hre ecological assessment physical habitat model
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HRE Ecological AssessmentPHYSICAL HABITAT MODEL
Task 1:Physical Habitat Unit Model
Goal: Implement a physical habitat unit (PHU) model of the HRE within a GIS framework using four inputs.
◦ Bathymetry◦ Slope◦ Sediment Type◦ Sediment Environment
Purpose: Foundation for Hudson River Estuary (HRE) Ecological Assessment which will help identify priority areas for preservation/restoration.
Bathymetry – Depth Zones
Code Depth range * Class Name
1 MHHW to 1 meter elevation Supratidal (floodplain)
2 MHHW to MLLW Intertidal
3 MLLW to less than 2m Shallow Subtidal
4 2m to 10m Middle Subtidal
5 10m to 20m Upper Channel
6 Greater than 20m Lower Channel* Elevations greater than 1m excluded.
Generate a seamless 1 meter bathymetry surface from multiple data sources – then aggregate to 10 meter
Code Slope range Class Name
100 <2 deg Flat
200 2 – 5 deg Gently sloping
300 >5 deg Moderately to Steeply Sloping
Slope Classes
Generate slope surface from 10 m bathymetry
Sediment Type & Environment
Code Class Name 10 Muddy20 Sandy30 Gravelly
Code Class Name1000 Depositional2000 Erosional3000 DynamicExclude “Unsurveyed”
Sediment Type Sediment Environment
Physical Habitat Model Workflow
Depth (6)
Sediment Type (3)
Sediment Environment
(3)
Union
Merged features< 900 m2
with neighbors
151 Unique Habitat Units
(162 possible)
Slope (3)
Habitat N Depth Type Slope Env Habitat Unit Name
2101001000 2 10 100 1000 Intertidal, flat, muddy, depositional environment
4101002000 4 10 100 2000 Middle subtidal, flat, muddy, erosional environment
5101003000 5 10 100 3000 Upper channel, flat, muddy, dynamic environment
3101001000 3 10 100 1000 Shallow subtidal, flat, muddy, depositional environment
2201001000 2 20 100 1000 Intertidal, flat, sandy, depositional environment
Physical Habitat Units
Task 2: Ecological Assessment
Goal:
Characterize PHU patches to identify priority areas for preservation or restoration.
Plan:
Assess the current state of the PHU patches based on indicators of patch quality and exposure to current or potential threats.
Quality and Threat IndicatorsCIESIN will work with the various Target Ecosystem Characteristics (TEC) teams to identify quality and threat indicators based on each TEC team’s plan of action.
Three types:
◦ Biotic◦ Abiotic◦ Anthropogenic
(human infrastructure& activities)
Possible Query: SAV
Where are the PHUs with documented occurrence of submerged aquatic vegetation?
Of these, what is the dominant PHU type?
Where else does this PHU type occur?
Which of these locations have the greatest potential for restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation?
Determine which units are intact or degraded and which units are most in need of Target Ecosystem Characteristics (TEC) interventions.
Data Holdingsand Data Needs
Species inventories and significant habitats
◦ Submerged aquatic vegetation◦ Significant Coastal Fish and
Wildlife Habitats ◦ Fish distribution◦ Hudson River Tidal Wetlands◦ Breeding Bird Atlas/Survey
Threat Exposure
◦ EPA-regulated sites, e.g., superfund, brownfields, oil and toxic release sites
◦ Oil, gas, and other regulated wells
◦ Toxic Release Inventory
◦ SLOSH Model Storm Surge Zones
Data Holdingsand Data Needs
Do you have data you can share?
◦ Species abundance and distribution ?◦ Aquatic species
◦ Coastal marsh and floodplain species
◦ Data specific to tributaries ?◦ Locations of pipeline and other infrastructure ? ◦ Dredging and filling activities ?
Data Holdings and Data Needs
Thank you!
Linda Pistolesi
845.365.8799
lpistole@ciesin.columbia.edu
CIESIN Team
Malanding Jaiteh – Project Manager
Linda Pistolesi
Olena Borkovska
John Squires
Kytt Macmanus
Alyssa Fico
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