By Theme:Arts and Literature | Campus Sustainability | Community Perspectives | Development | Economic Analysis | Ecosystem Analysis | Education | Energy | Environmental Justice | Food Systems | Geology of the Watershed | Green Architecture | Green Business | History of the Watershed | Invasive Species | Land Use Patterns | Public Policy | Recreation | Transportation | Water Quality
Community Perspectives
A Stakeholder Analysis of Farmers In and Surrounding the Saratoga Lake Watershed
Erin Bukofsky, Nolan Crohn, Erin Kennedy, and Katie McEachen (2007)
We explored farmers’ perspectives on water and the Saratoga Springs water debate. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews with ten farmers revealed variation in opinions regarding environmental regulations and a future water source for the city of Saratoga Springs. Most farmers expressed concern over increasing development and stressed the value maintaining open space through the preservation of farmland.
Full report is not available. Please contact Karen Kellogg for more information.
Sarah Loomis and Julie Ringer (2007)
This project focused on Saratoga Springs residents’ opinions on future drinking water sources. We surveyed 313 registered voters in Saratoga Springs inquiring about their choice regarding the future drinking water source for the city. The survey uncovered correlations between source preference, respondents’ partisanship, and depth of commitment to the environment.
Projects and Perspectives that are Shaping Smart Growth in Malta, New York
Sophia Wiley (2008)
I examined the prospects for smart growth in Malta, New York by conducting analyses of projects Steeplechase at Malta and Luther Forest Technology Campus, and by conducting interviews with elected officials and stakeholders in Malta. My research has found that these projects and envisioned plans for growth simultaneously complement and deviate from the principles of smart growth.
Full report is not available. Please contact Bob Turner for more information.
Blessed with Water: Politicising Resource Management in a Water Rich Area of Upstate
New York
Allison Stafford '07, Erin Black '06, Michael C. Ennis-McMillan, Department of Anthropology, and Karen Kellogg, Department of Biology and Environmental Studies Program (2005)
In recent years, Saratoga Springs, New York has experienced increased pressure on water resources, as the population increases and as water sources dwindle. We analyzed the potentially competing interests of civic groups, businesses and corporations, individuals and homeowners, and political officials from the city and county. Water is viewed as a very powerful natural resource that potentially influences development, economic advancement, political positioning, and the City's composition and character.
Full report is not available. Please contact Karen Kellogg for more information.
Water Conflicts and Contradictions: Recreation and Invasive Species in Saratoga Lake
Molly Bergen '06, Leah Wohl-Pollack '08, Michael Ennis-McMillan, Department of Anthropology, and Karen Kellogg, Department of Biology and Environmental Studies Program (2006)
Based on over forty interviews with informed county residents, we discovered that residents' perceptions of Saratoga Lake are influenced by their desire to protect their recreational interests, representing the economic and emotional value they place on Saratoga Lake. We also learned that personal interaction with invasive species influences residents' perceptions of which species are problematic and which species management plans are desirable. Our study indicates that personal interests often overshadow environmental concern for Saratoga Lake.
Full report is not available. Please contact Karen Kellogg for more information.
The Saratoga Lake Watershed: Connecting Biodiversity and Community
Jonathan Betz ’09 and Chris Grassi, Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology (2008)
The proximity and local debates over the uses of Saratoga Lake and its watershed provide
an opportunity to educate both the Skidmore and local community about the connections
between water, local wildlife, people, and land use. Therefore we are producing an
educational film about the physical, biological, and social aspects of this watershed.
We have conducted 17 formal interviews and recorded over 30 hours of film. These
will be used to represent the ways in which people interact with the watershed and
the interests of these different stakeholders. We have identified themes within these
perspectives that demonstrate links and conflicts in viewpoints.
