People's Perception of Channelization of The
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PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF CHANNELIZATION OF THE HOCKING RIVER, SOUTHEASTERN OHIO A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Fausto Gómez Pezzotti November 2005 This thesis entitled PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF CHANNELIZATION OF THE HOCKING RIVER, SOUTHEASTERN OHIO by FAUSTO GÓMEZ PEZZOTTI has been approved for the Program of Environmental Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences by Dorothy Sack Professor of Geography Benjamin M. Ogles Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Acknowledgments There is not a proper way to say “thank you" to all the people who patiently have assisted me in the development of my thesis. But I have to mention some of the people who have been extremely supportive of me in overcoming my weaknesses in many areas. My wife Rosita and my daughter Rosa Graciela have been exceptionally understanding and supportive of me. Dr. Genes Mapes, director of the Environmental Studies Program, has been incredibly helpful to me. Dr. Michele Morrone provided me with my first tools for interviewing. Dr. Risa Whitson translated for me what I should do and how. Paul Longo gave me his friendship and assistance from our first meeting. I consider him part of my thesis committee. Dr. Dorothy Sack, my professor for several subjects from the Geography Department but also my thesis director, has had tolerance enough to guide me all the way through the thesis process. And finally, Mary Grueser, who not only made a significant contribution to finding a subject for my thesis, but also has been my main emotional support in the United States. Her family has become my family. To all of you I deeply thank you. GÓMEZ PEZZOTTI, FAUSTO. M.S. November 2005. Environmental Studies People’s Perception of Channelization of the Hocking River, Southeastern Ohio (162 pp.) Director of Thesis: Dorothy Sack In southeastern Ohio, people (authorities, institutions, governments) in the late 1960s decided to change part of the course of the Hocking River and make it flow in an artificial channel. This thesis investigates how people perceive the channelization of the Hocking River. A qualitative study was performed in order to achieve the objectives of this research using interviews. Thirty people participated in 25 interviews. Thirteen themes emerged from the interviews. The themes are classified as pertaining primarily to the physical environment or to human-environmental interaction. Limitations to this study exist because of the relatively small number of people surveyed, the convenience-based sampling strategy, and the fact that all but two of the interviewees were over 50 years old. The results of this investigation show that the perception of people may vary according to the personal interest, the education, and the environmental knowledge of the interviewees. Overall, the people appreciate its role in flood control even though it may no longer be as effective as it once was or as effective as it was supposed to be at the time of initial planning. This flood protection in Athens, moreover, is probably increasing flood hazards downstream. Many people think the expansion of the commercial area of Athens on the floodplain has had a positive economic effect, although a significant minority point out negative economic and community effects related to establishment of the large national franchise stores in town. It is ironic that this floodplain development is encroaching on the channelized river because the artificial channel was purposefully located away from such buildings as part of the flood protection measures. Flooding will never be totally controlled, thus property damage from floods will result as long as floodplains are used for human activities. Constructing the channel destroyed much of the attractive appeal of Athens, which included extensive gardens that were a community focal point. Also as a result of the participants’ comments, it can be said that Ohio University has played an important role in the decisions related to the channelization of the Hocking River and the subsequent development of the floodplain. Approved: Dorothy Sack Professor of Geography 6 Table of Contents List of Tables ......................................................................................... 8 List of Figures........................................................................................ 9 Chapter One - Introduction.................................................................. 11 1.1 Background .................................................................... 11 1.2 Rationale ........................................................................ 14 Chapter Two - Study Area.................................................................... 16 2.1 The Hocking River........................................................... 16 2.2 Brief History of the Hocking River ................................... 16 2.3 The Canal Era................................................................. 18 2.4 The Ohio Company Land Purchase ................................. 18 2.5 Athens and Ohio University ............................................ 19 Chapter Three - Literature Review........................................................ 22 3.1 Stream Process Engineering ........................................... 22 3.2 Flood Hazards ................................................................ 31 3.2.1 Administrative Aspects of Flood Hazards..................... 32 3.2.2 Physical Aspects of Flood Hazards .............................. 35 3.3 Summary....................................................................... 36 Chapter Four - Methods....................................................................... 38 4.1 Interviews....................................................................... 38 4.2 The Reminder Questions ................................................ 40 4.3 Demographics of Interviewees......................................... 42 4.4 Analysis ......................................................................... 44 Chapter Five - Results: Physical Environment...................................... 45 5.1 Introduction ................................................................... 45 5.2 Concern about Vegetation along the Channel ................. 45 5.2.1 Reponses ................................................................... 45 5.2.2 Discussion................................................................. 52 5.3 Channel Capacity and Increase of Flooding Downstream. 57 5.3.1 Responses .................................................................. 57 5.3.2 Discussion.................................................................. 64 5.4 Negative Impact on the Environment ...............................68 5.4.1 Responses ...................................................................68 5.4.2 Discussion.................................................................. 81 7 5.5 Summary .......................................................................88 Chapter Six - Results: Human – Environment Interaction .................... 91 6.1 Introduction ................................................................... 91 6.2 Impact of Flood Prevention ............................................. 91 6.2.1 Responses .................................................................. 91 6.2.2 Discussion...................................................................96 6.3 Economic Development ................................................ 101 6.3.1 Responses ............................................................... 101 6.3.2 Discussion............................................................... 107 6.4 Development on the Floodplain..................................... 112 6.4.1 Responses ............................................................... 112 6.4.2 Discussion............................................................... 124 6.5 Channel Would Not Be Feasible Today.......................... 128 6.5.1 Responses ............................................................... 128 6.5.2 Discussion............................................................... 131 6.6 Disconnection with the Surrounding Environment........ 131 6.6.1 Responses ............................................................... 131 6.6.2 Discussion............................................................... 133 6.7 Attitudes toward the Bike Path ..................................... 133 6.7.1 Responses ............................................................... 133 6.7.2 Discussion............................................................... 136 6.8 Loss of Town’s Character.............................................. 138 6.8.1 Responses ............................................................... 138 6.8.2 Discussion............................................................... 140 6.9 Opportunities for Environmental Education.................. 141 6.9.1 Responses ............................................................... 141 6.9.2 Discussion............................................................... 142 6.10 Change in Traffic Pattern.............................................. 143 6.10.1 Responses ............................................................... 143 6.10.2 Discussion............................................................... 144 6.11 Accessibility of the River Channel ................................. 145 6.11.1 Responses ..............................................................