GIS in Riparian Resource Management: Case Study of the Upper Delaware Scenic Recreational River Shannon L. Thol Pennsylvania GIS Conference | June 16,

GIS in Riparian Resource Management: Case Study of the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River Shannon L. Thol Pennsylvania GIS Conference | June 16, 2015 Introduction National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (UPDE) Penn State University Online Geospatial Education Program Carla Hahn National Park Service Jamie Myers National Park Service Jim Detwiler Penn State University Statement of the problem UPDE personnel need a system that will allow them to assess land use/land cover conditions throughout the river corridor. Web-based Up-to-date Anthropogenic & environmental data Overall Goal Develop GIS for the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River. Create framework for using GIS in riparian resource management. Prototype Overview Application Link Riparian Assets Attenuate flooding Stabilize shorelines Regulate water quality Provide habitat for wildlife Shade aquatic environment Facilitate ground water exchange Riparian areas are defined as vegetated ecosystems along a water body through which energy, materials, and water pass. ~Environmental Protection Agency Riparian areas are defined as vegetated ecosystems along a water body through which energy, materials, and water pass. ~Environmental Protection Agency Image source: nps.gov GIS in Riparian Management GIS represents a powerful methodology for improving the operations of water resources planning agencies (Goulter and Forrest, 1987, Wat. Sci. Tech. 19-9) Image sources: USDA, tama.edu, swift-lang.org Collaborative Engagement National Wild & Scenic Rivers System created in 1968 Preserve & protect designated rivers: Free-flowing condition Special character Appropriate use and development 2015 statistics: 203 rivers 12,598 miles of river 39 states & Puerto Rico Delaware River The longest and one of the cleanest rivers in the Eastern United States that remains undammed the length of its mainstem. ~National Park Service The longest and one of the cleanest rivers in the Eastern United States that remains undammed the length of its mainstem. ~National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (UPDE) 1978 National Scenic and Recreational River 73.4 miles of river 55,575 acres (>99% privately owned) Photo credit: Scott Rando UPDE 15 towns/townships ~ 40,500 people ~ 870 mile 2 ~ 47 people/mile 2 Hancock Fremont Delaware Cochecton Tusten Highland Lumberland Deerpark Buckingham Manchester Damascus Berlin Lackawaxen Shohola Westfall Sullivan County PA NY Delawar eCounty Wayne County Pike County Orange County 2 miles Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River Census Places Collaborative Management 1986 River Management Plan Land and Water Use guidelines Management partners: National Park Service Upper Delaware Council Local & state government [Private landowners] National Park Service Duties: Review proposed land use change/development projects Provide technical assistance to townships GIS Project review process Decision about proposed project. Proximity to significant riparian assets or sensitive areas? Adherence to Land & Water Use Guidelines? Adherence to municipal land use/zoning regulations? Where is it park boundary, administrative setting? Project proposal received. Aims & Approach 2 - Use insights gained to develop a framework for incorporating GIS into the routine management of partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers. 1 Develop a GIS for UPDE to aid in project review and thereby contribute to natural resource stewardship. Aims & Approach Assess needs Focus groups etc. Create system Review lessons learned Develop framework Framework Audience Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers Managed via partnerships between: Adjacent communities State & local governments The National Park Service Communities protect their own outstanding rivers and river-related resources. ~National Park Service Communities protect their own outstanding rivers and river-related resources. ~National Park Service Framework Intentions Process oriented Instructive without being prescriptive Tailored to riparian management Rigorous but accessible Framework Overview Phase 1 - Plan Phase 2 - Prepare Phase 3 - Build Phase 4 - Implement Phase 5 - Maintain Framework Overview Review regulations Identify users of the system Articulate required functionality Define system vision Phase 1 - Plan Phase 2 - Prepare Phase 3 - Build Phase 4 - Implement Phase 5 - Maintain UPDE Regulations Example from River Management Plan UPDE Users & Functionality Users National Park Service staff Upper Delaware Council staff Town supervisors Code enforcement officers [Public] Functionality Geocode addresses Map GPS coordinates Control layer visibility Identify features Measure features Filter or query attributes Edit point data GIS UPDE - Vision Conditions at project review location. DATA INFORMATION Effective and efficient decision support tool for