Septic System Survey of Residents of Loughberry Lake
Elizabeth Amira Kennedy Streeter (2009)
Unlike government run sewage treatment plants, septic system care and maintenance are the responsibility of individual homeowners. Proper maintenance is essential to maintaining proper functioning and preventing water pollution. To better understand behavior and septic maintenance practices, I conducted a survey of the residents who lived closest to the lake and also own septic systems.
Full report is not available. Please contact Cathy Gibson for more information.
Andrew Clinard, Jennifer Hubert, and Bradford Nesbitt (2009)
Our survey of Saratoga Lake residents revealed that most respondents think water quality is acceptable and affects property values, but is threatened by invasive species. While opinions varied on who should maintain the lake, most opposed land use regulations. Future studies and public outreach should focus on these subjects.
Full report is not available. Please contact Bob Turner for more information.
Ryan Bailey and Lyndsay Strange (2009)
In 2002, a group of stakeholders created a Saratoga Lake Watershed Management Plan
to protect and improve the watershed's resources. Despite this, implementation of
the plan's recommendations has been very uneven throughout the watershed's municipalities.
Through interviews with local town officials, we identify and explain the factors
that affect the implementation of these programs.
Full report is not available. Please contact Bob Turner for more information.
Allison Ruschp, Caitlin Frame, and Dani Rueter (2009)
We explored the feasibility of incorporating low impact design into Saratoga Springs stormwater management program. We interviewed developers, public works officials, planning board staff, city engineers, and state stormwater engineers to discover the challenges facing the implementation of low impact stormwater management. Saratoga Springs is close to meeting current federal standards but has no funding mechanisms for stormwater management; low impact design is being encouraged for new developments.
Full report is not available. Please contact Cathy Gibson for more information.
The Relationship Between Home and Nature: What Living Locations Can Tell Us About
Environmentalism
Morgan Violette and Zach Rowen (2010)
A survey of 165 residents in Saratoga County examines the link between distinct residential areas and environmental perceptions and behaviors. Residents were divided into four groups by living location: urban, suburban, rural and streams (homeowners with streams running through their property). While actions and opinions varied depending on location, the general trend is that most people in the county spend a fair amount of time recreating outdoors and are environmentally conscious.
The "Greens" are Checking In: Assessing the New York State Green Hotel Partnership
Dana Leonard and Derek Stork (2010)
New York has identified a national shift in the hospitality and tourism industry to
more environmentally friendly business practices, saving both operating costs and
natural resources. To influence this change, New York has established the Green Hospitality
and Tourism Partnership and Certification Program. To achieve a comprehensive understanding
and assessment of the Green Hotel Certification Program and Partnership, open-ended
interviews were conducted to address every level of involvement with the program.
Through the interviews and extensive media coverage we have found that select hotels
across New York are becoming ambassadors and are essential to the eco-tourism movement
in New York.
Critical Instability: Why We Need to Revolutionize Domestic Agriculture Before It's
Too Late
Dash Hammerstein and Andrew Pfeifer (2010)
This study looks at issues concerning agricultural and farmland protection easements and farm viability in Saratoga County. Through in-depth interviews with 10 farmers, we have found that the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program is not an adequate tool to combat the recent and ongoing loss of local farms. Policies aimed at increasing farm viability, especially through the stabilization of milk prices and public education, are necessary to insure a future for Saratoga County agriculture.
Full report is not available. Please contact Karen Kellogg for more information.
Nicholas Liu Sontag and Andrew Noone (2011)
If sprawl is unsustainable, why do so few growing communities choose smart growth strategies? We assess Malta’s debate over planning and growth to analyze the quality of traditional forms of public deliberation. We also explored the potential of visual assessment forums to improve the quality of public deliberation on planning decisions.
The Homeowner's Guide to Green Building
Trisha Carile and Ian Bain (2012)
Buildings in the United States are responsible for a significant fraction of our overall water consumption, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste production. By combining new interview data with data from a previous capstone project, we identified several persistent challenges to increasing green building in Saratoga County, including costs and client awareness. In response, we created an online sourcebook of regional green building techniques and products for homeowners.
