Date of Award
5-2018
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Geography and Planning
Advisor/Committee Chair
Alexander Buyantuev
Abstract
The canal system of New York State served as a catalyst for industry and generated a significant amount of revenue over the course of its useful life as a public work. However, with the emergence of faster, more efficient methods of transport, much of the canal was abandoned or filled during the early 1900’s.While these portions of the canal no longer offer their former economic value as a trade route, the land they once inhabited continues to serve the surrounding communities in a variety of ways. This paper in particular focuses on the Cultural Ecosystem Services provided by the land on and around the canal path as seen through a modern lens. Using the USGS generated software, Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES), we evaluated the predetermined study area for both recreational and aesthetic value. The findings of the study indicate that the land areas associated with historic canal features have relatively high recreational and aesthetic values, supporting the hypothesis that sites of historic significance continue to provide social benefits long after their originally intended purpose has been fulfilled.
Recommended Citation
Corbeil, Madison, "The Legacy of the Historic Canal System in Central New York: Evaluation of Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Lower Mohawk River, NY" (2018). Geography and Planning. 4.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/honorscollege_gp/4