Using Remote Sensing to Map the Evolution of Marsh Vegetation in ...

Using Remote Sensing to Map the Evolution ofMarsh Vegetation in the South Bay of SanFranciscoBrian FulfrostDesign, Community and Environment (DC&E)6 th Annual Bay-Delta Science Conference

PROJECT TEAMGIS and Remote Sensing of vegetation• Brian Fulfrost• Charlie LoyProject ManagerGIS AnalystMarsh Ecology• David ThomsonLead Biologist

OVERVIEW - Goals• 3 year pilot project (2009-2011) timedwith Phase One breaches­ Year One classification complete­ Year Two in progress• Goal was to build a semiautomated“model” to trackevolution of marsh vegetation andsediment as part of adaptiverestoration

OVERVIEW - Methods• Habitat Classification - CNPS RapidAssessment methodology tocharacterize spatial variability ofdominant marsh vegetation• Habitat Model - Satellite ImageInterpretation and supervisedclassification of Ikonos 1 metermultispectral Imagery• Habitat Ground Truthing (calibrationand validation) using sub meterTrimble GPS

HABITATS TO BE MAPPED

HABITATS TO BE MAPPEDExamples of Key Vegetative AlliancesPickleweedGumplantPepperweedInvading AlkaliBulrushAlkali HeathCordgrassAnnualPickleweed

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION - GPS BASED GROUND TRUTHING• Characterize commonand rare plantassociations based onsimple rules ofdominance• Digital surveys withTrimble Terrasync

YEAR 1 HABITAT GROUND TRUTHING

CALIBRATE WITH A RANGE OF DATASETSHabitatGround TruthingCity of San Jose‘08IKONOS TrueInvasive SpartinaProjectIKONOS FalseLIDAR (USGS)

HABITAT INTERPRETATION GUIDE OF MARSHESEX: Pickleweed /-Cordgrass• True colorsatellite image• False colorsatellite image• As seenon BingMaps

CREATE TRAINING SITES FOR CLASSIFICATION• Point taken infield with GPS• Digitized atComputer to createtraining site• Training sites used to identifyhabitat classification (ERDASIMAGINE)

YEAR 1 DRAFT HABITAT CLASSIFICATION

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION ASSIGNMENT REVIEW

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION ASSIGNMENT REVIEW

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION ASSIGNMENT REVIEW

MISASSIGNMENT—ALGAE/BIOFILM INFLUENCERecently Breached Pond A21Photo Credit: KAP cris’ (www.flickr.com/photos/kap_cris)

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES

YEAR 1 VERIFICATION GROUND TRUTHING

VERIFICATION IN THE FIELD

INVASIVE PEPPERWEED EXAMPLE – GOOD ASSIGNMENTPhoto Credit: KAP cris’ (www.flickr.com/photos/kap_cris)

YEAR ONE - GOOD VEGETATION ASSIGNMENTS• Island Ponds – Pickleweed and Spartina new growth.2009 – False Aerial Vegetation Assignment

NATIVE PERENNIAL PICKLEWEED – GOOD ASSIGNMENTPhoto Credit: KAP cris’ (www.flickr.com/photos/kap_cris)

YEAR ONE - GOOD VEGETATION ASSIGNMENT• Coyote Creek2009 – False Aerial Vegetation Assignment

INVASIVE PEPPERWEED EXAMPLE – GOOD ASSIGNMENTPhoto Credit: KAP cris’ (www.flickr.com/photos/kap_cris)

SEDIMENT MAPPING ISSUES WITH SATELLITE IMAGE• Optimal Satellite Acquisition at low tide (MLLW)• Low tide NDVI index image captures mud instead ofwater with suspended solids

HABITAT AND METHOD ISSUES1. Complex Levee Communities2. Minimum Mapping Unit3. (MMU) Spectral MixingNew ZealandSpinachSlenderleafIceplantMustardSaltwortand Radish

YEAR TWO PROGRESS UPDATE• Data Acquisition­ IKONOS imagery year 2­ New vegetative growth inbreached ponds• Refining habitat trainingsites• Refining habitatclassificationIsland Ponds Establishing New Vegetation Post Levee BreachPhoto Credit: KAP cris’ (www.flickr.com/photos/kap_cris)• Supplemental RapidAssessments

SATELLITE AQUISITION ISSUES FOR YEAR 2• Only 3 attempts at low tide (MLLW) with noon lighting­ June 18 th , optimal tide (Failed—too much cloud cover—EXbelow)­ July 4 th , good tide (Success—see EX below)­ July 18 th , unnecessary

YEAR 2 HABITAT GROUND TRUTHING

YEAR TWO - VEGETATION GROWTH FROM 2009-2010• Coyote Creek2009 2010

YEAR TWO - VEGETATION GROWTH FROM 2009-2010• Island Ponds2009 2010

YEAR TWO - VEGETATION GROWTH FROM 2009-2010• Bair Island2009 2010

YEAR TWO - VEGETATION GROWTH FROM 2009-2010• Alviso Slough2009 2010

2010 – Phase One breaches and adapative management• SF22009 2010

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS• Funding provided by:California State Coastal Conservancyand the US EPA, San Francisco BayWater Quality Improvement Fund inpartnership with the San FranciscoEstuary Partnership (SFEP)/Association of Bay AreaGovernments (ABAG)

SOUTH BAY SALT PONDRESTORATION PROJECTQuestions?Email: brian@dceplanning.com831-566-7686