Understanding the Competing User of Skidmore's Commons: A Stakeholder Analysis of
the North Woods
The North Woods is a 165-acre forest on Skidmore’s campus that is used by different groups with distinct concerns, values and perceptions of the resource. Interviews were conducted with students, faculty/staff, and community members to understand these diverse interests. These interviews informed the creation of recommendations to promote the long-term preservation of the forest and balance individual use, scholarly use, and potential development plans.
Marcus Goldbas, Gwyn Harris, and Lily Alverson (2013)
We developed an architectural design for a field station that will increase the use of Skidmore’s forested properties for teaching, learning, and outdoor activities, while implementing sustainable design strategies to limit the environmental impacts on the surrounding landscape. We combined stakeholder analyses with evaluations of siting, orientation, climate, access/transportation, solar energy, passive solar heating, storm water management, rainwater catchment, day lighting, and materials, and offer a proposal to the Skidmore Community.
Saratoga’s First Green Home Tour: A Social Experiment
Rene deJongh, Melissa Green, and Stephanie Seidmon (2013)
As an individual, your single most significant impact on the natural environment is your choice of home and behaviors within the home. As a result, the residential sector in the United States accounts for 40% of our carbon emissions. If energy efficient homes have a smaller environmental impact and save the consumer money, why don’t more people build green homes? In this study we explored the perceptions and behaviors of Saratoga County residents about building green and retrofitting homes through interviews and surveys and how a Green Home Tour could serve as a method of education to spread awareness of green building.
Olivia Miller, Abby Smith, and Emily Hudspeth (2013)
What are the social and physical characteristics of community gardens in the Capital District? How does location (urban, suburban, rural?) influence the functionality of gardens? Using a survey, we examined gardener perceptions of and contributions to community, both inside and outside garden walls. We analyzed soil type and impervious surface cover data as well. We created a ranking system to determine those gardens that exhibit the “best” and “worst” characteristics. These results were mapped using GIS which allowed us to find correlations between location and garden success. We found that location has the most impact on impervious surface and community within the garden whereas soil type and engagement with the surrounding community are more variable and depend on other factors besides location.
Hannah Greendorfer, Meghan Burke, and Abby Wyant (2013)
Colleges are constantly adapting to internal and external pressures. In the past ten years Skidmore College has increased in size and scope. Our project aims to illustrate how the Skidmore population views and interacts with the college campus. We investigate the conceptualizations of space using cognitive maps drawn by members of the Skidmore community. The assessment of space can then influence future developments and supports sustainable design and a strong Skidmore community.
Is the environmental movement really dead? We applied this question to Saratoga Springs and came to our own conclusion: It certainly is not! Saratoga Springs has a vibrant movement that thrives at the local level and addresses an array of environmental issues. Although environmentalism is not dead in Saratoga, the grassroots are transforming. We analyze the state of the movement and how it is continuing to flourish in a new way.
Rachael Bowen, Marie Nicol, and Will Conway (2014)
We investigated the identities and motivations of new farmers in the Hudson Valley to assess their potential political and economic impacts. Farmers had mixed reactions to their labeling as a social movement. Farmers shared a common love of the tangibility of farming and a common discontent with the current industrialized food system. They hoped to affect local economies, but were not motivated by the potential to alter the broader capitalist system.
Elizabeth Cohen, Olivia Powers, and Kana Miller (2014)
The local food movement seeks to create an alternative food system to address social and environmental concerns by rejecting large-scale, industrial agriculture. However, because of its emphasis on consumer purchasing power, it is often criticized for being elitist. We attempted to characterize the local food community in Saratoga Springs, New York and deconstruct the ways in which social culture contributes to both its accessibility and inaccessibility.
Jennifer Garvin, Faith Nicholas, and Lauren Schilling (2014)
We examined the current household hazardous waste (HHW) program of Saratoga Springs in the hopes of enhancing participation and expansion. We researched other municipal HHW programs in New York State and surveyed Saratoga Springs residents. Our study led us to the following recommendations: utilize permanent facilities within the community, hold collection days multiple times a year, and provide substantial educational material.
