GIS applications and methods of mapping and classifying water resources in arid environments

Winter 2009

GEO 565

Logan Butte and Camp Creek, Northern Great Basin north of Brothers, OR

DeVogel, S.B., Magee, J.W., Manley, W.F., Miller, G.H., 2004. A GIS-based reconstruction of late Quaternary paleohydrology: Lake Eyre, arid central Australia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 204, (2004) 1-13.

DeVogel et al. performed a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) GIS analysis to determine the prehistoric banks and volumes of the massive late Quaternary era Lake Eyre in central southeastern Australia. This DEM model was a groundbreaking analysis of Lake Eyre, which accurately delineated the prehistoric shorelines under different models created to reflect lake shore and depth dynamics pertaining to respective moisture availability during the Quaternary era. The accuracy of the delineations was supported by existing geologic records. In addition to providing the first credible image of the prehistoric lake, the GIS analysis also shed light on which sections of the lake’s basin (now a series of arid-land playas) collected and retained the most water throughout historic climatic events, yielding prime locations to search for Quaternary fossils of water dependent species. The study also provided a reference and incentive for future DEM analyses and modeling on predictive climatic change scenarios pertaining to shoreline and depth dynamics in arid-land playas.

Gilead, U., Karnieli, A., 2004. Locating potential vicarious calibration sites for high-spectral resolution sensors in the Israeli Negev Desert by GIS analysis. Post-Launch Calibration of Satellite Sensors – Morain & Budge (eds) 181-187.

Gilead and Karnieli utilized a comprehensive GIS analysis to determine which sites were suitable for vicarious calibration of sophisticated satellite imaging equipment utilized to gather mineral, soil, vegetation, climatic, and greater landscape data in an ongoing mapping and classification process. The GIS analysis was a complex vector model created from the conversion of raster input data according to the parameters listed above. The GIS was then coupled with the high-spectral resolution sensor data of a select site with unique reflectance, climatic, air quality, and solar radiation properties in an arid environment. The resulting data comparison was the bases for the vicarious calibration which was successful under these conditions. The authors were impressed with the GIS analysis, its efficiency, versatility, and applicability to their objectives and related data collection and classification. The GIS vicarious calibration technique was then applied to different landscapes and associated calibration sites including seasonal desert playas (where mineral deposits and other landscape features offer important classification and status information).

Jayko, A.S., Menges, C.M., Thompson, R.A., 2005. Digital method for regional mapping or surficial basin deposits in arid regions, example from Death Valley, Inyo County, CA. United States Geological Survey. Open-File Report 2005-1445. Available online at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1445/of2005-1445.pdf.

In a USGS study, Jayko et al. conducted a collaborative GIS analysis utilizing satellite imagery, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and an existing geologic mapping record to determine landform and geomorphologic characteristics of a large region within Death Valley, California. The GIS consisted of an in-depth DEM analysis, to determine slope, aspect, and topography characteristics, coupled with a high resolution satellite imagining process to determine landform, mineralogy, geomorphology, and landscape features of the study area. The data was combined and a general GIS based map of the region resulted with the capability of identifying, various landscape features and types from vegetation cover, to playa and stream basin presence (past and present) to soil type and bedrock influence. The GIS map was then compared to geologic and soils maps of the study area and the degree of correlation was considerable. This data was used to identify likely seeps, springs, and other groundwater discharge zones throughout the studied basin and similar applications were speculated to emerge for utilizing the analysis on other sites. Although the satellite imagining worked ideally with little vegetation cover and high surface reflectance, the GIS map was supplemented with existing data in these limited regions with less than ideal imagining and the analysis was considered an efficient success for detailed mapping of this and other arid and semi-arid regions with comparable reflective surface characteristics.

Khan, S., Ahmad, A., Wang, B., 2007. Quantifying rainfall and flooding impacts on groundwater levels in irrigation areas: GIS Approach. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 4 (133), 359-367.

Khan et al. performed a GIS analysis of groundwater recharge rates and influences for the Murray-Darling Basin in southeastern Australia. The Murray-Darling Basin is a vast catchment in an arid environment, thus much of the surface water is utilized for irrigation of crops. Uniquely, the groundwater in this region has unusually high conductivity (over 25,000 µS/cm) and is rendered detrimental to crops and anthropogenic utilization. Historically (over the past 40 years), the basin experienced periodic flooding which has resulted in very high groundwater zones which threatened irrigation success. The study’s focus was on modeling the correlation between climatic, water resource management, and groundwater level data by performing an GIS spatial and temporal analysis with 40 years of data; all correlating to groundwater levels and potential influencing factors. The analysis shed light on the likely anthropogenic and natural causes of groundwater rise and provided natural resource managers with information to consider these effects in policy decisions. Although groundwater dynamics and characteristics are often unique to a particular region, the GIS analysis from this study proves the usefulness of GIS applications to groundwater dynamics modeling and associated management implications.

Leone, A., Chen, D., 2007. Implementation of an object oriented data model in an information system for water catchment management: Java JDO and Db4o Object Database. Environmental Modelling & Software 22 (2007), 1805-1810.

Leone and Chen’s article provided a technical comparison of two general water resources data database management systems, Java JDO and Db4o Object Database. The comparison deals with the trade-offs between efficiency, speed, ease of use, expense, and practicality for management of water related (particularly water quality and flow) data files which can be quite large and needed quickly and easily for various water resources and environmental analyses. The management systems differ in their structure and query properties, yet the authors recommended the Db4o Object Database as more flexible and efficient, however, they encouraged the user explore all options, especially pertaining to the specific uses and function of the database to be created.

