Transcript Ledbetter - Online Geospatial Education Program Office

Geospatial Organization and
Access to Springs Survey Data
in Kaibab National Forest
Jeri Ledbetter, MGIS Candidate
Douglas Miller, Graduate Advisor
July 6, 2011
Why Study Springs?
• 17% of endangered animals, and
many rare species are springsspecialists
• Particularly in arid climates,
ecologically vital islands of habitat
that support high biodiversity and
endemism
• Enormous cultural and economic
significance
• Little inventory, assessment, or
understanding of springs ecology
and conservation
Springs support high species
richness and endemism
Inadequate Protection
• Groundwater depletion and
pollution
• Invasive species
• Mining
• Development
• Diversions
• Recreational use
• Grazing and trampling
• Climate change
Grand Canyon Wildlands Council Study in 2005
Springs Impairment
Management
Number % Impaired
All Springs
101
82.2
BLM Springs
28
100.0
NFS Springs
18
83.3
NPS Springs
49
69.4
6
100.0
Private Springs
Incomplete Mapping
• Arizona likely has the
highest density of
springs in the country
• Clustered
along escarpments
• NHD Database, AZ
State Land Office layers
incomplete
• 10,330 + ?
Inadequate Study
• Springs ecosystems are extremely complex
• Until recently, no consistent methodology for survey
and assessment of springs ecology–researchers
looking at their own versions of an elephant
• Very little comprehensive research of springs ecology
across a landscape
• What little information exists is fragmented and largely
inaccessible to land managers and researchers
Springs Inventory
Protocols
Stevens, Springer, and
Ledbetter 2010
Project Objectives
1) Develop a technological framework that will support collaborative
scientific efforts and conservation planning among local
watershed and conservation groups, Indigenous Tribes,
researchers, & agencies
• Complete development of and publish database based on protocols
developed by Stevens et al (2010)
• Develop portal with robust information about springs ecology and
research
• Design interfaces with geospatial tools for contribution and exploration
of springs data
2) Develop North Kaibab Ranger District as a prototype to demonstrate
how this technology will be applied to other landscapes
• Compile springs datasets into geodatabase
• Compile survey data into springs database through collaboration and data
mining
• Survey additional springs and locate unmapped springs
• Make data accessible through portal and geospatial tools
Springs Inventory Database
Springs Inventory Database
Portal at springstewardship.org
1. Provide information
about springs ecology
2. Publish survey
protocols to encourage
use of standard
methodology
3. Share data online
4. Provide communitybuilding technology
(forums, networking
tools, news updates) to
coordinate research
efforts
Online Geocollaboration
•Interactive maps
Current Study Areas
•Spatial query of data
•Contribution of data
Content Management System (Expression Engine)
•Facilitates online collaboration and sharing of data
•Controls access to data
•Allows multiple collaborators to edit content
Prototype - Kaibab National Forest,
North Kaibab Ranger District
>1000 square miles of rugged
terrain on the North Rim of Grand
Canyon, with >1300 meters vertical
relief
Previously unmapped spring
Compilation of Location Data
Sources
Agencies
US Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
Arizona State Land Office
USGS studies, NHD Database
Maps
DRGs
Forest Service Maps
USGS Topographic Maps
Previous Studies
Brown and Moran 1979
Grand Canyon Wildlands Council 2004
Grand Canyon Trust
Other Researchers
Glenn Rink, Botanist
Andrew Mouro, GIS Analyst
Larry Stevens
Steve Monroe, National Park Service
Robert Dye, backcountry hiker
Compilation of Data from Previous Surveys
Collected Using Different Protocols
Collaboration &
Partnerships
Agencies
Public documents – Environmental Impact Statements
Other Researchers – current work, past publications & theses
Springs Surveys May and June 2011
Site selection from 114 springs
•
•
•
•
•
Cluster analysis
Elevational histogram +/- 1850 meters
Applied random numbers
Prioritized sites with little or no data
Prioritized representation in each cluster
Located 6 unmapped springs and unmapped
aquifer. Full survey data for 70 springs.
Kaibab National Forest Interactive Map
Currently—WMS using GeoServer and OpenLayers
Future development—WFS with enhanced capabilities
Timeline
Peer-Reviewed
Article
Geospatial
tools
Develop
Portal
Database
6/11 7/11 8/11
Surveys/
compilation
9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11 1/12 2/12 3/12
Launch
prototype
Anticipated Results
Accessibility of comprehensive springs data
Community building through collaborative geospatial tools
Land Agencies
Predict impacts of events (fire, invasive species) using online maps
Predict impacts of management decisions
Researchers
Reduce duplication of effort through collaboration
Query data to analyze complex relationships of springs characteristics
Develop a better understanding of springs ecology
Predict effects of climate change
Conservation organizations
Predict potential impacts
Reduce duplication, increase collaboration
North Kaibab Ranger District
Prioritize springs restoration projects
Robust dataset of springs across a landscape
Applications –
Wildfire
Applications – Impacts from Nonnative Species
Photo by Jessica Pope
Geospatial Organization and
Access to Springs Survey Data
in Kaibab National Forest
Jeri Ledbetter, MGIS Candidate
Doug Miller, Graduate Advisor
more information and references at
springstewardship.org