Author(s): Paul Kinzel; Jonathan Nelson; Richard Mcdonald; Brandy Logan
Linked Author(s): Jonathan Nelson
Keywords: Environmental flows; Fluvial geomorphology; In-channel habitat
Abstract: Competing demands for water resources place increasing emphasis on innovative interdisciplinary approaches for determining ecological requirements and monitoring river system response to management activities. The U. S. Geological Survey’s Platte River Priority Ecosystem Science (PES) Program was created to build an interdisciplinary team of scientists to examine linkages between hydrology, river morphology, biological communities, and ecosystem processes. The purpose of this paper is to present methodologies that have been developed as part of the Platte River PES Program including: (1) Use of aerial thermography to map crane distributions, providing input for both a crane energetics model and a connection between hydrogeomorphic processes and riverine roosting habitat. (2) The adaptation of an experimental Li DAR developed for coastal and marine surveying to mapping the Platte River’s dynamic, braided fluvial environments. (3) Monitoring the effects of management activities (vegetation clearing, sediment augmentation, and flow) on the physical and biological character of riparian and in-channel habitats. (4) Development of modeling software and field and laboratory testing of algorithms that couple flow, sediment transport, and morphologic evolution in river channels. As the habitat recovery program for the Platte River progresses and adaptive management is implemented, the U. S. Geological Survey will contribute predictive tools and scientific data to aid in developing strategies for sustaining and enhancing this vital ecosystem.
Year: 2010