Abstract
GIS Application in Evaluating and Reporting on Watershed Health
Track: Ecology and Conservation
Author(s): Terry Chapman
Established in 1947, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is one of 36 non-profit watershed based conservation authorities within the province of Ontario Canada, and is responsible to 17 local municipalities. For 60 years the UTRCA has been working with local communities to ensure conservation, restoration and responsible management of water and land in a highly developed part of Southern Ontario facing pressure from urban and rural land uses.
UTRCA Watershed report cards were produced in 2001 and 2007 using a provincial indicator grading system to report on vast amounts of data and provide an understanding of subwatershed health over time. GIS is the primary tool used to develop and effectively present report card data. Data collection, update and analysis will be the focus of this presentation demonstrating the ability to “turn information into action” using a concise and easy to use state of the environment reporting format.
(http://www.thamEsriver.on.ca/Watershed_Report_Cards/Watershed_Report_Cards-2007.htm)
Terry Chapman
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
1424 Clarke Road
London , ON N5V NB9
Canada
Phone: (519)451-2800
E-mail: chapmant@thamEsriver.on.ca