, a post-doctoral research associate hired in August 2016, has been involved in compiling and updating the data. Dr. Shrestha has been classifying the satellite images (1985-2015 in five-year intervals) and conducting accuracy assessment of the classified images to improve their accuracy. The Landsat-TM (30 m) images were put into six land cover classes: water, urban, barren (mined), pasture, forest, and crops. Initial accuracy assessment of the land cover classes was performed. The barren (mined) area increased by 686.3% from 1986 to 2015. Pasture lands (primarily reclaimed areas) increased by 80.8% between 1986 and 2000, but decreased 63.8% between 2000 and 2015 and by 34.5% between 1986 and 2015. The accuracy achieved for the six classes varied from 51.5% to 61.7%. The main issue in accuracy in recognizing the land cover is that the spectral properties of urban, barren, and crops classes are very similar and difficult to differentiate even with the developed bands, resulting in mixed pixels. We are attempting to improve the accuracy by deriving measures of normalized density vegetation index (NDVI), texture (variance on Near-infrared), brightness, greenness, and wetness (tasseled cap transformation) and using these measures for accuracy assessment. We also explored relationships between land cover change and forest fragmentation in the Feds Creek-Levisa Fork watershed in the seven-county study region as a case study to investigate the spatial extent and temporal trends of land cover change and forest fragmentation between 2010 and 2016. Results of both land cover change and forest fragmentation analysis indicate successful reestablishment and growth of forest vegetation in reclaimed sites. The data shows a slight increase in forested area, but an overall decrease in other land cover classes. Similarly, analysis of the patterns of forest fragmentation shows an increase in patch perforated and core forests, which correlates with the increase in forest area. Two manuscripts are being prepared for publication consideration and are currently undergoing internal review. Objective 2: To assess the effects of surface mining and reclamation on human livelihood and microclimatic conditions, and develop extension programming to address these effects. This objective is divided into two sections: (1) reporting of the survey results and (2) reporting of the preliminary results of the relationship between vegetation cover change and water quality in the major watersheds of the study area. (1). Reporting of the survey results. We received 389 complete surveys, coded them in SPSS statistical software and analyzed them. Since our samples were not random, sample weighting was necessary; therefore, we weighted the responses by gender, race, education, and income. We explored two research questions: (1) to assess local residents' perception and beliefs about social, economic, and environmental impacts of surface mining; (2) to analyze whether and how perceived impacts and attitude towards mining industry influence residents' subjective well-being (SWB) and support for policies regulating the mining industry. The preliminary results of the regression estimates explaining factors related to SWB suggest that two factors extracted from sense of place items (community characteristics and place attachment and dependence) were positively and significantly related with SWB. That means those who believed the community members shared the same values and who feel welcomed by a tight-knit community were likely to report better SWB. Similarly, those who thought they were attached to the community and uniquely connected to the land tended to report better SWB. A negative coefficient on "perceived impact of mining industry" indicated that those who tended to perceive the impacts of mining and reclamation to be harmful (or negative) were less likely to report better SWB. The results with occupation were similar: those who worked in the mining industry reported lesser or inferior SWB. In reference to the second research objective, we performed ordinal logit analysis to examine the factors that are related to support of mining regulations. The factors included in the model were sense of place, SWB, attitude towards mining, beliefs about reclamation, and trust on institutions. The SWB is negatively and significantly related with the level of support for regulations controlling surface mining in the region. This means those who are relatively less well-off (or economically marginalized) are likely to support controlling surface mining. In addition, those who thought mining has a positive impact on the economy and society were less likely to support regulations controlling surface mining. Similarly, respondents who were more confident on the potential of ongoing reclamation efforts to restore lands are less likely to support such regulations. Those in the mining industry may see this finding as beneficial, especially in areas where local governments are considering curbing mining activities and assuring the public about the recovery potential for reclamation may still maintain public support for the industry. Among the trust factors, the third factor (the level of trust of scientists) was insignificant, suggesting that having higher levels of trust of researchers and Extension workers did not significantly influence their level of support for regulations aiming to stop surface mining. However, those who reported higher level of trust of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were more likely to support such regulations (i.e., oppose the mining industry) whereas those who reported higher trust on