Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades REestoration Pregress (CISRERP) National Research Council, “Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades : The First Biennial Review, 2006”, National Academies Press, 2007, p1, p50-55…
In this riveting study, White carefully outlines the history of the river beginning with its discovery in the early nineteenth century. The one characteristic most commonly noted in all early accounts was that of the river's extreme power and force, and is detailed by account after account of failed attempts to sail the river. With attempts to travel along the river came the increased encounters with various tribes of the Pacific Northwest. White writes that passage along the river was "not just physical; it was social and political" (14). It was factors like this that forced racial interaction, growth, and the spread of ideas to the region.…
In “Two Views of a River” the narrator points out how the river shows signs of danger. The passage says, “That slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody’s steamboat one of these nights.” He describes how nature could be perceived as dangerous because it can cause accidents and even result in the death of a…
"The deep green pool of the Salinas River was still in the late afternoon. Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gabilan mountains, and the hilltops were rosy in the sun. But by the pool among the mottled sycamores, a pleasant shade had fallen."…
We were ready. Paddles in hand, canoe by our side, personal floatation devices, knee pads, and cameras. The afternoon sun shined on the lake, reflecting it across the calm waters. Crowds of people were enjoying their Sunday afternoon on North Beach at Devil’s Lake State Park. Young children stumbled on the moist sand and shallow waters as they tried to catch tadpoles with their small buckets. Soothing, a gentle breeze passed by as we walked towards the edge of Devil’s Lake. Marveling at the majestic mountain of cedars around the lake and smelling the damp sand, my dad, little sister, and I were all set to take on our first wilderness inquiry; canoeing across a lake. It was safe to say that we were in for an exciting adventure…
As a boy I didn’t care much for school nor the environment for that matter. I was oblivious to my home; I littered, left the tap running, and don’t remember a particular time I carpooled. I was apathetic to the creatures and wildlife around me. I was a young boy who didn’t care for anything but himself. But all that changed once I heard the legend of the mysterious river behind Pete Gallegos. I was a gullible boy who pictured an oasis filled with hundreds of fish, a beautiful green grassland filled with deer and enclosed by an overabundance of majestic green mesquites. It would have been Deer Runs Garden of Eden, that is if I found it. I immediately went to my best friend Felipe’s house and told him what I heard. He was not as intrigued and enthusiastic as I was; he merely came because he thought this would make a great story one day. I then packed our gear, this included a ham sandwich with the crusts cut off and two chilly Dr. Peppers. And so we rode for about two minutes until then we got there; we only lived a few blocks from Pete Gallegos. I lunged…
“How are you feeling right now?” My father asked, I replied, “Excited.” This was in fact, an understatement. I had never seen or been to a natural reservation so highly known as the Grand Canyon. I have always been the type of person who enjoyed going camping or staying outside, appreciating the presence of nature. It was great news to hear. After weeks of planning, our family was on the road heading out to the Grand Canyon. After each hour, the lands we were crossing seemed to become more absent from human civilization. The expanding rocky prairie whizzed pass the car windows and reminded us of the purity of the land. Soon enough, we made it into Arizona, and then, finally, our destination.…
My first view of the river makes me breathless. Shallow water washes over the road’s cement pavement. Men, women, and kids break the river’s flow; some sit in fold-up chairs and read a book, but most others are leaning back in a colored tube floating the slow water. A giant cypress tree waits patiently by the road; two large nails pin a rusted metal sign to it, warning visitors of state rules and regulations. Every river crossing has the same sign posted the closet tree. The tree’s familiar sight and significance still makes me excited, because I finally feel summer vacation starting. However, the sight also makes me impatient for we don’t start tubing until the second day. I never…
The setting is central to this passage, it revolves around a bridge, above a river called Cascade Rivulet, lying downhill. A flat paddock with cows beside the bridge…
Towards the north there are the skyscraping mountains. Where the occasional tourist ventures to go hiking on the angelic, yet perilous, trails that spiral up the mountain. To the south I see a profound canyon that stretches from the east to the west. Legend has it, that once a year in the dead silence of the night, you can hear the rumbling of the canyon slowly expanding in size. When I look towards the east, way…
Flowing peacefully between the foothills of West Virginia and the Ohio valley, lies one of nature's most beautiful wonders. The Ohio river is a place many visitors find as refreshing as a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day. In the spring and summer months, a visitor may hear the laughter of friends enjoying a relaxing weekend. The quick speed of boats cause the water to smack against itself making waves that ripple out and splash against the river bank. They may smell a mixture of cool water, along with the sweet aromas of great laurel and freshly cut grass. In the fall the hills are covered in breathtaking shades of red, yellow, orange and amber changing from the recent lush green tones. The wind is crisp and cool…
On March 5, 2016, the rain hit hard in Sacramento causing it to be a very wet day, which ultimately led to smart individuals to stay inside. For me I wanted to see how different the wildlife atmosphere would be when it’s raining compared to when it’s not. I also thought this was a great opportunity, because it was not just raining it was pouring. It was about 2pm when I decided to make my walk along the American River. One thing that stood out compared to the few other times I’ve had at the river was that it looked like the water level within the American River was rising. After witnessing this it brought to mind how happy river rafters would be to be able to continue to experience what they love. Overall, this experience in the rain with the wildlife really opened me up to the reality of it all and what living animals have to endure when they get a little too much rain.…
After leaving the falls we arrive at a location that I had done considerable pre-scouting in studying the aerials and topos as well as viewing from different angles from various visits to Fish Canyon. Up we climb through difficult and steep terrain, unstable rocks, loose footing, thick brush, poison oak, and other hostile plants. Thankfully the weather is pleasant with some light clouds and temps in the 60s. Our shoes and long pants are getting wet and muddy from plants still wet from yesterday’s rain. Pushing through thick stands of coastal sagebrush and white sage releases wonderful aroma. Route finding is tricky at times as we attempt to find the best way through and around thick walls of vegetation. There is an element of crazy to what we are doing. Vigilance and safety are paramount. After 90 minutes of arduous climbing and gaining about 400 vertical feet, we achieve a turn-around point with a commanding view of the canyon and beyond. After 25 minutes of enjoying our peaceful perch, we retraced our steps down. Forty minutes of demanding down-climb delivers us safely back to Fish Canyon Trail.…
Staple, T., & Wall, G., (1996) Climate change and recreation in Nahanni National Park, The Canadian…
Carro, J. (2010, June 03). Unexpected impact. Understanding the intensified effects of alcohol and drugs on the water, Retrieved October 28, 2011 from…