Lichvar, R.W., Finnegan, D.C., Newman, S., Ochs, W., 2006. Delineating and evaluating vegetation conditions of vernal pools using spaceborne and airborne remote sensing techniques, Beale Air Force Base, CA. United States Army Corps of Engineers. ERDC/CRREL TN-06-3. Available online at:

http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/library/technicalnotes/TN06-3.pdf.

In this Army Corps of Engineers study, vernal pools on and near Beale Air Force Base in Central California were delineated and classified utilizing a detailed multi-informational GIS consisting of Land Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and Global Positioning System (GPS) data. The analysis was conducted to explore an efficient vernal pool delineation method to protect the arid wetlands and provide a platform for ecological and landscape function studies concerning these resources. The DEM and LiDAR analyses of the study area yielded masses of data which were carefully filtered for accuracy and appropriate representation of in situ conditions. The result of the analysis, a detailed GIS map, contained data on varying degrees of vernal pool types based on water retention duration and vegetation, making classification and delineation of vernal pools in the region a matter of engaging layers on the GIS. This map was compared to existing delineation maps from ground crews and depicted a more thorough catalog of the wetlands and even exposed a number of vernal pools which have never been noticed.

Oregon Wetland Mapping Standard, 2006. Version 0.1, June 2006. Available online at:

http://library.state.or.us/repository/2006/200610161650001/.

The Oregon Wetland Mapping Standard is a document outlining the efforts to standardize the data associated with delineations and classifications of all wetland types throughout the state. Modern wetland delineations often involve a GIS data analysis map; many of the standards outlined in this document suggest the recommend formats, features, attributes, citations, and protocol to follow when creating such a GIS. The standards are intended to keep data consistent, credible, and recognizable between private organizations, and state and federal agencies. This document provides details on all formats and methods to follow when classifying wetlands in Oregon and is supplemented with numerous hyperlinks and attachments for clarification and ease of data standardization.

Portoghese, I., Uricchio, V., Vurro, M., 2005. A GIS tool for hydrogeological water balance evaluation on a regional scale in semi-arid environments. Computers & Geosciences 31 (2005), 15-27.

This article describes the process of creating a groundwater model with general inputs and powerful GIS map outputs. Portoghese et al. discuss the methodology, results, and applicability of a groundwater dynamics model created to monitor a semi-arid region in Italy’s adherence to the criteria outlined in the European Nation’s water framework directive which focuses on sustainability and quality in watersheds. The model was created from a complex GIS consisting of various input layers such as soil moisture, topography, land use, vegetation, and surface hydrologic feature maps, and analyzing their attribute data in accordance to general groundwater yield equations to get interactive GIS map outputs with the capability of modeling current and future scenarios such as drought and climate change. These maps are also used to determine seasonal deficits and surpluses and their applications to conservation of groundwater resources. The model was determined quite accurate and is seen as an example for developing similar groundwater dynamics models in arid and semi-arid regions.

Rezaei, M.H., Moghaddam, Saghafi, M., 2006. A change-detection application on the evolution of Kahak playa (South Khorasan province, Iran). Environmental Geology 51 (2006), 565-579.

In their study, Rezaei and Moghaddam created a GIS which utilized remote sensing, field samples, and geologic maps to examine the changes associated with a 14 year desertification period in the Kahak Playa region of South Khorasan province, Iran. They focused on the changes in mineralogy, (particularly brine, gypsum, Na, & NaCl) water availability, groundwater dynamics, land use practices and potential, and established playa perimeter dynamics. Rezaei and Moghaddam found a clear trend of playa boarder expansion, decreased vegetation, increased salinity (not necessarily in a positive way for brine extraction), and water sacristy over the trend of desertification. The water scarcity and playa boarder expansion occurred simultaneously due to the cementing of soils in playas which decreased infiltration and expanded mineral rich water to establish additional cemented soils. These findings suggested a reduction in useable lands for agriculture and NaCl brine harvest and an overall ecological deterioration of the land. The results of the study included many GIS maps with multiple layers concerning aspects of mineralogy, water availability, land use, and playa delineation for both time periods encasing the 14 year desertification time span.

Robins, C.R., Buck, B.J., Williams, A.J., Morton, J.L., House, P.K., Howell, M.S., Yonovitz, M.L., 2009. Comparison of flood hazard assessments on desert piedmonts and playas: A case study in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada 103, (2009) 520-532.

Robins et al. explain the methodology, results, and applications of a GIS study to determine the potential impacts and risk associated with flooding in the Ivanpah Valley of southern Nevada. Landscape in the study area consists of a valley enclosed by mountain ranges with a series of piedmonts and playas on the valley floor. The study area is in a high growth rate zone slated the potential construction of an airport and similar development in the future. This study’s purpose was to develop an accurate flood risk GIS map utilizing existing topography, soil, geology, and geomorphology maps. These maps were analyzed with a spatial analysis and the resulting layers were compared to semi-crude Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood risk maps to determine the level of detail relative to each map’s attribute data. The result of this study, a detailed flood risk GIS map with the previously listed layers and attributes, credited itself well to comparative data (especially geology and soil survey data which determines infiltration potential and thus, flooding potential) and proved more accurate than existing FEMA maps. The GIS flood map findings are intended to save property and lives and began by determining the future airport footprint was in a considerable flood risk area.

Paiute Lake (Vernal Pool), Northern Great Basin south of Brothers, OR