miners, and church friends were more likely to oppose such regulations (i.e., support the mining industry). (2). Relationship between water quality and vegetation change. We explored the relationship between surface mining and microclimatic conditions by investigating the correlation between change in vegetation cover and water quality parameters. Water samples were collected to analyze presence of water quality parameters (SO4(2-) alkalinity, electrical conductivity, Ca++, Mg++, Mn, Al, Se, and Fe) in unmined and mined watersheds. Research area includes three HUC10 (hydrologic unit code 10-digit) watersheds: Quicksand Creek, Troublesome Creek, and Johnson Creek-Licking River Watersheds located in Magoffin, Breathitt, Knot, and Perry counties in eastern Kentucky. Water samples collected from up to 3rd degree stream basins nested in these HUC10 watersheds on May 15 (n=9) and July 21 (n=15) and a field test performed on October 11 (n=67). We studied their correlation with areal mine extent, age of reclamation, and vegetation cover change. Mined areas extracted from NDVI maps for every four years from 1986 to 2017. Results show that the percent of the mined area (1986-2017) was inversely related with water quality parameters with strong correlation coefficients. However, correlation was poor between reclamation age (0-29 years) and water quality. Additional results that are more robust are forthcoming and will be reported in the next report. Additionally, 27 soil samples were collected from stream banks in May and June 2017. These samples were sieved and dried. We are planning to send soil samples to the University of Kentucky Soil Laboratory for routine analysis for soil analysis. Results will be provided in the next progress report.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this integrated project (research and extension) are students, small farmers, and coal miners from the seven-county study area in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Changes/Problems:The hiring of a post-doc could not happen until August 2016 due to various reasons, which caused delay in the implementation of the stated milestones, especially theanalysis of satellite andLiDARand microclimate data, as well asfinalization of survey instrument. Also, the survey response was low as of August 2016. The topography of the study region has also caused delay in frequent travel by the project staff for conducting survey and scheduling of workshops. The quality of Landsat satellite images of 1980s and 1990s were not satisfactory due to poor resolution and excessive amount of cloud coverage. LiDAR data is not available for all seven counties. In addition, active and reclaimed mine polygons were not available in the digitized form for all counties. These unexpected limitations have caused delay in preparation and analysis of data for publication and to use for extension/outreach efforts. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has continuously provided funding support to a faculty, three graduate students, a post-doc, and few undergraduate students for various professional development activities. Andrew Gott, a graduate research assistant completed his MS thesis. He studied interlinkage between the mining activities and quality of life variables using secondary dataset. The project has also provided opportunities for the KSU project director, graduate students, and extension staffs to visit research site periodically, and attend workshops and conferences on the broader nexus of agriculture practices, alternate land management opportunities, mining and land use, climate change, and community well-being. Five graduate and undergraduate students and the post-doc received financial support for paper presentations in Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals (KAMP) Annual meeting in Owensboro, Kentucky Academic of Science (KAS) Annual conference in Covington, Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) in Louisville, Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA) Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Rural Sociological Society (RSS), American Association of Geographers (AAG), Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting and various professional training on Trimble GPS, LiDAR, and LP360 for processing of LiDAR data. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The preliminary results of the project were presentedatconferences such as Kentucky Academic of Science, American Association of Geographers (AAG), and Appalachian Studies Association. A manuscript is being in review for publication. After the completion of survey, results will be shared with local communities via workshop and training in 2016-2017 project period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, the emphasis will be to complete the survey with 350 households from the seven-county study region. The land cover data and microclimate data will be analyzed to explore the effects of mining activities in microclimate and quality of life. A graduate student will finish his thesis on related to sediment loss and feasibility of use of mine water in aquaculture. Two manuscripts will be submitted for publication. Three presentations will be provided in the professional conferences. Results of the surveys will be shared with the local and professional communities via posters, presentation and organizing a workshop in the study region.