Justice and the River: Community Connections to an Impaired Urban River in Salt Lake City

Author

Taya L. Carothers, Utah State UniversityFollow

Date of Award:

12-2018

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Environment and Society

Committee Chair(s)

Mark Brunson

Committee

Mark Brunson

Committee

Claudia Radel

Committee

Jessica Lucero

Committee

Joanna Endter-Wada

Committee

Sara Yeo

Abstract

Local communities have the right to participate in decision-making about environmental resources near where they live. Local governments have tried to gather feedback from communities to help improve the decisions they make, but have not always done a good job getting feedback from minority or urban communities. This dissertation provides one step toward obtaining this kind of public input in a majority minority community surrounding the Jordan River in Salt Lake City. Children and adults participated in this research. I present findings from two surveys, from work with children, and from adult interviews to understand how this community relates to their local river, what they like and do not like about it, and what they would like to see improved.

This research revealed that communities have both positive and negative views of the river, but overall see it as an important community resource that is highly valued. Communities would like to participate more in river decision-making and have suggestions for how they would like to see that happen. The results in this dissertation can help bridge the gap between local city government officials and this minority community to help improve the river environmental quality and connections to the community.

Checksum

bb3f13e7d1d2b255e5a4fc1aa58ebca1

Recommended Citation

Carothers, Taya L., "Justice and the River: Community Connections to an Impaired Urban River in Salt Lake City" (2018). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 7381.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7381