GVSU Ravine Research The ravines are a beautiful resource which
should be protected, as well as a potential hazard to the
surrounding infrastructure of the university if not carefully
managed (Figure 1). The steep hillsides and ravines are
currently undergoing rapid erosion, down cutting, and widespread
slope instability. It is likely that this erosion is due, at
least in part, to an increase in storm water runoff, which is
directed to the ravines from impermeable surfaces such as
parking lots and walkways. Dr. John Weber has done previous
studies with students which suggest that the down cutting rate
over the past 40 years may be as much as an order of magnitude
greater than it was prior to the construction of GVSU (John
Weber, personal communication). Dr. Peter Wampler and student
summer scholar Patrick Womble are collecting data during the
summer of 2006 to better understand the affect GVSU urbanization
has had on the ravine system. Specific research questions that
we hope to answer include: - What is the