Abstract
Modeling Coastal Wetland Change Due to Lake Level Fluctuations
Track: Water Resources
Author
Much has been done in the current Great Lakes region to understand lake level change. However, historical information has been lacking. A model was needed to aid in understanding how the entire system was working. I created an integrated digital elevation and bathymetry model of Lake Ontario. From this I was able to use historic lake level data from 1860 to present, to generate, by association, an estimate of coastal wetland change due to lake levels. The model helped to determine the effect that control structures had on the extreme highs and lows of the lake. The goal of this study was to create a baseline analysis and methodology for future studies on wetland change on Lake Ontario. Results of this study indicate an average change in lake surface area of 123 square kilometers between pre and post dam periods, based on 148 annual calculations.
Justin Cole
Monroe County
50 West Main St Suite 7100
Rochester, New York 14614
United States
Phone: 5857537504
Fax: 5853244269
E-mail: jcole@monroecounty.gov
Karl Korfmacher
Rochester Institute of Technology
85 Lomb Memorial Dr
Gosnell 08 Rm 2102
Rochester, New York 14623
United States
Phone: 585-475-5554
E-mail: kfkscl@rit.edu