You are here:
Rapid river classification using GIS-delineated functional process zones
Citation:
D'Amico, E., B. S. Williams, J. E. FLOTEMERSCH, J. H. Thorpe, AND J. H. Kastens. Rapid river classification using GIS-delineated functional process zones. Presented at ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, CA, July 12 - 16, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
Identification of these functional process zones provides a means for rapid river classification and improved reference site selection, condition assessment and ecosystem services evaluations.
Description:
Traditional classification of rivers does not take into consideration how rivers function within the ecosystem. Using factors such as hydrology and geomorphology that directly affect ecosystem structure and function, provides a means of classifying river systems into hydrogeomorphically-distinct river segments, or functional process zones, with unique community structure and ecosystem functions. In support of this river classification approach, we developed a GIS-based methodology that provides a consistent and efficient way to extract the necessary hydrogeomorphic variables from readily available data sources across different scales and river systems. The extracted variables were analyzed statistically to identify functional process zones within a river system with similar geological histories, hydrology and sediment regimes.