Case Study 12: Murky Waters
Nathan Ollis (30365134)
Geography 310 Assignment 2 – October 13th 2015
Now that a holistic overview of this “wicked problem” has been established, it is time to delve into the complexities of certain subcomponents. As defined earlier, a “wicked problem” is an issue comprised of many different pieces that often contradict each other, thus the complex nature of the issue. For this post, I will be addressing the economic impact that eutrophication in the Great Lakes has on the surrounding area. This will include the economic effect on farmers, government bodies, and the general population. More specifically, I will examine the following question: How does policy reform regarding eutrophication and farming in the Great Lakes affect the economic performance and wellbeing of stakeholders? (Note: Stakeholders include farmers, government bodies/agencies, households, and other businesses etc.)
The following is an Annotated Bibliography of a variety of sources discussing this issue. The sources selected are articles that directly and/or indirectly address the above question in some magnitude.
Forster, L., Smith, E., & Hite, D. (2000). A Bioeconomic Model of Farm Management Practices and Environmental Effluents in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 55(2), 177 182.
This academic journal article written by Dr. Lynn Forster from Ohio State University is particularly useful for this research, as it almost directly addresses the most prevalent questions in this topic. The paper describes research conducted with a “Bioeconomic” model that is used to predict/simulate the economic impacts of different, more environmentally sensitive, farming techniques. The model has two components, and both require large quantities of data that describe initial biophysical conditions (hydrology, soil, erosion, nutrient cycling, etc.) of the farming region being observed. The first is called the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC), and the second is a Farm Level Integer Programming Model (Forster et al, 2000). Ultimately, the model is used to simulate the effects that new farming regulations (such as fertilizer reduction and tillage change), will have on production, profit margins, effluent discharge, growth rates, farm size, and total environmental impact (Forster et al, 2000). This article examines, in detail, almost precisely the same question I have highlighted above, and therefore can’t be ignored. The authors are trying to predict the economic impact of alternative farming techniques in exactly the same location covered in this case study. Based on their mathematical model, they find that a change to “conservation tillage technologies” will increase long term productivity, and decrease effluent discharge by controlling erosion rates.
The Bioeconomic model used in this study is conceptually brilliant, and targets the issue at hand very well. However, the article does not explain in any detail as to how the algorithms were derived and how the model actually “works.” It should also be noted, however, that a proper explanation of a model of this complexity would be too complicated for almost any reader. Given the complicated nature of economic simulation, it was still an effective and appropriate model for the research. Moreover, the paper does a fantastic job of outlining its central research question and conducting a fair study with tangible results and conclusions. Without any more detail, it is difficult to critically evaluate the actual accuracy of the simulation model.
Forster, L. (2000). Public Policies and Private Decisions: Their Impacts on Lake Erie Water Quality and Farm Economy. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 55(3), 309-322.
It should firstly be acknowledged that this paper is from the same year, and written by the same author as the above reference. Dr. Lynn Forster of Ohio State University has done some excellent research on this issue and aims to answer some of the very same questions I am now. Therefore, his research cannot be ignored as it provides vital data and information regarding the economic impacts of this phenomena. Unlike the above reference, this paper looks into the effectiveness of past policy reforms aimed at neutralizing eutrophication in the Great Lakes. To do this, Forster compiles pre existing data from before and after new method incentives and adoptions. He then compares this data, and draws his conclusions primarily from there. His EPIC (Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator), is discussed briefly at the end of the paper, but is not the central method used to draw conclusions.
Freedman, B. (1989). Environmental Ecology: The Impacts on Pollution and Other Stresses on Ecosystem Structure and Function. San Diego, California: Academic Press.
A Section of Bill Freedman’s book (pp 171-176) analyzes the scientific ramifications of eutrophication in Lake Erie. He delves into the biological implications that phytoplankton and toxin accumulation have on the lake itself. This is an important aspect to my research also, as this research allows for a stronger, more holistic understanding of the issue. Also of great appeal, Freedman discusses the strong economic productivity of Lake Erie itself (via its Fishing Industry) and the agricultural output of the surrounding land. Freedman draws on previous studies to report the most pressing matters of this wicked problem, water quality. Without this kind of information, it would be difficult to formulate a well informed opinion and comment on the economic concerns of the issue. An issue with this source is the fact that its information is dated. Being 26 years past the publication of this book, the data should be used with caution, as much of the data fluctuates over time. Therefore, this information may not be ideal for the purposes of this study in 2015. However, the more “historical” data is still useful for baseline purposes, and should not be ignored entirely.
