Like many of my colleagues at ANS, I have a second life as a student. In that role, I've spent the last couple of months learning how to make maps, or more accurately, learning a little about how to use the amazing technology known as Geographic Information Systems (or GIS.)
The class has reminded me of what a valuable tool GIS is for the scientists, planners, and stakeholders working to understand watersheds. Thanks to GIS products, we are now able to map, classify, and analyze the many aspects of a river and its watershed in ways that could not have been dreamed of even a few years ago.
Twenty-first century technology has completely changed the way maps are made and the way they are used. No longer are paper maps and surveying instruments the standard equipment for ecologists and other watershed investigators. Satellites and computers now tease the details out of every square inch of real estate. Organizing this information into "thematic layers," GIS allow us to answer all sorts of questions and plan countless scenarios.
From the beginning, the DRWI has relied on this "geospatial" technology to set priorities and understand the relationships of our complex watershed. The ANS-DRWI database is built around observations across the Basin, all linked by geographical and spatial information. At the same time, the DRWI is making use of sophisticated GIS based models like Mapsheds and Wiki-Watershed, giving us new insights into how our watershed operates.
This not the last word on GIS, however, as researchers are working to expand the capacity of these technologies. In the recent request for proposals by the Delaware Watershed Research Fund, many of the proposed research projects included the use of computer based geospatial modeling and decision making tools. We can look forward to the next generation of technologies.
As I complete my GIS class assignment, I have new respect for my colleagues who use these complex tools and a great appreciation for the fact that the questions that perplexed past scientists and explorers can now be answered with the click of a button.
- Roland Wall
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Here at the Academy, we are getting ready for another year of DRWI water quality monitoring. In the past three years, field teams from ANS and Stroud Water Research Center have completed over 1,000 sampling events at 166 sites, collecting data on fish, algae, macroinvertebrates and water chemistry, as well as in-stream and riparian habitat. Data collection performed by our partner cluster groups adds samples from over 200 sites to the ever-growing DRWI dataset. As we endeavor to move the monitoring effort into its next phase, the same few questions often arise. Why focus on the ecosystem of streams? Why does it matter if biological indicators such as a healthy fish and aquatic insect communities respond? Can't we just stick to monitoring for reductions in nutrients and sediments? But, most importantly, w
hy are we doing so much monitoring?
Project Science Director Dr. Stefanie Kroll responds and tells us more about the method behind the DRWI "Yardstick."
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Macroinvertebrate Madness!
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Stonefly nymph casing found at
Ten
Mile River, NY
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In this issue of Stream Samples we begin a series of short reports on emerging findings from our baseline data analyses of 2014.
In the spirit of spring emergence, our first focus is on
macroinvertebrates
. Macroinvertebrates are used as indicator species because they respond to environmental stressors, they are present throughout the world's inland waters, there are well-developed identification keys for most regions, and they are diverse.
The DRWI's macroinvertebrate sampling and identification is led by Stroud Water Research Center, using a process that has been refined to reduce variability due to local habitat patch conditions. Over the years, many of our cluster partners have learned these techniques for sampling and sorting by visiting Dr. John Jackson's lab. If your group is sampling macroinvertebrates in 2016 and has not been trained, contact Kathryn Christopher.
Macroinvertebrate data from sampling sites that relate to specific restoration and conservation projects ("project sites") are helping us characterize these sites, and we have found that the
data are somewhat consistent with 2013 findings from "Integrative" sites, which were analyzed to characterize the baseline conditions of each cluster. This is indicated in this graph of the Macroinvertebrate Aggregated Index for Streams (MAIS) Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) scores by cluster sites.
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The ANS Stream Team attended the
2016 Watershed Congress Along the Schuylkill River
on March 12 at Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown, Pa.. Roland Wall, Kathryn Christopher, Greg Barren and Scott Haag presented an overview of the DRWI monitoring effort, with a focus on algae as bioindicators and a look to planning the future of the Initiative. For more information on the Congress, visit the Delaware Riverkeeper Network's website.
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Wednesday, March 30
8:30 am-1:30 pm
Franklin Commons
400 Franklin Avenue, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Find out how to address stormwater (and save money!) by working with nature. Learn from land planners, engineers, and municipal officials about successful case studies that improved the environmental sustainability of their community while saving money with green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). This workshop is sponsored by
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Inc.,
Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and
Green Valleys Watershed Association. For more information, click
here or contact
Virginia Vassalotti.
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Geotourism on the Delaware
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National Geographic and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) are partnering with local organizations to launch a new geotourism initiative, "
Scenic, Wild Delaware River." This interactive MapGuide will highlight spots and attractions unique to the upper and middle Delaware River region to promote tourism that "sustains or enhances the geographical character" of the Delaware River. Click
here to nominate your favorite go-to's!
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Have a cool photo to share with DRWI partners? Need us to help spread some important news? Contact Kathryn Christopher for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of Stream Samples.
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Quick Link
The
DRWI Mapper is available whenever you need it. Contact
Lin Perez with any questions or comments.
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Miss an issue?
Access past
Stream Samples updates on the
newsletter page of our website.
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Data Access:
Project Science or Research:
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