watervulnerability

Gallatin National Forest Watershed Vulnerability Assessment, Northern Region (R1)
4. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology provided statewide surficial geology coverage.
What were the most important data deficiencies?
1. Data beyond forest boundaries.
− The mathematical equation used to develop the terrain sensitivity analysis will theoretically
work on any landscape, but currently has only been calibrated to a montane landscape. More
effort will be needed to modify the equation and more accurately characterize entire
subwatersheds that go beyond Forest boundaries.
− The R1 VMap dataset may have great potential in future runs of the WVA; unfortunately, this
is limited to the Forest boundaries and will likely stay that way.
2. Groundwater data would be extremely helpful for this analysis, particularly to identify areas with
buffering capacities to increased stream temperatures. Unfortunately, this data is currently lacking
and it will be very time-consuming to develop an accurate dataset.
3. Stream temperature data is also lacking on the GNF. We have only just begun a comprehensive
effort in collecting this data, which, along with local air temperature data, will be helpful in the
modeling and prediction of future stream temperatures.
4. Field validations will be essential when there is available time and money. The physical
characterization node of the WVA currently has only been “validated” by professional
knowledge.
What tools were most useful?
1. ArcGIS – Without this program, spatial analyses would have been severely limited, particularly
because open-source GIS programs are significantly less well-developed in user-friendliness,
tools, and options.
2. Google Earth is a useful tool to disseminate some of this spatial information for users who are not
GIS-savvy.
3. Video/phone conference calls, website and webinar technology greatly facilitated the group’s
information-sharing and coordination, especially with limited funds for agency travel.
What tools were most problematic?
1. Citrix and T:\ drive on the Forest Service network. When fully functioning, these are excellent
tools and make GIS more accessible for any Forest Service employee. Unfortunately, they have
not yet reached their full potential and instead have created numerous issues for GIS users.
2. ArcGIS often contains bugs and is not always the most intuitive for non-GIS people. New
versions also come out relatively often and are mostly incompatible with the previous versions.
This a non-issue for Forest Service employees utilizing Citrix, but can cause more issues when
working with external agencies that cannot keep up with the latest ArcGIS versions.
PROJECT TEAM
Joan Louie, GIS analyst/fisheries biologist (R1 Regional Office)
Scott Barndt, Forest fisheries biologist (GNF)
Mark Story, Forest hydrologist (GNF)
Tom Keck, Soil scientist (GNF)
44 Assessing the Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change