Meg du Bray Monica PaltaGraduate Student Post-doctoral Fellow

Rhian Stotts Amber WutichGraduate Student Associate Professor

Research Questions

To what extent do urban waterways provide hidden or unexpected services (provisioning, regulating, cultural)

for a vulnerable population?

To what extent does the urban ecosystem also put vulnerable people at risk?

Ecosystem Services and Disservices Environments provide goods and services to people

Provisioning services

Regulating services

Cultural services

“Natural” ecosystems vs. human-modified ecosystems

Ecosystem disservices

Unwanted or undesirable impacts

Biophysical vulnerability

Image source: semotimes.com

Social vulnerability

Image source: camelcitydispatch.com

Phoenix, AZ

Image source: en.wikipedia.org

Research Methods Informal/semi-structured interviews

Direct observation

Indirect observation Trash survey

Environmental variables Air temperature

Shade

Vegetation height/fullness/privacy

Water quality monitoring E. coli concentrations

Salt River, Phoenix

Image source: srp.net

Salt River, Phoenix

Image source: thesustainabilityreview.org

Supporting Services• Water provisioning Regulating Services

• Heat mitigation

Provisioning Services• Water consumption• Hygiene

Cultural Services• Aesthetic appeal• Lounging/rest area

Regulating Disservices• Not enough heat

mitigation

Provisioning Disservices• Exposure to

pathogens

Cultural Disservices• ?[trespassing laws]

Results: Services and Disservices

Results: Interviews

Respondent ID

Sex Age Shade?Heat

Mitigation?Bathing? Drinking? Teeth Brushing? Clothes Washing? Cultural Services

1 M 57 Y Y N N NSound of water relaxing; visual

beauty

2 M 46 Y Y Y Nbeauty of the

place

3 F 45 YY (would,

hasn't yet)

4 M 66 YY (bitter water)

YLikes to stay near

water

5 M 60 NN (aware of

contamination)

6 M 50s/60s Reading

7 M app. 50Y (before

algae bloom)N

Provisioning ServicesRegulating services Cultural services

Results: Services and Disservices

Conclusions and Suggestions Urban waterways are providing dis/services for

vulnerable populations

These dis/services may be increasing their vulnerability

Policy recommendations

Shelter services

Signs near urban waterways

Adjust city and county policies – align with UN

Research recommendations

Additional interviews

Thank you