Economic Growth, Politics, and Comprehensive Planning
Josh Inaba, Katherine Rosman, and Leslie Velasquez (2014)
Saratoga Springs is challenged with planning for future development that balances growth and conservation of natural resources. We conducted a historical and qualitative analysis of the city’s comprehensive plans over the last 50 years and interviewed various stakeholders, and studied how the theory of sustainable development has been implemented. Despite conflicts between competing interests, the outcome of comprehensive plans and the work of local politicians have balanced economic, sustainability, and social goals.
Uncovering Environmental Injustice
Eliza Sherpa, Nicole Shepherd, and Janet Vidal (2014)
Literature on environmental justice (EJ) often fails to incorporate the perspectives
of underrepresented communities most affected by environmental ills. Our research
found differing definitions of EJ, a discrepancy between formal organizations and
community groups in terms of which issues were top priorities, and an overall division
between mainstream environmental movements and EJ communities. Repairing this divide
will require place-based knowledge through community-based participatory research.
The Buzz on Beekman: An examination of New Urbanism at the neighborhood level
Kate Johnson, Emily Culbert, and Sarah Arndt (2014)
Examining urban revitalization at a neighborhood level provides a manageable scale to assess whether development fosters relationships, builds community, and is sustained through multiple generations. We used the Beekman Street neighborhood on the west side of Saratoga Springs as a case study. Residents valued three key tenets of New Urbanism – walkability, mixed-use, and density – but were concerned with potential negative effects of increased commercialization.
Full report is not available. Please contact Karen Kellogg for more information.Backyard Chickens: Hipster Fad or Gateway to Sustainable Living?
Julietta Cole (2015)
This case study explores the relationship between backyard chickens in Saratoga County and environmental behavior in order to determine whether chickens are a fad or gateway to sustainable living. Interviews and surveys indicated that chicken owners are more likely to pay more for local, natural, and organic products, to grow their own food, to acquire more microlivestock, and to compost. The movement indicates a broader sustainable attitude.
Barriers to Affordable Housing and Sustainable Solutions: A Case Study of Saratoga Springs, New York
Lauren Bosche, Emily Durante, and Margaret Patterson (2015)The purpose of this research is to contextualize Saratoga Springs as a case study for finding sustainable solutions to housing problems commonly faced by cities that undergo urban renewal. Using archival research, we investigated the specific challenges that Saratoga Springs faces. Through interviews we gained an understanding of the obstacles that affect access to and development of affordable housing programs in the Saratoga Springs region.
Overseeing Oversight: Citizen Advisory Groups and the Hudson River PCB Superfund Site
Nick Hartmann, Sarah Hoenig, and Nandini Srinivasan (2015)
We gathered data about the Community Advisory group (CAG), a unique form of oversight designed to ensure the removal of PCBs from the Hudson River. Our results indicate that compared to traditional oversight, CAG members have more dedication, technical capacity, ability to expand the cleanup project, and ability to share knowledge. However, there is lack of public involvement, a lack of member commitment, and stakeholder bias.
Jewels O’Brien, Oliver Moffat, and Laura Mindlin (2015)
Growing research supports the positive effects of interaction with the natural environment
on stress, happiness, and other indicators of good mental health and cognitive functioning.
We investigated the effects of three weekly nature walks on a group of college students.
Our findings support the relationship between nature walks and mental health, and
can inspire the modern movement towards nature-based healing, leadership, and college
pre-orientation programming.
Public Perception of Crude Oil Transport via Rail in Saratoga County
Caroline Hobbs, Colton MacKay, Emily Mangan, & Christine Munisteri (2016)
Crude oil transport via rail has increased drastically over the past six years due to increased oil production in the Bakken Shale. Communities near rail lines experience heightened risk from its transport. We assessed public perception of risk regarding crude oil transport via rail in Saratoga County NY using surveys, semi-structured interviews, and GIS mapping. The data give us a better understanding of the general awareness of crude by rail transport and future needs of Saratoga County.
