Establishing GIS for Management in the Sauvie Island Wildlife Management Area, Oregon Jeremy Hruska Masters Degree in GIS Candidate Penn State University

Project Outline Introduction / Background Objectives Methods Anticipated Outcomes Potential Challenges Timeline

Sauvie Island Located 15 miles Northwest of downtown Portland, OR

Aerial Image of Sauvie Island 12,000 Acres (State-owned land) - Wetlands, Lakes, Fields Wildlife Preserve (Sturgeon Lake) Managed For: Recreation Bird Watching Hunting

Sauvie Island Management Area Stop-over for 150,000 migratory birds annually Within 15 miles of Portland metro area (Population: 1 million) Recreation uses include: Kayaking, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming, Boating, Biking, Hunting (8,000+ hunters annually)

Pictures

History of GIS at Sauvie Island Limited amount of current geospatial data Survey data is available (paper) Harvest data is available ( Excel spreadsheet ) No base data other than major features (Roads, ownership, some buildings, etc…)

Existing Maps

Project Objectives Develop an overall GIS application plan for the unit Adapt an existing standard to create a spatial-temporal database Collect and integrate relevant data resources Create a geospatially-integrated time series to facilitate analysis

GIS Application Plan Met with local managers to determine needs –Interview –Needs Assessment –GIS goals Met with State GIS Analyst to determine workflow

Spatial-Temporal Database Design Adapt a standard model for local use –Use only feature classes that would be necessary –Design database to make future data collection easier –Populate database National Wildlife Refuge Data Model

3 Personal Geodatabases 75 feature classes Still being developed Multiple feature classes to be used on National Level Identify feature classes that are relative to state management National Wildlife Refuge Data Model

Data Collection/Integration Aerial survey data Harvest reports GPS / Digitize –Aerial survey polygons –Hunt unit polygons –Vector features (Water control structures, blinds, gates, trails, roads, etc…)

Spatial-Temporal Analysis Compare data (old vs. new) –15 years of survey data Observe changes in bird usage –Population increase or decrease in specific areas –Harvest numbers increasing or decreasing Compare observations to previous management plans –10 year plans –Do changes in management change usage?

Methods System Design Field Data Collection Spatial Temporal Analysis of Historic Data

System Design Aerial survey data stored in tables –Species counts and locations by date –1993 – 2007* multiple times per year –Migrate to polygon feature class –Symbolize data based on survey numbers Harvest Data –Number and species of birds harvested per hunter and blind – –Migrate to polygon featureclass –Symbolize based on harvest information

Field Data Collection Capture using GPS –Bird Viewing Structures –Bridges –Water Control –Managed Wetlands –Trails QC and migrate to Database –Postprocessing –Enter into specific feature classes

Spatial-Temporal Analysis Create a series of maps that show change in: –Bird usage over time (based on aerial and harvest surveys) –Management changes to the landscape (increase and decrease of managed area) –Harvest increase and decrease Summarize analysis for management applications –Describe summary data to managers –Change Detection Map –Final report detailing how to understand the data

Anticipated Outcomes Use GIS data as part of management decisions –Use Initial GIS database as a tool Provide a database for future data storage –Guidelines for using GIS plan Management used to improve habitat –Improved management using GIS leads to better: Habitat, recreation, harvest, species diversity

Potential Challenges Seasonal closures could limit data collection efforts (Initially slowing project) Implementation in General –Software, Hardware, training, implementing usage Continuous update needed to keep data current External factors effecting long term strategy –Natural changes in migration GIS efforts may need to refocus on specific species –Changes outside of management area Increase or decrease in bird usage –Changes in seasons or limits Could change amount of harvest data that is collected

Timeline Spring 2007 – Meet with ODFW to discuss plan for GIS implementation Spring 2007 – Site visit to Sauvie Island to talk with managers Spring 2007 – Create base map of vegetation Summer 2007 – Analyze NWR Data model for applicable use Summer 2007 – Collect GPS data Summer 2007 – Migrate GPS data into database Summer 2007 – Migrate tabular data into GIS format Fall 2007 – Analyze data Winter 2007 – Compare Analysis results Winter 2007 – Meet with ODFW managers to discuss results Winter 2007 – Map results Winter 2007 – Update public use map