Abstract

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Paper
Deriving Wetland Catchments from Bare-Ground LIDAR
Track: Water Resources
Author(s): Janet Gritzner

GIS hydrologic modeling is used to further understanding of surface-flow characteristics in glacially disturbed landscapes. A high resolution LIDAR-derived DEM supplied elevation data for a 78 square mile study area in the Devils Lake Basin, ND. Conditioning procedures in hydrologic modeling normally creates depressionless DEMs. To maintain the integrity of wetland depressions, a mask that identifies the location and extent of real depressions was first generated and, from it, a seed grid derived. The sink mask was attributed with data on maximum depth, average depth, volume, and surface area for each sink as well as code, count, and surface area information from National Wetland Inventory (NWI) datasets. A modeling process was developed in ModelBuilder that applied the mask in the conditioning phase of hydrologic modeling and produced as outputs vector drainages and wetland catchments. Various mask scenarios were tested and the derived catchments evaluated. Problems of road embankments were addressed.

Janet Gritzner
South Dakota State University
Department of Geography
Box 504 - South Dakota State University
Brookings , SD 57006
US
Phone: 605-688-4643
Fax: 605-688-4030
E-mail: janet.gritzner@sdstate.edu