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This grant to enhance research-and-Extension capability at Kentucky State University was initiated in October 2014. This report covers the activities accomplished in the second year of the project, i.e. from September 2015-August 2016. The major activities planned for this reporting period were: to administer the survey and complete data collection, complete a thesis project by a graduate student, Andrew Gott, hire a post-doctoral research associate, provide three presentations in professional conferences, and submission of one manuscript out of Andrew Gott's thesis. These activities were successfully completed except completion of the surveys, which is near to completion. The following section provides summary of accomplishments during the reporting period. Objective 1. To examine land cover change between 1980 and 2014 and evaluate patterns of surface mining and reclamation in the study region: The benchmark data for the seven-county study area (Pike, Floyd, Knott, Martin, Letcher, Perry, and Magoffin) in Eastern Kentucky were continuously compiled, updated, and stored in a KSU server in the Geospatial Lab. Such data includes, active and reclaimed mine polygons, Landsat TM 1980 to Landsat 8 2014, US census data for 2000 and 2010, LiDAR data, and climate data such as monthly average temperature, precipitation, wind direction, mine water flow rates, digital aerial photos for 2010, National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) for 2001, 2006, and 2011, as well as mine permits and permit locations. Post-doctoral research associate, graduate and few undergraduate research students are studying these data and have used for preparing research posters and papers presentations in various conferences. Graduate student Mr. Andrew Gott, who was hired in September 2014 used some of these data in his thesis project. Andrew defended his thesis and graduated in December 2015. A manuscript was submitted for publication. Dr. Tilak Shrestha, a post-doctoral research associate, hired in August 2016, presented a paper in Kentucky Academic of Science conference using some of the background information of the study site. Objective 2: To assess the effects of surface mining and reclamation on human livelihood and microclimatic conditions, and develop extension programming to address these effects: The activities related to this objectives were divided in two steps: (1) Use of U.S. Census data and (2) conducting of socioeconomic survey. Andrew Gott, who completed M.S. thesis "Socioeconomic impacts of coal mining eastern Kentucky and Appalachia" analyzed U.S. census American Community Survey (ACS)data from 2000 and 2010 and explored relationship between human livelihood indicators such as income, education, health, employment and change in land cover types. The objective of his study was to identify those socioeconomic variables that correlate with mining. Coal production data were compared to socioeconomic variables with the hypothesis that increased mining activity would correlate with key socioeconomic indicators in the seven county study area. The numbers of mines and mine production data were analyzed in a 52 km buffer around each Census Block Group (CBG) and were used in a bivariate regression analysis with the ACS variables. The results of the multivariate regression suggested that higher levels of mining activity in the study region minimally, but significantly correlated with source of income and employment levels. The study suggested future work should look not only at comparative levels of mining in the present day, but how changes in mining activity over time affect socioeconomic status in individual CBGs. Based on the finding of this research, a household survey was designed in summer 2016 and is being currently conducted in the study region. As of now, 145 surveys have been collected. Additional 200 surveys are expected by December 2016. Post-doctoral associate has begun compiling and analyzing microclimatic data. He has begun classifying land cover data and exploring downstream effects of mining activities. Two abstracts have been submitted for presentation in national conferences. Objective 3. To strengthen the research and extension capacity of KSU faculty, field extension staff, and students by creating research and extension skills enrichment and experiential learning opportunities: This project has created many opportunities for KSU students, Extension staff, and faculty to participate in experiential research, workshops, and involve in direct interaction with the people from Appalachian region. Three graduate students (Andrew Gott, Cynthia Rice, and Oguz Sariyildiz), post-doctoral associate, Dr. Tilak Shrestha, and two small farm agents- Ms. Laura Rogers, and Edwin Chavous have attended various workshops and training as well as interaction events with farmers. Undergraduate research assistants are using the data compiled through this project for their experiential research projects. Ms. Laura Rogers, small farm agent, has been continuously providing her technical assistance to farmers about honey-bee keeping and creating awareness about bee production and marketing. A bee-keeping workshop was organized in Prestonsburg on August 6, 2016 to training local farmers and mine workers about beekeeping and honey production as part of the plan to enhance and diversify the economy in the Appalachian regions, particularly in the seven counties of Eastern Kentucky. About 85 farmers and mine workers participated in the workshop.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Poudyal, Neelam C., Elkins, Duncan, Nibbelink, Nathan, Cordell, H. Ken, Gyawali, Buddhi. 2016. An exploratory spatial analysis of hotspots of projected population growth, natural land loss, and climate change in the conterminous United States. Land Use Policy. 51:325334.
