Assessing wetland condition on a watershed basis in the Mid-Atlantic Region using synoptic land-cover maps

被引:51
作者
Brooks, RP [1 ]
Wardrop, DH [1 ]
Bishop, JA [1 ]
机构
[1] Penn State Univ, Penn State Cooperat Wetlands Ctr, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
关键词
wetlands; watersheds; land cover; condition assessment; Mid-Atlantic Region;
D O I
10.1023/B:EMAS.0000016876.63062.3d
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
We developed a series of tools to address three integrated tasks needed to effectively manage wetlands on a watershed basis: inventory, assessment, and restoration. Depending on the objectives of an assessment, availability of resources, and degree of confidence required in the results, there are three levels of effort available to address these three tasks. This paper describes the development and use of synoptic land-cover maps (Level 1) to assess wetland condition for a watershed. The other two levels arc a rapid assessment using ground reconnaissance (Level 2) and intensive field assessment (Level 3). To illustrate the application of this method, seven watersheds in Pennsylvania were investigated representing a range of areas (89-777 km(2)), land uses, and ecoregions found in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Level I disturbance scores were based on land cover in 1-km radius circles centered on randomly-selected wetlands in each watershed. On a standardized, 100-point, human-disturbance scale, with 100 being severely degraded and 1 being the most ecologically intact, the range of scores for the seven watersheds was a relatively pristine score of 4 to a moderately degraded score of 66. This entire process can be conducted in a geographic information system (GIS)-capable office with readily available data and without engaging in extensive field investigations. We recommend that agencies and organizations begin the process of assessing wetlands by adopting this approach as a first step toward determining the condition of wetlands on a watershed basis.
引用
收藏
页码:9 / 22
页数:14
相关论文
共 14 条
[1]  
Adamus P.R., 1990, EPA600390073 ENV RES, P406
[2]  
Brinson MM, 1993, HYDROGEOMORPHIC CLAS
[3]  
BROOKS RP, 1999, EPA600R98181, P30
[4]  
BROOKS RP, 2002, WATERSHED BASED WETL, P141
[5]   REGIONAL REFERENCE SITES - A METHOD FOR ASSESSING STREAM POTENTIALS [J].
HUGHES, RM ;
LARSEN, DP ;
OMERNIK, JM .
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, 1986, 10 (05) :629-635
[6]  
KARR JR, 1997, 235R97001 EPA U WASH, P149
[7]  
KENTULA ME, 1992, WETLANDS APPROACH IM, P151
[8]  
LEIBOWITZ SG, 1992, EPA600R92167 ENV RES, P127
[9]   Effects of landscape patterns on biotic communities [J].
Miller, JN ;
Brooks, RP ;
Croonquist, MJ .
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY, 1997, 12 (03) :137-153
[10]  
National Research Council, 2001, Compensating for wetland losses under the clean water act, DOI 10.17226/10134