| Name | Jill |
| Last | Silver |
| jsilver@10000yearsinstitute.org | |
| Subject | Thesis Ideas at 10000 Year Institute |
| The non-profit 10000 Years Institute is interested in research theses concerning the forest and river systems of the Olympic Peninsula. The 10KYI (https://www.10000yearsinstitute.org/) has worked toward community, ecological, and climate resilience in the Pacific Northwest for decades. They evaluate the effects of human activities on natural environments – the forests, rivers, wetlands and estuaries that sustain our communities and ecosystems. Through development of innovative, science-based approaches to restore ecological integrity, they promote sustainable practices in landscapes across the region. A significant focus of their watershed work is support native biodiversity through the prevention and control of invasive plants in the watersheds of Washington’s wildest rivers. Potential thesis topics include: – Scotch Broom Remote Sensing: Use of satellite and drone imagery to measure the presence and rate of growth of a dangerous fire hazard and suppressant of natural vegetation regeneration of forest habitats where forest harvest, road building and other human activities invite invasives to compete with native forest species. – Biogeomorphic Succession on the Hoh River: Research into glacial sediment movement in a dynamic fluvial system where early successional species (willow, red alder) are inhibited from stabilizing river bars, owing to the presence of invasive vegetation that influences channel morphology, and associated competition for hyporheic groundwater. – Fire Risk Meta-Study: Historical wildfire analysis of the Olympic Peninsula from publicly available fire reports, reviewed for Scotch broom presence and absence as a potential accelerant. Engagement with fire fighters and community leaders will enhance understanding of temporal-spatial trends and implications for future forest and invasive species management priorities. – Biochar for Carbon Sequestration: Recent Washington legislative approval of pyrolysis methods using flame-kilns may help to enhance conversion of forest slash and invasive plant waste biomass into carbon-sequestering soil amendments. Biochar output can be applied to farms and forests to store carbon, increase soil water, nutrients, and beneficial microbes. This is a new research frontier in WA and has potential to influence a variety of climate-change, agricultural and forest land management practices. – Westport Light State Park Vegetation Management Planning: The project would analyze native vegetation and estimate impacts of invasive Scotch broom, as well as (potentially) shore pine in this 600-acre state park near Westport, WA. The Park is being assessed for habitat restoration of snowy plover nesting sites, native biodiversity in dunes and wetlands, trail enhancement, and other priorities. – Intrinsic Potential Model for Reed Canarygrass (RCG) and Coho Habitat: RCG degrades cold water river and wetland habitats critical to Coho salmon and other species. Intrinsic Potential Modeling relies on GIS methods to characterize fluvial habitats used for rearing and refuge by juvenile salmonids. Spatial analysis of RCG and Coho habitats can support planning for invasive mitigation activities and promote investment of funding in efforts to protect and restore salmonid habitats. The 10KYI has strong GIS capabilities and geodatabase content about their Olympic coastal field operations. They have access to high resolution satellite imagery, and several years of drone mapping imagery for project sites. |
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