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Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences of this integrated (research and extension) project are students who have enrolled in Kentucky State University's BS in Agriculture, Food, and Environment (AFE) degree, and Masters in Environmental Studies (MES), as well as, small farmers and coalminers from the seven- county study area in the seven-county Appalachian Region of Kentucky. Changes/Problems:The hiring of a post-doctoral research associate has been unexpectedly delayed which has caused a delay in the implementation of the stated milestones. The scheduling conflict of the external evaluator for evaluation of project performance has also caused a delay in the evaluation of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided funding support to a graduate student and faculty to attend multiple trainings, workshops, and professional conferences as well as present papers. Andrew Gott, a graduate research assistant, has been working on his MS thesis looking into the interlinkage between the mining activities and quality of life variables using secondary dataset. The student has also been exploring and comparing this question with data from the local (eastern Kentucky) and national scale. The project has also provided opportunities for the KSU project director, graduate students, and extension staff to attend workshops and focus groups focused on the broader nexus of agriculture practices, mining and land use, climate change, and community well- being. Andrew Gott received financial support for paper presentations at the Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals (KAMP) Annual meeting, the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Annual conference, the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) International Users Conference, and professional training on Trimble GPS and LP360 for processing of LiDAR data. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Since the project is not advanced to the stage of dissemination, nothing to report during this period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The emphasis will be conduct to and complete the data collection with the survey recently developed. The land cover data and microclimate data will be further processed to explore their relationships. Andrew Gott will complete his thesis and graduate. A post-doctoral research associate will be hired soon. Three presentations will be provided in the professional conferences. One manuscript will be submitted for publication based on the results of Andrew's thesis research.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This grant to enhance research and Extension capability at KSU was initiated in October 2014. The initial project activities were related to budget set up, hiring of a graduate research assistant, compilation and development of benchmark geospatial data, developing job description and advertisement of the "Post-doctoral research associate" position, and developing questions for focus group discussions and survey instruments. Many activities planned for the first year period are either incomplete or are in the implementation phase due to the delay in hiring of a full-time post-doctoral research associate. The following section provides a summary of accomplishments during the reporting period. Objective 1. To examine land cover change between 1980 and 2014 and evaluate patterns of surface mining and reclamation in the study region: The benchmark data for the study area (seven counties in Eastern Kentucky) were compiled and stored in the network drive in the Geospatial Lab. Data includes mining and reclamation point data, Landsat TM 2010, US census data for 2000 and 2010, climate data such as monthly temperature, precipitation, wind direction, digital aerial photos for 2010, National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) for 2001, 2006, and 2011, as well as mine permits and permit locations. Present day active and inactive mining polygons from the study area were collected, which will be used for classification into active, reclaimed, or abandoned classification groups. Additional data such as soil, LIDAR, digital orthophotos, erosion index, and infiltration are being acquired from different sources. A graduate student, Mr. Andrew Gott, was hired in September 2014 and has been using some of these data for his thesis project. Andrew presented preliminary results of this thesis at two professional conferences; Kentucky Academy of Science (November 2014) and the Environmental Systems Resource Institute (ESRI) international user's conference in July 2015. Some of these data are being used by undergraduate research assistants for their experiential research projects. Objective 2: To assess the effects of surface mining and reclamation on human livelihood and microclimatic conditions, and develop extension programming to address these effects: The activities related to this objective began in January 2015. Andrew Gott, graduate research assistant, has compiled human livelihood indicators such as income, education, health, and employment. American Community Survey (ACS) Data was compiled and normalized (for a quality of life comparison with coal mining). U.S. census data for 2000 and 2010 has been acquired and extracted for Census Block Group (CBG) level. These data are linked to land cover change and surface mining areas to understand the correlation between human well-being and land cover change. Microclimatic data has not been fully compiled and analyzed yet due to the delay in hiring of a post-doctoral research associate. Two focus group discussions were held during the reporting period to understand stakeholders' perception of the effects of surface mining on livelihood and local environment. The first focus group discussion was held in Corbin, Kentucky on April 3, 2015 and the second focus group was held in Prestonsburg, KY on July 28, 2015. Fifteen people participated in both focus group discussions. The participants were asked about effects of mining activities. The participants provided mixed response towards impacts of surface mining on job loss, infrastructure, water quality, etc. They also provided insights for what types of questions would be valid to ask in the survey of the people in the study area. Most of the participants agreed that alternative land management options are necessary for the majority of communities in these counties to prevent population loss due to the uncertainty of mining jobs. Their feedback was used in developing a comprehensive survey to understand interrelationship between land cover change, surface mining and human well-being. The major feedback of the focus group was that a social assessment would be necessary to collect enough information to test specific hypotheses regarding whether and how surface mining have impacted human livelihood in the study area. A thorough literature review was conducted, and an annotated bibliography was developed. Based on the review of literature, which showed that the question posited in this goal are under-studied, a checklist of discussion points was developed for focus group discussion. The checklist was then expanded to develop a semi-structured survey instrument, which can be easily implemented with purposive sampling of area residents that are likely to cooperate with the study. Objective 3. To strengthen the research and extension capacity of KSU faculty, field extension staff, and students by creating research and extension skills enrichment and experiential learning opportunities: This project created opportunities for KSU Extension staff, students and faculty to participate in workshops, focus group discussions and involvement in direct interaction with the people from Appalachian region. Two graduate students (Mr. Andrew Gott and Ms. Cynthia Rice) and two extension staff- Ms. Laura Rogers, and Mr. Edwin Chavous attended both focus group discussions. Project Director Dr. Buddhi Gyawali and support staff Mr. Louis Rivers also attended both focus group discussions. The data purchased from this project are being utilized for a graduate thesis and conducting research for publication. Ms. Laura Rogers, small farm agent, has been continuously providing her technical assistance in honey-bee keeping training and creating awareness about bee production and marketing.
Publications
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