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Environmental Studies

Introduction

Student Accomplishments

Faculty Research

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    Department of Environmental Studies

Faculty Research

Dudley J. Burton

Research Interests
  • Social Theory and Philosophy related to Environmental Planning
  • Political Economy of Environmental Policy and Development
  • Planning and Design Theory
  • Welfare Economics for Planning
  • Resources, Technology, Environmental Issue Structures
  • Energy and Resources Planning—Technology, Economics, and Policy
  • Waste Management Technology and Policies
  • Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology

Research in Progress

  • Laboratory and experimental studies on biological remediation systems
  • Evaluation of drip technology for waste water disposal
  • Evaluation of small-scale aerobic sewage treatment systems
  • Water management in arid environments of the U. S. West
  • Land management and restoration strategies for arid environments
  • The Internet as a Tool for Sustainability
  • Community-Based Self-Help Development Projects

Carlos Davidson

Research Experience

  • Conservation biology research. 1996-present. Developed a unique approach to analyzing declines of California amphibian populations based on historic records, recent surveys, Geographic Information System mapping, and spatial statistics. Field work in southern California, Cascades and California Trinity Alps. Tested observed changes in distributions against those expected from the ultraviolet radiation, climate change and pesticides hypotheses for decline. Found a strong association between declines and amount of upwind agricultural land use. Currently working on two collaborative studies: a field study of pesticide residues in frogs in Northern California, and lab experiments on the effects of low levels of pesticides on amphibian disease susceptibility.
  • Ecologist, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station. 1997-Present (Part-time). Working with the Sierra Province Assessment and Monitoring Team on possible use of amphibian distributions as indicators of ecosystem condition.
  • Ecological modeler, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station and Region 5, San Francisco Ca. 1992-1995. Joint work between the research and management branch of the Forest Service on a variety of conservation biology projects. Researched and wrote papers on measuring landscape patterns, strengths and weaknesses of wildlife habitat models, and choosing habitat priorities for conserving neotropical migrant birds.
  • Consulting Economist, self-employed. 1988-1992. Researched and prepared economic studies for a variety of non-profit organizations, unions, and government agencies, including studies of U.S. income inequality, living wages, and the minimum wage.

Helen Elizabeth Roland

  • PROGRAM RESEARCH SPECIALIST I, Environment and Natural Resources Unit, California Research Bureau, Sacramento, California, 1993-1998.
    Lead analyst for issues relating to environmental quality, endangered species, wetlands, and land use planning.
  • RESEARCH ANALYST II, Research and Development Section, Department of Motor Vehicles, Sacramento, California, 1991-1993.
    Lead analyst for the Evaluation and Monitoring System. Responsible for planning and conducting reliable and valid evaluations of the efficacy and efficiency of legislative and policy changes. Develop issue papers for departmental policy makers that identify potential long-term impacts of proposed policy changes including issues related to privatization, citizen compliance, and the use of fees and surcharges to finance government services. Lead analyst for an evaluation of the Revenue Collection Program. Total responsibility for designing the study, collecting and analyzing the data, and presenting the results. Evaluation questions include assessing the relative cost-effectiveness of departmental and private vendor collections.
  • PERFORMANCE AUDITOR, Office of the Auditor General, Sacramento, California, 1989-1991.
    As a member of a research team, plan and conduct operational evaluations and performance audits. Evaluate the implementation, effectiveness, and efficiency of mandated programs. Develop policy recommendations based on research conclusions. Present research findings in reports to the Legislature.
  • POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHER/RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Institute of Governmental Affairs and Department of Political Science, Project on the Contagion of Political Conflict, University of California, Davis, California, 1985-1987.
    Constructed analysis files and assisted with both cross-sectional and time-series multivariate analyses of aggregate data.
  • RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Kellogg Program, University of California, Davis, California. Infant Mortality Program, 1983.
    Assisted with log-linear data analysis.
  • RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Institute of Governmental Affairs, University of California, Davis, California, Municipal Budgeting Project, 1982.
    Organized and analyzed time series data on municipal expenditures.
  • STAFF RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, 1978-1982.
    Coordinated all facets of the second phase of a longitudinal study of undergraduate students’ attitudes, values, goals, and academic attainments. Duties included supervision of all project personnel, literature review, questionnaire construction, computing, statistical analysis, grant writing, and article writing.
  • STAFF RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Kellogg Program, University of California, Davis, California. Faculty Development Project, 1979.
    Developed SPSS system file for data analysis; conducted data analysis, including computing and write-up; conducted literature review; and co-authored final report and journal article.

Michelle Stevens

Research/ Professional Experience

  • Restoration Ecologist, California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, CA Botanist Responsibilities include restoration planning for Comprehensive Study for 10-2001 to present Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers. Also environmental training for DWR Staff. Develop protocols and study design for evaluating success of DWR Mitigation sites.
  • Restoration Ecologist, Jones & Stokes, Sacramento, CA Botanist
    Responsibilities include preliminary design development for riparian 1999-2001 restoration projects in California, rare plant surveys, development of mitigation and monitoring protocols for flood control/restoration projects, wetland delineations, resource assessment and report preparation under California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Skills include senior scientist, project management, and staff supervision (see Published Reports).
  • Ethnobotany Post Doc U.C. Davis and NRCS 1998-1999
    Responsibilities include writing over 64 ethnobotany field guides published by the Natural Resource Conservation Service Plant Data Base (see Published Reports).
  • Post Graduate Researcher III U.C. Davis and Corps of Engineers 1992-1998
    Responsibilities include monitoring Cache Slough Mitigation Bank in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for 6 years, including experimental design, implementation and assessment of plant ecology, water quality, and site stability, sedimentation and erosion over time. Skills include grant writing, marketing, and project management (see Published Reports).
  • Teaching Assistant U.C. Davis 1992-1998
    Responsibilities outlined under Teaching Experience
  • Senior Wetlands Ecologist WA Dept of Ecology, Olympia, WA 1988-1991
    Responsibilities include designing guidelines for restoration and mitigation (including mitigation banking and buffer recommendations), assisted with King County Stormwater and Wetlands research project, Inter-agency Wetland Delineation Team instructor, senior scientist providing quality control and training for staff. Skills include senior scientist, training instructor, staff supervision, expert witness testimony, writing and producing booklets, and grant manager (see Published Reports).
  • Wetlands Ecologist U.S. EPA, Boise, ID 1986-1988
    Responsibilities include research on riparian and wetland mitigation sites, developed mitigation bank, performed wetland delineation, value and function assessment, 404(b)(1) Guidelines alternatives analysis, and mitigation and restoration development. Responsibilities also included identification of priority wetland resource areas, advanced identification proposals (long range watershed planning), expert testimony, consent decree negotiations, and extensive public outreach/education.
  • Wetlands Ecologist Idaho Natural Heritage Program, Boise, ID 1985
    Responsibilities include developing classification system for wetland and riparian areas and rare plant inventory in the state of Idaho for the Idaho Natural Heritage Program Data Base (see Published Reports).
  • Environmental Biologist Glass Environmental Consultants, Austin, TX 1981
    Responsibilities include providing technical support for biological sections of environmental assessments for wastewater treatment facilities and water quality improvement programs in Texas.
  • Environmental Biologist Fluor Construction and Engineers, Houston, TX 1980
    Responsibilities include biological assessment of impacts from proposed Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System.
  • Wildlife/Range Technician US Forest Service, U.S. BLM 1974-1980
    Wildlife, range and fire technician working in CA, AK, ID, MT. Included moose research project on foraging behavior in Denalli National Park, AK.


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