Geography 469: Geography 469: GIS WorkshopGIS Workshop

King County GIS Center – King County GIS Center – Wetland Delineation Wetland Delineation

““The Wetlanders”The Wetlanders”Will Kappes, Latif Ba, Fernand SanchezWill Kappes, Latif Ba, Fernand Sanchez

Project Goal/PurposeProject Goal/Purpose• Determine main components of Determine main components of

Wetland DelineationWetland Delineation• Define a concise methodology Define a concise methodology

applicable to further research applicable to further research • Generate an Automated System to Generate an Automated System to

define areas of interestdefine areas of interest• Test Automated System to analyze Test Automated System to analyze

‘no significance’ wetlands‘no significance’ wetlands

Project MethodsProject Methods• NTKQ #1 - What elements define a “wetland”?NTKQ #1 - What elements define a “wetland”?

• NTKQ #2 – What type of vegetation is NTKQ #2 – What type of vegetation is common in wetland areas?common in wetland areas?

• NTKQ #3 – What types of animal species are NTKQ #3 – What types of animal species are found in wetland areas?found in wetland areas?

• NTKQ #4 – What class(es) of hydrology is/are NTKQ #4 – What class(es) of hydrology is/are found in wetland areas?found in wetland areas?

Hydrology MetadataHydrology MetadataAttribute Field Name Attribute Field Name Description of attributeDescription of attributeWETLNDIDWETLNDID Unique IdentifierUnique Identifier

AcreageAcreage Acreage of WetlandAcreage of WetlandRating Rating 1(A): Sensitive/outstanding presence of habitat species1(A): Sensitive/outstanding presence of habitat species

1(B): Equal proportion of open water to vegetative cover in 1(B): Equal proportion of open water to vegetative cover in dispersed patchesdispersed patches1(C): Wetlands greater than 10 acres-and 3 or more wetland 1(C): Wetlands greater than 10 acres-and 3 or more wetland classes, 1 of which is open waterclasses, 1 of which is open water1(D): Presence of plant association (estuaries and bogs)1(D): Presence of plant association (estuaries and bogs)2: Does not meat wetland criteria2: Does not meat wetland criteria3(A): Low Concern rating. 1 Acre or less in size3(A): Low Concern rating. 1 Acre or less in size

3(B): Low Concern rating. Not-Valid wetlands3(B): Low Concern rating. Not-Valid wetlands COMM_PLANCOMM_PLAN One of twelve King County Community Planning Areas in One of twelve King County Community Planning Areas in

which wetland is located which wetland is located

OUTLET_TYPOUTLET_TYP Outlet is point at which surface water leaves wetland. Types Outlet is point at which surface water leaves wetland. Types include: “none”, “overland defined”, “undefined”, “open include: “none”, “overland defined”, “undefined”, “open channel” and “pipe”. channel” and “pipe”. None-wetland closedNone-wetland closedOverland-has outlet not containedOverland-has outlet not containedDefined-outlet flows, semi enclosedDefined-outlet flows, semi enclosedUndefined-not enclosed, not containedUndefined-not enclosed, not containedOpen Channel-outlet is contained within Open Channel-outlet is contained within

H2O_QulitH2O_Qulit Water QualityWater Quality

H2O_MVMNTH2O_MVMNT Water MovementWater Movement

ErodeErode Regions of Erosion within King CountyRegions of Erosion within King County

Vegetation MetadataVegetation MetadataAttribute Field NameAttribute Field Name Description of attributeDescription of attributeTressTress Tree species nameTree species name

ShrubsShrubs Shrub species nameShrub species name

HerbsHerbs Herb species nameHerb species name

RatingRating 1(A): Sensitive/outstanding presence of habitat 1(A): Sensitive/outstanding presence of habitat speciesspecies1(B): Equal proportion of open water to 1(B): Equal proportion of open water to vegetative cover in dispersed patchesvegetative cover in dispersed patches1(C): Wetlands greater than 10 acres-and 3 or 1(C): Wetlands greater than 10 acres-and 3 or more wetland classes, 1 of which is open watermore wetland classes, 1 of which is open water1(D): Presence of plant association (estuaries and 1(D): Presence of plant association (estuaries and bogs)bogs)2: Does not meat wetland criteria2: Does not meat wetland criteria3(A): Low Concern rating. 1 Acre or less in size3(A): Low Concern rating. 1 Acre or less in size3(B): Low Concern rating. Not-Valid wetlands 3(B): Low Concern rating. Not-Valid wetlands

WETLNDIDWETLNDID Unique IdentifierUnique Identifier

AcreageAcreage Acreage of WetlandAcreage of Wetland

Animal Species MetadataAnimal Species MetadataAttribute Field NameAttribute Field Name Description of attributeDescription of attributeBirdsBirds Bird Species NameBird Species Name

MammalsMammals Mammal Species NameMammal Species Name

FishFish Fish Species NameFish Species Name

RatingRating 1(A): Sensitive/outstanding presence of habitat 1(A): Sensitive/outstanding presence of habitat speciesspecies1(B): Equal proportion of open water to vegetative 1(B): Equal proportion of open water to vegetative cover in dispersed patchescover in dispersed patches1(C): Wetlands greater than 10 acres-and 3 or 1(C): Wetlands greater than 10 acres-and 3 or more wetland classes, 1 of which is open watermore wetland classes, 1 of which is open water1(D): Presence of plant association (estuaries and 1(D): Presence of plant association (estuaries and bogs)bogs)2: Does not meat wetland criteria2: Does not meat wetland criteria3(A): Low Concern rating. 1 Acre or less in size3(A): Low Concern rating. 1 Acre or less in size3(B): Low Concern rating. Not-Valid wetlands 3(B): Low Concern rating. Not-Valid wetlands

WETLNDIDWETLNDID Unique IdentifierUnique Identifier

AcreageAcreage Acreage of WetlandAcreage of Wetland

Model Builder RoutineModel Builder Routine

Project ResultsProject Results• Generated a concise methodology Generated a concise methodology

for implementing wetland for implementing wetland delineation practicesdelineation practices

• Generated a way to create Generated a way to create Automated System for Wetland Automated System for Wetland Delineation Delineation

Before AnalysisBefore Analysis

After AnalysisAfter Analysis

Python ScriptPython Script

ConclusionsConclusions• Developed methodology for identifying Developed methodology for identifying

wetland areaswetland areas• Constructed Model Builder Routine for Constructed Model Builder Routine for

wetland delineationwetland delineation• Allows client to generate automated Allows client to generate automated

system to identify areas of interestsystem to identify areas of interest• Found that ‘no significant’ wetlands Found that ‘no significant’ wetlands

contain threatened plant/animal speciescontain threatened plant/animal species

RecommendationsRecommendations• Further research into plant/animal Further research into plant/animal

species to determine the size/rating species to determine the size/rating schema for their analysisschema for their analysis

• Use of Raster data to determine Use of Raster data to determine wetland areas facing a higher level wetland areas facing a higher level of threat (i.e. erosion zones)of threat (i.e. erosion zones)

• Focus on smaller zone oppose to Focus on smaller zone oppose to entire countyentire county