Paper is not available. For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.
Tackling the Challenge of Smarter Energy Design
Kyle Downey, Sam Holmberg, & Michaela Kerxhalli-Kleinfield (2016)
Traditional power generation and distribution via the macrogrid is outdated, inefficient, and susceptible to outages from natural disasters. Microgrids are localized grid systems capable of producing energy using small-scale sources. We analyzed microgrid development across NY State. Functionality, reliability, and cost-effective design were more important to participating communities than environmental considerations. Obstacles include financial and technological challenges along with lack of coordination and prior experience.
Got Local? Want Local? Consumer Marketing Analysis of Local Food
Rachel Dyckman, Olivia Gramprie, & Alyssa Hagerbrant (2016)
Local food (food grown within a region) is a growing environmental movement, and large food retailers are trying to capitalize on this trend. Retailers use food labels to capture consumer interest in local food. We evaluated local food availability in several cities within the Capital Region of New York State, and assessed how stores label and advertise local food. The majority of consumers will pay more for a local product, but availability and labeling vary widely among retailers.
Seeking Sovereignty: Migrant Farmworker Wellbeing in the New York Capital Region
Celeste Calderon, Brian Fredericks, & Olivia McKee (2016)
The US economy has relied on migrant labor since inception, particularly in agriculture, but little research exists on migrant farm workers. We conducted 45 interviews with migrant farm workers, employers, and service providers in the Capital Region of NY State. Migrant farm workers in this region face food sovereignty barriers. They employ methods of resilience and cultural preservation through backyard/small-scale agriculture, use of local services, and connections with a growing migrant community.
Energizing schools: A feasibility study of energy improvements for Saratoga Springs City School District (SSCSD)
Khalil Choukeir, Jack Curry, and Miary Rasoanaivo (2018)
The 6,000 public and private schools in New York State spend approximately $1 billion
annually on energy. We created an energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for SSCSD
and propose ways to reduce their energy costs and GHG emissions. The proposed LED
lighting project would save the school district $22,367 annually, with a <2-year payback
period. Proposed geothermal and solar thermal systems have longer payback periods.
Lastly, we propose a solar-powered sustainability park at the high school to be designed
and installed by the students and faculty.
Paper is not available. For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.
Weathering waste: Combined sewer overflows, community impacts, and climate change
in New York’s Capital District – Part A
Karen Nolan and Carolyn Koestner (2018)
Currently little data exist on the impacts of CSOs on winter water quality and of climate change on CSO events. We investigated the impacts of CSOs on water quality from November to March in the Capital District. Nitrate and phosphate levels were steady, however concentrations for ammonium were significantly higher in dry weather months. None of our samples, including non-CSO event samples, passed EPA standards for Escherichia coli, and few samples passed for Enterrococcus. Low turbidity levels did not necessarily indicate safe bacteria levels. Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of CSO events in this region and extend the season of CSO events into the winter months.
Julia Cavicchi, Olivia Golden, and Anne Pfeifenberger (2018)
New York’s Capital District has aging infrastructure and struggles to address the
impacts of combined sewer overflows. We spoke with stakeholders at various levels
and found that constituents were largely unknowledgeable of CSOs and the surrounding
concerns, despite being increasingly engaged in Hudson River water and riverfront
activities. We suggest a more holistic approach to combined sewer management that
accounts for greater socio-ecological equity, increased collaboration, and considers
alternatives to traditional sewage management practices.
Opportunities for Community Shared Solar in Saratoga County: Policy, Economics & Interest
Corey Brown and Henry Hoffmann (2018)
Community Shared Solar (CSS) is a rapidly growing form of renewable energy that allows
residential and small business customers to acquire shares of solar energy and receive
credits or savings on monthly electric bills. We analyzed the feasibility of a CSS
project in Saratoga County and found it is viable, as replicable models are feasible,
financial incentives are increasing, land parcels such as brownfields are available
for repurposing, and community interest is strong. Management remains the biggest
hurdle to short-term development.
