HRE Ecological AssessmentPHYSICAL HABITAT MODEL

Task 1:Physical Habitat Unit Model

Goal: Implement a physical habitat unit (PHU) model of the HRE within a GIS framework using four inputs.

◦ Bathymetry◦ Slope◦ Sediment Type◦ Sediment Environment

Purpose: Foundation for Hudson River Estuary (HRE) Ecological Assessment which will help identify priority areas for preservation/restoration.

Bathymetry – Depth Zones

Code Depth range * Class Name

1 MHHW to 1 meter elevation Supratidal (floodplain)

2 MHHW to MLLW Intertidal

3 MLLW to less than 2m Shallow Subtidal

4 2m to 10m Middle Subtidal

5 10m to 20m Upper Channel

6 Greater than 20m Lower Channel* Elevations greater than 1m excluded.

Generate a seamless 1 meter bathymetry surface from multiple data sources – then aggregate to 10 meter

Code Slope range Class Name

100 <2 deg Flat

200 2 – 5 deg Gently sloping

300 >5 deg Moderately to Steeply Sloping

Slope Classes

Generate slope surface from 10 m bathymetry

Sediment Type & Environment

Code Class Name 10 Muddy20 Sandy30 Gravelly

Code Class Name1000 Depositional2000 Erosional3000 DynamicExclude “Unsurveyed”

Sediment Type Sediment Environment

Physical Habitat Model Workflow

Depth (6)

Sediment Type (3)

Sediment Environment

(3)

Union

Merged features< 900 m2

with neighbors

151 Unique Habitat Units

(162 possible)

Slope (3)

Habitat N Depth Type Slope Env Habitat Unit Name

2101001000 2 10 100 1000 Intertidal, flat, muddy, depositional environment

4101002000 4 10 100 2000 Middle subtidal, flat, muddy, erosional environment

5101003000 5 10 100 3000 Upper channel, flat, muddy, dynamic environment

3101001000 3 10 100 1000 Shallow subtidal, flat, muddy, depositional environment

2201001000 2 20 100 1000 Intertidal, flat, sandy, depositional environment

Physical Habitat Units

Task 2: Ecological Assessment

Goal:

Characterize PHU patches to identify priority areas for preservation or restoration.

Plan:

Assess the current state of the PHU patches based on indicators of patch quality and exposure to current or potential threats.

Quality and Threat IndicatorsCIESIN will work with the various Target Ecosystem Characteristics (TEC) teams to identify quality and threat indicators based on each TEC team’s plan of action.

Three types:

◦ Biotic◦ Abiotic◦ Anthropogenic

(human infrastructure& activities)

Possible Query: SAV

Where are the PHUs with documented occurrence of submerged aquatic vegetation?

Of these, what is the dominant PHU type?

Where else does this PHU type occur?

Which of these locations have the greatest potential for restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation?

Determine which units are intact or degraded and which units are most in need of Target Ecosystem Characteristics (TEC) interventions.

Data Holdingsand Data Needs

Species inventories and significant habitats

◦ Submerged aquatic vegetation◦ Significant Coastal Fish and

Wildlife Habitats ◦ Fish distribution◦ Hudson River Tidal Wetlands◦ Breeding Bird Atlas/Survey

Threat Exposure

◦ EPA-regulated sites, e.g., superfund, brownfields, oil and toxic release sites

◦ Oil, gas, and other regulated wells

◦ Toxic Release Inventory

◦ SLOSH Model Storm Surge Zones

Data Holdingsand Data Needs

Do you have data you can share?

◦ Species abundance and distribution ?◦ Aquatic species

◦ Coastal marsh and floodplain species

◦ Data specific to tributaries ?◦ Locations of pipeline and other infrastructure ? ◦ Dredging and filling activities ?

Data Holdings and Data Needs

Thank you!

Linda Pistolesi

845.365.8799

lpistole@ciesin.columbia.edu

CIESIN Team

Malanding Jaiteh – Project Manager

Linda Pistolesi

Olena Borkovska

John Squires

Kytt Macmanus

Alyssa Fico