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Track: Natural Resources and Conservation
Michael Binkley
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242-0001
Telephone: 330-865-0637
Fax: 330-672-4304
E-mail: mbinkley@kent.edu
Delineation and Preservation of Wetlands with GIS and Remote Sensing
There exists much interest in the preservation of wetlands due to federal or local regulation, as well as through popular support. Regardless of different and sometimes conflicting interests, there is a consensus that wetlands are in need of protection because of their ephemeral nature. The current state of remote sensing is capable of constructing timely inventories of wetland areas at the subcounty level. Furthermore, with the analytical functions present in a geographic information system (GIS), the monitoring, mapping, and planning needs associated with wetland protection can be addressed more efficiently. This paper presents a case study that employs Landsat Thematic Mapper and SPOT satellite imagery to create a current wetlands coverage for Portage County, Ohio. Ancillary data coverages consist of zoning information, endangered species habitat, and groundwater potential. Manipulation of the four coverages utilizes the spatial analytic functions unique to a GIS. Wetland areas in need of
immediate protection due to improper zoning practices are identified. Areas whose protection would satisfy regulatory pressures and provide additional benefits, such as groundwater recharge or habitat protection, are identified as well.
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