Paper is not available. For more information, please contact the ESS Program Director.
Rafaela Iturralde, Urvi Kalra, Emily Meagher, Yesenia Olivares (2018)
In the face of increasing climate change threats, the way humans respond is key in
mitigation and adaption. By understanding what factors influence individuals in taking
pro-environmental behaviors, we can make systematic changes to encourage a future
generation of mobilized global citizens. We identified four prominent factors that
had the greatest effect on pro-environmental behaviors: education, cultural norms,
socio-economic status, and cross-cultural experiences. The results of this study are
presented in a short documentary film: .
Be-Forrest Too Late: Management Option for Reducing the Impact of Recreation in the
Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Complex
Greta Binzen, Colin Cameron, and Sam Vogel (2019)
Our research investigated preferences regarding management techniques for addressing
high-use in the High Peaks Wilderness Complex (HPWC) in the Adirondacks. Data was
gathered from 1200 public online surveys, semi-structured interviews with NGOs and
community influentials, and archival analysis. Members of the public and NGOs strongly
supported passive management such as increased funding, enhanced education, and trail
reconstruction. Similarly, both groups were split in support for more direct management
techniques.
Paper is not available. For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Shifts in Civic Engagement for the City of Saratoga Springs
Carol Hu and Allison Parra (2019)
Changing rates of civic engagement since the 2016 elections have been examined broadly
by researchers across the country, but no such research has yet been conducted for
the City of Saratoga Springs. Our results showed that overall, civic engagement among
both Democrats and Republicans has increased, with social media strategically utilized
among NGOs for organizational and communications purposes. Our findings and recommendations
address outreach strategies, education, and fundraising.
Sydney Gellerman, Linnea Harris, Charlotte Hood, and Malcolm Kaletsch (2019)
The purpose of this research was to estimate the level of surplus on small-sized farms
in the Capital Region and find markets for this surplus to serve low-income consumers
in Saratoga County. Significant food is left either unharvested or unsold on regional
farms while many residents of Saratoga County experience low food security. Both of
these issues could be alleviated by providing farms with the resources needed to cost-effectively
harvest and distribute surplus to serve those in need.
Bright Lights and Charged Cars: Improving Energy Efficiency in Saratoga Springs
Martha Belshaw, Michaela Bonforte, and Nick DeBlasio (2019)
Saratoga Springs has been a Climate Smart Community engaged in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and improving climate resilience since 2011, but there is room for improvement
in the city’s energy efficiency sector. The implementation of LED lighting in both
City building indoor lights and historic street lights, as well as the installation
of new EV charging stations, will increase the energy efficiency and decrease the
greenhouse gas emissions of Saratoga Springs, while expanding the sustainability portfolio
of the City.
Environmental Justice is Exhausting: 5 Decades of Air Pollution at Ezra Prentice Homes
in Albany New York
Haja Bah, Saima Hannan, Sophia Livecchi (2021)
Our case study research worked to better understand the historical and more contemporary environmental justice issues faced by the residents of Ezra Prentice Homes, a predominately Black, low-income community of color located in the south end of Albany, New York. Through narrative and archival analysis, and purposeful sampling we conducted semi-structured interviews with a diversity of stakeholders from both within and outside of this marginalized community.
Paper is not available. For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Adirondack Park
Olivia Berson, Andres Durante & Lucy Janovitz (2021)
We investigated diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Adirondack Park region of New York State. While the park is free and open to the public, not everyone who wants to access the Park has the ability to do so. Our research found that many programs and organizations are working to increase diversity and inclusivity in the park through education initiatives, more inclusive staff hiring and training, and efforts to make the park a more welcoming space for Indigenous communities in the region.