Mapping Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Using Single-beam Sonar: Application for Natural Resource Management in Washington State
Presentation Abstract
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) provides important ecological functions for many marine organisms including fish, invertebrates, and birds. As a major marine land manager for the state of Washington, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is charged with providing economic and recreational opportunities for the state’s residents, while protecting environmental resources for future generations. In order to manage protected marine vegetation, the DNR Aquatic Assessment Monitoring Team (AAMT) is developing remote sensing techniques using a single-beam sonar system for monitoring SAV and physical site characteristics. Acoustic methods are advantageous because they are capable of high-resolution tidal and sub-tidal habitat mapping. Also, due of the speed and ease of data collection, single-beam sonar allows for investigations at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Current study sites are located in nearshore habitats throughout the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay. Geo-referenced data are collected and processed to determine vegetative distributions and habitat characteristics at each site. We will map the occurrence of SAV to determine patch characteristics and associate changes in distributions with physical site properties and water quality parameters. These results can inform management decisions for the placement of buffer zones around protected marine vegetation, and provide information on the magnitude and source of vegetative patch dynamics.
Session Title
Session S-07E: Aquatic Vegetation
Conference Track
Habitat
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Aquatic plants--Washington (State)--Remote sensing; Natural resources management areas--Washington (State)--Remote sensing
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Washington (State). Department of Natural Resources
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Washington (State)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Mapping Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Using Single-beam Sonar: Application for Natural Resource Management in Washington State
Room 6C
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) provides important ecological functions for many marine organisms including fish, invertebrates, and birds. As a major marine land manager for the state of Washington, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is charged with providing economic and recreational opportunities for the state’s residents, while protecting environmental resources for future generations. In order to manage protected marine vegetation, the DNR Aquatic Assessment Monitoring Team (AAMT) is developing remote sensing techniques using a single-beam sonar system for monitoring SAV and physical site characteristics. Acoustic methods are advantageous because they are capable of high-resolution tidal and sub-tidal habitat mapping. Also, due of the speed and ease of data collection, single-beam sonar allows for investigations at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Current study sites are located in nearshore habitats throughout the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay. Geo-referenced data are collected and processed to determine vegetative distributions and habitat characteristics at each site. We will map the occurrence of SAV to determine patch characteristics and associate changes in distributions with physical site properties and water quality parameters. These results can inform management decisions for the placement of buffer zones around protected marine vegetation, and provide information on the magnitude and source of vegetative patch dynamics.
