GIS-based River Habitat Mapping in the Obed Wild and Scenic River

Paul Ayers, University of Tennessee

• Use kayak-mounted underwater videomapping system

• Develop river habitat maps at OBRI from:– Barnett Bridge to Nemo (Clear

Creek/Obed/Emory)

• Other underwater videomapping projects with NPS

GPS-Instrumented KayakAcquires Georeferenced above and below water video and depth sonar

Geo-referenced Image Recording

Media-Mapper Audio output

(GPS output)

Audio Input (GPS input)

Rear

Fro

nt

GPS

Video input

Splash Cam

DVD Recorder

GPS NMEA Data (ASCII)

Georeferenced Underwater Image

Using underwaterlasers to determinedepth and scale(dot spacing is 7.75 inches) 1.5 to 2.5 ft

< 1.5 ft

Kayaking Clear Creek

RiffleRiffle

RunRun

PoolPool

River CharacteristicsRiver Characteristics

Full Extent: River CharacteristicsClear Creek (Lily to Canoe Hole)

Substrate Classification

Full Extent: Substrate Determinations

Clear Creek (Lily to Canoe Hole)

Endangered Species Habitat Maps

• Spotfin Chub

• Dusktail Darter

• Cumberland Elktoe

• Cumberland Bean

• Cumberlandian Combshell

• Tan Riffleshell

• Littlewing Pearlymussel

Ideal Habitat: Spotfin Chub (Erimonax Monachus)

•River Characteristic: Run

•Depth: <1.5 ft

•Substrate: Bedrock/fines & Boulder

Other Projects:

BISO River Habitat Mapping(Canoe and Kayak)

Endangered Mussel Habitat

Canoeing with Drop-down Camera

Cumberland BeanPool, Run, Riffle Habitat Range of Cumberland Bean

Pool Riffle Run

Suitability poor optimal suboptimal

River Depth

Optimal 0.6m (2 ft)

Suboptimal 0.3m (1 ft)

Marginal 0.9m (3 ft)

Substrate Classification

Substrate Classification

Suitability

Clay/Silt Dominance of silt and clay filling the void around any larger substrate

unsuitable

Sand with < 20% cobble optimal

Sand with 20% – 80% cobble suboptimal

Sand with > 80% cobble marginal

Gravel with < 20% cobble marginal

Gravel with 20% – 80% cobble poor

Gravel with > 80% cobble poor

Boulders or Bedrock

unsuitable

Optimal Habitat

Map

T&E Species Habitat Mapping

• Duskytail Darter (endangered)

• Smoky Madtom (endangered)

• Yellowfin Madtom (threatened)

• Spotfin Chub (threatened)

Biscayne NP (BISC)Motorized Reel Underwater Video

Coral Reef Mapping and Monitoring

GPS

Receiver

ConsoleDepth Sensor

Boat and Equipment

Underwater Cameraand Sensors

Benthic Habitats

Sturgeon Habitat Mapping - TN

That’s Enough

• Thanks!• Questions?• Lunch?• Projects?