ULEP meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Fisher 121 (Wooster) with a video-link to Kottman Hall 244 (Columbus).

For more information e-mail Kevin Power.
 

Seminar Series

Upcomimg Seminars and Events

Past Seminars:

Doug Coleman has a Masters of Science in botany and is a renowned field botanist in the Mid-Atlantic Region. He is now the Executive Director of the Wintergreen Nature Foundation in Virginia. He is the first and only Executive Director. He started as volunteer with the Wintergreen Development group as he did not want to see the mountain top stripped of all vegetation (some of which is endangered) as had been done in other recreation development sites in the mid-Atlantic region during the 1970?s. He also had ?selfish? interests as this development was in his home county. The Development Company soon hired him as a botanist to protect the native environment in this 11,000 acre development. The company as now dedicated over 6000 acres to the Wintergreen Nature Foundation for use as a preserve. The Nature Foundation under Mr. Coleman now must review all development and location of home sites to protect the native plants. If the location of the structure cannot be relocated, Mr. Coleman and a group of volunteers and staff do a plant rescue. The plants are then moved to a ?safe? location for re-establishment or to the Foundation?s cold frames or greenhouse for later location or propagation. The Foundation under Mr. Coleman?s leadership with volunteers now has developed a propagation facility to produce native plants for re-development of sites at Wintergreen.

Mr. Coleman started an annual Spring Wildflower Symposium over twenty-five years ago to teach people at first in Wintergreen. It has developed into a regional Symposium with speakers of national reputation in the Environmental Protection and Botany Fields. There is also research in many phases of ecology, natural science and anthropology being done on the site by such groups as the Smithsonian Institute.
 

September 28, 2006
Pattern and Process? Regional influences on disperse exurban land conversion in Ohio.  Darla Munroe, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Darla Munroe is assistant professor of Geography and adjunct assistant professor of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at The Ohio State University.  Her research interests include modeling spatially explicit land-cover change at the rural-urban interface, and the relationship between land markets and regional development.  Her current research explores the multiscale processes underlying exurban land conversion in Ohio.



June 8, 2006
Changing a City's Perspective on the Urban Landscape.  Daryl Decker, Director, Parks and Grounds, City of Wooster

Daryl Decker is a graduate of the Michigan State University Turfgrass Management program and was involved in the golf course industry for over 20 years. He served as Crewman, Assistant Superintendent and Certified Golf Course Superintendent at several courses in North Eastern Ohio. While with the golf industry Daryl served as Vice President of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the Superintendents Association (NOGCSAA) as well as it's magazine editor. He also served as a Chapter Delegate to the National Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and on it's Publications Advisory Committee. Following his golf course career he was active in sales to the golf industry for 5 years in the pesticide and fertilizer markets. Since 2001, Daryl has been the Superintendent of Parks for the City of Wooster where he oversees the maintenance and upkeep of just under 1,000 acres throughout the City along with the City's Urban Forest and Shade tree programs.

May 25, 2006
The Impact of Zoning Regulations on the Urban Landscape.  John Conglose, Associate Professor, Ohio State University Extension Land Use Team Coordinator

Many communities in Ohio already have or are exploring the enactment of zoning regulations to deal with Land Use Issues.  How do these existing or proposed regulations impact the urban landscape? This presentation provided an overview of the basics of zoning and how certain aspects of zoning regulations actually can dictate how and where various aspects of  the landscape can be planted or located.

May 11, 2006
Next Step Community Tree Program
Jim Chatfield, Associate Professor, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Horticulture and Plant Science and Plant Pathology
Abstract: The Next STEP Initiative of Ohio State University Extension (OSUE) and OSUE's Extension Center at Wooster is a multi-discplinary program focusing on the social and economic benefits of urban forests for Ohio communities and citizens, the Ohio green industry, and the furtherance of scientific literacy.  Next STEP is an initiative that builds on the horticultural findings of the Street Tree Evaluation Project (STEP) that was started in the mid-1960's, and involved evaluating 96 street tree plantings throughout Ohio.  A 30-year perspective of what happened to those 96 tree plantings, complete with before and after photos and growth and survival data, was compiled and published.

May 4, 2006
Wetland creation and restoration in an urban environment.
William Mitsch
Distingished Professor of Environment and Natural Resources, Professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Environmental Science, Director, Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park

April 27,  2006
Manipulating ecological interactions to enhance sustainability of ornamental landscapes.
Dan Herms
Associate Professor, Department of Entomology
OARDC/The Ohio State University

Abstract: The premise of our research program is that ecological interactions between trees and their biotic and abiotic environment can be manipulated to enhance plant health in ornamental landscapes.  This seminar will provide an overview of our studies investigating interactions between plants and the abiotic environment (adaptation and acclimation), between plants and insects (natural defenses), between microbes and plants (nutrient cycling), and between plants, insects, and natural enemies (tritrophic interactions).