project review. Framework Overview Identify information needs Collect/locate data Process/analyze data Phase 1 - Plan Phase 2 - Prepare Phase 3 - Build Phase 4 - Implement Phase 5 - Maintain Administrative setting: In UPDE boundary? Wild/scenic classification? County & township? Zoning designation? Relevant ordinances? Administrative setting: In UPDE boundary? Wild/scenic classification? County & township? Zoning designation? Relevant ordinances? UPDE Information Needs Address Lon/Lat Landscape conditions: Land cover? Landscape metrics? Land use (parcel)? Elevation and slope? Flood risk? Watershed conditions? Landscape conditions: Land cover? Landscape metrics? Land use (parcel)? Elevation and slope? Flood risk? Watershed conditions? Physical context: Roads Public lands Wetlands Hydrology Trails Conservation easements Others Physical context: Roads Public lands Wetlands Hydrology Trails Conservation easements Others InformationDataSource In UPDE boundary?UPDE_Corridor_BoundaryNPS (UPDE Geodatabase) Zoning designation?Zoning maps/shapefilesCounties & townships Watershed conditions? National Hydrography Dataset & National Land Cover Datatset To be derived Wild/scenic classification?WildScenicClassif_LandRefNPS (UPDE Geodatabase) County & township?County & Places shapefilesU.S. Census Bureau Land use (parcel)?Tax parcels shapefilesCounties & townships Elevation and slope?Digital Elevation ModelPAMAP, National Elevation Dataset Flood risk?Flood insurance rate mapsFEMA Roads?State DOT roads, TIGER/Line roadsPA DOT, NY DOT, U.S. Census Public lands? State Forest & Game Lands (PA), State DEC Lands (NY) PA & NY GIS repositories Wetlands?National Wetland InventoryFish & Wildlife Service Hydrology?National Hydrography DatasetUSGS Lands in conservation easement? National Conservation Easement Database U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities UPDE Park Boundary Data Delineate UPDE Boundary. UPDE Local Zoning Data Collect & integrate zoning data. 15 towns in 5 counties Framework Overview Phase 1 - Plan Phase 2 - Prepare Phase 3 - Build Phase 4 - Implement Phase 5 - Maintain UPDE Design/Develop/Review Design considerations: Accessibility Security Cost Development: ArcGIS Online Web AppBuilder Review Prototype demonstration/technology seminar Survey of frequent users Image source: Esri Framework Overview Create user guide Conduct training Disseminate system Phase 1 - Plan Phase 2 - Prepare Phase 3 - Build Phase 4 - Implement Phase 5 - Maintain Framework Overview Develop maintenance plan Improve stakeholder relationships Phase 1 - Plan Phase 2 - Prepare Phase 3 - Build Phase 4 - Implement Phase 5 - Maintain Hypothetical Project Review The National Park Service proposes building a 5,000 ft 2 paved parking lot on their property at 1152 River Road, Milanville, PA. Project review questionsInsights from system In river corridor? W&S Designation? Town/ship and county? Zoning designation? Flood hazard area? Slope? Land cover? Parcel size and ownership? Distance to river/stream? Project Review Demonstration Application Link Hypothetical Project Review The National Park Service proposes building a 5,000 ft 2 paved parking lot on their property at 1152 River Road, Milanville, PA. Project review questionsInsights from system In river corridor?Yes (~850 feet east of border) W&S Designation?Recreational section Town/ship and county?Damascus Township, Wayne County Zoning designation?Damascus River District Flood hazard area?1% and 0.2% annual chance flood hazard areas Slope?Areas of restrictive slope near creek Land cover?Mix (residential developed, floodplain forest, river) Parcel size and ownership?1.743 acres, United States of America Distance to river/stream?Stream flowline passes through parcel Conclusions Effective and efficient decision support tool for project review. Future Directions Higher resolution land cover data Application customization Extend the tool: Priority conservation areas Incorporate landscape metrics Monitor invasives Incorporate technology into park resource management and education efforts. UPDE Landscape Metrics 12-Digit HUCs (subwatersheds) Land cover + Metrics: 1)Percent developed land 2)Percent natural vegetation 3)Percent core forest 4)Percent edge forest Land cover and forest conditions in watershed units. UPDE Landscape Metrics Identifying relevant HUC12 (sub)watersheds. UPDE Landscape Metrics Computing land cover in subwatersheds. UPDE Landscape Metrics Computing land cover in subwatersheds. Zonal statistics for subwatersheds UPDE Landscape Metrics Computing land cover in subwatersheds. UPDE Landscape Metrics Image source: European Commission Joint Research Forest Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA): Image geometry - connectivity Proxy for forest condition UPDE Landscape Metrics Analyzing forest conditions in subwatersheds. Acknowledgements Jim Detwiler Penn State University Jamie Myers National Park Service Carla Hahn National Park Service County GIS & Planning Offices Kristina Heister Don Hamilton Travis ODell Members of Upper Delaware Council Questions?