Gallucci, M. (2014, August 16). Lake Erie Algae Bloom Crisis Is Putting Pressure On Ohio, Farm States To Tackle Agricultural Pollution Problems. International Business Times. Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.com/lake-erie-algae-bloom-crisis-putting pressure-ohio-farm-states-tackle-agricultural-1660240
This article published in the International Business Times in 2014 focuses primarily on the social implications that high eutrophication has on the farming community around the Great Lakes. Gallucci reports the immense social pressure farmers are beginning to feel as a result of poor water quality for yet another summer in Lake Erie. Once again, residents of towns and communities around Lake Erie are resorting to using bottled water for almost all household duties (especially for drinking). The article also discusses some general details regarding the policy debate between government agencies and the primary vectors of eutrophication, industrial farmers. The farming community surrounding Lake Erie is meeting policy reform with great resistance because they feel that alternative farming practices will impose substantial costs on their businesses. It should be noted, however, that many farmers in the area have in fact converted to more conservation based practices. This suggests that either the costs of the new practices are not as high as the farmers claim, or that the farmers are being subsidized by government agencies to convert. This article is helpful for my study because it, unlike my other sources, spends a great deal of its time discussing the external (and internal) pressures being placed on farmers.
Richards, P., Calhoun, F., & Matisoff, G. (2002). The Lake Erie Agricultural Systems for Environmental Quality Project: An Introduction. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 6-16.
This piece by Peter Richards et al (2002), focuses on explaining the inception and goals of the Lake Erie Agricultural Systems for Environmental Quality Project (LEASEQ). Even though this particular paper is just an introduction to the history and effectiveness of LEASEQ, it still provides specific enough information for the purposes of this study. Its significance lies in its ability to solidify the conceptual framework already discusses in entry 1. The paper outlines a brief, but effective, timeline of the combative efforts taken against eutrophication in Lake Erie’s West Basin. Moreover, it briefly discusses the relative effectiveness of those techniques (Richards et al, 2002). This introductory piece spends the bulk of its contents describing the natural specifications of the area itself, such as soil, geology, drainage, and previous land use (Richards et al, 2002), which only solidifies its stance as a frame working piece only. The information presented is key to my research as it assists with the establishment of geographic and historical context for the area under consideration. Understanding the initial conditions of Lake Erie’s geography is undoubtedly vital to a holistic understanding of the wicked problem at hand, because these initial conditions could play a huge role in the effectiveness of alternative farming techniques. From a critical standpoint, the article does not present any clear-cut conclusions (which is understandable because its an introduction paper). However, it would have been beneficial to the reader if the authors had presented some critical claims regarding the issue at hand.
Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Farm Financial Statistics. Statistics Canada: Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/subject sujet/result resultat?pid=920&id=3953&lang=eng&type=CST&pageNum=1&more=
Most of the scholarly data I have found is data coming from the United States. Therefore, in order to bring forth information from North of the US border, I will draw on information from Stats Canada. Using Stats Canada, I will be able to research raw data from a reliable source and draw conclusions based on this information. Luckily, Stats Canada contains a section outlining agricultural productivity and financial information. Therefore, I can cross reference output and financial data from year to year and draw conclusions based on the fluctuations. For instance, it can be observed that farm output has been increasing steadily in the province of Ontario (Great Lakes Region), and has been more stagnant in other provinces.
Thornton, J., Harding, W., & Dent, M. (2013). Eutrophication as a “wicked” Problem. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, 18(1), 298 316.
This article is key in my research because it does an excellent job of explaining the vast complexities of this particular wicked problem in far more detail than I would ever be able to. It compartmentalizes the “wickedness” of this environmental issue and describes how each compartment is linked to the others. In fact, the ultimate goal of this article is to simply define global eutrophication in fresh water systems as a wicked problem. Therefore, the paper is essential, as it aids in constructing a solid conceptual framework. Given the conceptual nature of the paper, it is not particularly focused on generating its own data through original research methods. It draws from a variety of other academic texts and journals in order to support and contextualize their definition of eutrophication as a wicked problem. Therefore, the reliability of this reference is difficult to question, as it synthesizes an already well researched issue.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2010). Five Years of Data Sheds Light on Status of Conservation Tillage. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/oh/technical/land se/cropland/?cid=nrcs144p2_029581
This raw data source from the United States Department of Agriculture provides some significant information on this research topic from a relatively recent study. The USDA conducted a survey from 2006-2010, collecting data regarding tillage type used and crop type/growth in the Lake Erie West Basin region. This study was conducted to monitor the change in tillage and crop use through this time period as different incentives and policies were put into place. Monitoring this data over a long term period such as this gives a great deal of accuracy as to what the real changes are in the data set. This direct sourcing method of “real” data provides a certain level of validity to the research, and shows exactly how many alternative farming techniques are being implemented. Therefore, we can draw conclusions about the overall effectiveness of the policy reforms, and can suggest new ones if needed. The data was collected physically by researchers visiting the farm sites and recording tillage type, and crop type. This research method is ideal for this situation because it prevents the data from being lost in translation through middle men and/or technological malfunctions. Surprisingly, this study concluded that between the years 2006 and 2010, there was no observed trend in conservation trend usage. Simply put, the rates of conservation tillage fluctuated in only minor quantities, and showed no real trend of growth or recession (USDA, 2010).