April 13, 2006
Implementing ULEP principles and the reality of customer demands.
Kim Kellog
President and owner, Grasshopper Properties

March 10, 2006
Urban Sprawl Stewardship: Effect on Biodiversity
Toni Stahl
Habitat Ambassador, National Wildlife Federation

February 10, 2006
Collaboration for Sustainabiliy in Northeast Ohio
Joe Konen, Extension Specialist for Urban Programs
The Ohio State University Extension

January 13, 2006
If You Plant It They Will Come: Shaping the Future of Bird Conservation through Backyard and Community Landscaping
Casey Tucker, Education Specialist
Audubon At Home of Audubon Ohio

October 28, 2005
Plant-pollinator interactions in changing landscapes: invasions, agriculture and bees
Karen Goodell, Assistant Professor
Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology
The Ohio State University-Newark

October 14, 2005
Land Development Practices and Smart Growth
John Galehouse and Michael O'Hara
Galehouse Construction Company

September 23, 2005
The Cleveland EcoVillage: Sustainable design in an urban setting
Mandy Metcalf, AICP, Project Director,
Cleveland EcoVillage &
Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization

September 9, 2005
Carbon-Nitrogen Cycling in Urban Soils
Loren Benton Byrne, PhD student, Penn State University
Carbon Sequestration in Urban Soils
Mamta Singh,  PhD student, Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University
Nematodes As Bioindicators of Urban Soil Health
Zhiqiang Cheng, PhD student, Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University

August 25, 2005
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizosphere Bacteria: Benefits to their introduction to the Landscaped Setting
Dr. Michael J. Kernan
Associate Scientist
Technical Services, Plant Health Care, Inc.

August 12, 2005
Using psychology to help people care for the environment
Susan Clayton
Professor and Chair of Psychology
College of Wooster.   

July 8, 2005
Balancing Conservation and Development in Rural and Exurban Communities
Kirby Date
Coordinator of the Countryside Program of Northeast Ohio 

June 24, 2005
Lawn Care Professionals’ Perceptions on Practices and Issues Facing the Industry
Dr. Thomas W. Blaine
Associate Professor, OSU Extension

June 10, 2005
"Commercializing the Concept”…20 Organic BMP’s for Phase II Compliance 
Rod Tyler, CEO,
Filtrexx, Grafton, OH

May 12, 2005
Grounding of the Landscape Architect
Dr. Deb Georg, Ph. D.
Associate Professor, Kwolton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University

March 24, 2005
Maumee and Sandusky River impacts on Lake Erie: Nutrient inputs, algal loading, and the Central Basin Dead Zone
David Culver, Ph. D.
Professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University

February 11, 2005
Pollinator Assistants? What do we know about the impact of urban landscapes
on native pollinator abundance and diversity?
Roger Downer, Ph. D
Research Scientist, LPCAT, OARDC/The Ohio State University

Friday January 14, 2005
Urban Run-off and its Measurements
James Bonta,  Ph. D
Research Hydraulic Engineer
USDA North Appalachian Experimental Watershed

Dr Bonta studies surface and ground-water hydrology and water quality, stochastic simulation of precipitation, disturbed-lands hydrology, spatial variability. Some Current Projects are: 
· Stochastic simulation of storm occurrence and within-storm intensity. 
· Spatial variability of surface-water and ground water hydrology and water quality. 
· Development of simple methods for estimating total maximum daily load (TMDLs) using few data and incorporating risk and uncertainty. 
· Effects of surface mining on hydrology and water quality. 
· Effects of urbanization on hydrology and water quality. Ground-water recharge estimation

December 10, 2004
The Politics of Lawn Care and Change
Tom Delaney
Vice President of Government Affairs
Professional Lawn Care Association of America
An update of issues that are affecting the lawn care industry. Whether it is legislation, regulation or attitude changes we need to understand. What are the things affecting the lawn care business. What the future may hold and will we be ready for it.
 
