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“150 years of change” comparing pre-development and post-development wetland distribution in the SLRE
Citation:
Hollenhorst, T., D. Peterson, Dave Bolgrien, T. Angradi, M. Pearson, AND M. Starry. “150 years of change” comparing pre-development and post-development wetland distribution in the SLRE. Presented at St. Louis River Estuary Summit, February 26 - 27, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
This work contributes to the science needed to quantify changes in environmental conditions of EPA-designated Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes in response to restoration and remediation investments.
Description:
In 1841 Congress created the Lake Survey within the U.S. Army Topographic Engineers, which later became part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Survey was charged with conducting hydrographical surveys and preparing and publishing nautical charts and other navigation aids. As part of this effort the Saint Louis River was surveyed during the summer of 1861, with a detailed map published in 1863. This historic map was digitized, geo-referenced and classified into upland, flood plain, emergent, woody emergent and open water habitat classes. This was then compared to contemporary maps of the same classes derived largely from recent aerial photography. Areas (acres) of each class were then summarized by five operational zones defined by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as part of the AOC delisting framework. History of the Survey, along with summaries for each aquatic habitat class, pre and post development within zones will be discussed. We will also discuss how this information might inform the development of targets for habitat restoration as part of the BUI delisting process.