Sessions
Concurrent Session: Wetlands and water management
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Wed
Title: Hydrologically modified Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and applications in watershed planning
Abstract: Hydrologic conditioning refers to the modification of a bare earth Digital Elevation Model (DEM) through an iterative GIS processing method to better represent the movement of surface water within a watershed. A hydrologic modified DEM is the basis for applications like the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) or Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application (PTMApp) used to leverage geospatial data to inform the process for watershed management. Specifically, a hydrologic modified DEM can be used to prioritize areas or issues of resource concern, target locations for implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) and provide an estimation of measurable impacts. Wetland-specific BMPs include constructed and restored wetlands that function as sediment and nutrient retention wetlands. Additional practices, such as source reduction, may uplift ecological function of existing wetlands. These data products can be used in conjunction with field practitioner and landowner knowledge to facilitate conservation efforts relative to wetlands and their ecological functions within a watershed. Additional work is needed to provide case studies that implement these applications.
Bio: Michael Knudsonās research integrates environmental field monitoring together with geographic information systems. This work includes applying satellite imagery to measure changes in surface water, using digital elevation models (DEM) to develop habitat suitability indices for rare wetland plant species, and most recently developing wetland functional models and application of hydrologically modified DEM.