November 12, 2004
Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence? 
Parwinder Grewal, Ph.D.
Department of Entomology, Urban Landscape Ecology Program, OARDC/TheOhio State University
In quest for a perfect lawn look, homeowners spend thousands of hours tending to their lawns and apply millions of tones of fertilizers and pesticides every year. Should lawn management be that difficult and expensive? How green is green? How can I win the war against dandelions? Should I be more critical of critters? Come learn what your neighbor is doing to his lawn. This presentation is for you if you're a perfectionist when it come lawn care or you are one who likes to sit back and relax and let nature take care of your lawn.

October 22, 2004
Alternatives for Redesigning the Lawn
John Cardina, Ph. D. 
Horticulture and Crop Science, OARDC/TheOhio State University

September 10, 2004
Natural Lawn & Garden Care: The Power of Integrated Outreach Programs
David McDonald 
Resource Conservation Planner 
Seattle Public Utilities
David McDonald is a Resource Conservation Planner at Seattle Public Utilities. A biologist by training, he has worked in field research, wildfire management for the U.S. Forest Service, and as an agro-forestry extensionist with the Peace Corps in Central America. Since 1988 he has worked in the Seattle and Puget Sound region developing public and professional outreach initiatives such as the Master Composter, Natural Lawn and Garden Care, and Soils for Salmon programs, which have been widely copied around the U.S. and Canada. His current work focuses on the critical function of soils in urban resource conservation.

Description: 
Public agencies and educational institutions often struggle to reach urban audiences with messages such as water conservation, pesticide hazard reduction, waste reduction/recycling, and water pollution prevention. In the Seattle and Puget Sound region, public agencies are collaborating to reach citizens with practical tips on how to conduct their everyday activities in ways that save them time and money, and protect the environment too. David McDonald of Seattle Public Utilities will briefly explain how Seattle's successful "Natural Lawn & Garden Care" programs evolved, and the lessons learned from eight years of inter-agency collaboration. The rest of this session will be a discussion focusing on current efforts here in Ohio, drawing on Mr. McDonald's experience to help identify effective strategies and opportunities for collaboration.

August 13, 2004
Comprehensive research and management of impervious surfaces impacts on watershed hydrology
Bill Shuster, PhD
Research Scientist, Hydrology and Land Use Team 
National Risk Management Research Laboratory, US EPA

Abstract:
Shuster, W.D.; Zhang, Y.; Bonta, J.; Warnemuende, E.; Thurston, H
Impervious surface is one of the primary agents of hydrologic change in urbanizing watersheds, and its impacts on hydrologic cycles and terrestrial ecological regimes are multifold. The mechanisms through which these impacts are manifested are not well understood, hampering effective management of these impacts. Here at the USEPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Sustainable Environments Branch, we are concerned with promoting multidisciplinary approaches to sustainable environmental management systems through the integration of hydrologic, ecological, economic, and legal perspectives. One way that we articulate this mission is through the examination of storm water runoff regimes in urban ecosystems and how these might be better managed. We have identified two areas of focus, the first is in-situ assessment of the alteration of hydrologic cycle in response to urbanization; and secondly systemic, low-cost participatory approaches to managing storm water runoff at the watershed scale. There are few or no studies that we are aware of which determine the underlying mechanisms and extent of these impacts over the course of landscape alteration through the incremental addition of impervious surfaces over time. The USDA-ARS and USEPA-ORD-NRMRL have initiated a pilot program to study the impacts of different extents and geometries of simulated impervious surface on 1.5 ha experimental watersheds located at the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed, Coshocton OH (USA). As a complement to the experimental investigation of fundamental processes in urban hydrology, we explore distributed stormwater management practices that may mitigate the deleterious impacts of stormwater flows in a previously developed 150 hectare residential neighborhood where impervious surface impacts are typically left unmitigated. Here, we use an urban watershed as a pilot study to determine whether parcel-level Best Management Practices (BMPs; e.g., rain gardens) can be implemented throughout the residential areas, and on the basis of an economic incentive program, which itself centers on trading detention responsibility among parcel holders to achieve a preset watershed-level cap on runoff. We have implemented an before-after/control-impact experimental design and initiated hydrologic and ecological monitoring at five stations distributed across the various land uses and impacted areas to determine whether the placement of BMPs at the parcel level in the residential area have effected an improvement in hydrologic and ecological status for tributaries draining urbanized areas of the watershed. We present a basic description of experimental approach for these projects followed by a summary of field data and discussion of preliminary modeling results.

July 9, 2004
Too much! -- How American landscape got oversimplified, and how can we restore biodiversity? 
Martin F. Quigley
Associate Professor 
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University

June 25, 2004
What we Know about Lawn Care, Community, and Economy from a Three Year Study
Paul Robbins, Associate Professor of Geography, 
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The Ohio State University