home > TRiO and USP Programs > McNair > symposium > 2003-2004 presentations > Angela Morrill

Monika Bilka
Environmental Science

Patricia McDowell, Mentor

Klamath River Canyon Land Use: Calamity or Success? A look at the effects of irrigation ditches at Beswick Ranch, Siskiyou County, CA

Humans have altered the Klamath River Canyon in many ways. One substantial alteration is the conversion of terraces into irrigated pastures for agriculture and cattle ranching. This study focuses on the period 1955-2000. It explains how various human alterations, such as irrigation, affected the ecology of the pastures and riparian zone. The primary goal is to analyze changes in vegetation community patterns on pastures and riparian zones adjacent to the river. Data sources such as aerial photographs, maps, and other historical information help to create Geographic Information System (GIS) maps and models of the area. The final maps and models will provide a clearer understanding of how the vegetation communities have responded to human modifications. Such models will aid in developing future management plans for the area.