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Using
High Spatial Resolution Hyperspectral Imagery to Map
Estuarine Habitats along the Lower Columbia River
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The
Goal of this project, funded by the Lower
Columbia River Estuary Partnership, is to produce a spatial
data set describing the distribution of habitat cover types along
the lower 230 km of the Columbia River, from the mouth to Bonneville
Dam. To accomplish this, we are classifying several types of remotely
sensed imagery including: Landsat 7
ETM+, IRS pan, and CASI hyperspectral.
The
ability to resolve estuarine habitat features depends on the spatial
and spectral resolution of these types imagery. Since these images
of various spatial scales will be geometrically corrected (referenced
to real-world coordinates), together they will form a spatially
linked hierarchical data set.
Landsat
7 ETM+ imagery, which covers the entire study area, is too coarse
to resolve estuarine features less than 60-100 m in size. Therefore,
we will use the TM imagery to develop a broad-brush description
of the status of estuarine habitat cover classes and establish a
context for additional study. In addition, we will use the classified
TM data to prioritize areas in which finer-scale CASI imagery will
be collected and analyzed.
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We
relied on the help of 40 volunteers to (1) measure substrate and vegetation
'habitat types' in 16 X 16 m sample grids, (2) set out and GPs targets
that could be located in the imagery, and (3) make on-the-ground radiometric
measurements. |
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Results
from this study will be used by the Estuary Partnership and its cooperators
to: (1) develop indicators of "habitat health" and biological integrity;
(2) develop definitions of "critical salmonid habitat"; (3) identify
and evaluate potential wetland conservation and restoration sites;
(4) track exotic and invasive species; and (5) develop an understanding
of how estuarine and riverine habitats have changed over the past
200 years. This study focused on estuarine and riparian floodplain
habitat cover types, which are important to native species, particularly
juvenile salmonids. Results from this study are meant to provide support
for the multiple efforts currently underway to recover 12 species
of Columbia River salmonids identified as endangered or threatened
under the Endangered Species Act. |
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Timeline
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Landsat
7 TM |
CASI
& Digital Video |
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Imagery
acquired: Western Scene 24 MAR 2000 and the Eastern scene 07 JUL 2000 |
Imagery
Acquired: July 28-August 3, 2000 and July 2001 |
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Classification was completed
in October 2002
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Planned for 2002/03
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This
study was performed with the help of numerous volunteers and in
cooperation with
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Reports
and Publications
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Charles
'Si' Simenstad
Wetland
Ecosystem Team
School of Fisheries
University of Washington
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PowerPoint
Slide Show
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EPA
Coastlines Article: Remote
Sensing Used To Map Habitats on the Lower Columbia River |
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| Data
Availability All spatial data are available from the Lower Columbia
River Estuary Partnership, 811 SW Naito Pkwy, Suite 120, Portland,
OR 97240 (http://www.lcrep.org/).
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