Using GeoSpatial Data to Target Environmental Program Implementation

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Using Geo-Spatial Data to Target Environmental
Program Implementation
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• Goal Increasing Program Efficiency and
  Measurable Environmental Results
• Focus on measurable programmatic outcomes and
  strategic implementation
• Use science-based analytical tools with best
  available data to assess, prioritize and target
  areas for implementation
• Focus on being proactive
• - Looking forward
• - Budget issues prevention is cheaper than
  restoration

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• Key Questions Where and What?
• Where and what are the greatest environmental
  and public health risks?
• Where and what are the most sensitive
  populations?
• Where are the areas with the highest ecological
  value?
• Where are the most vulnerable or threatened
  areas?
• What do we do once we get there?
• What programs or partners should be involved?
• What changes can we affect given the scope and
  scale of the issues, programs and money
  available, etc.

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• Joint State/Regional Indicators and Outcomes
  Initiative
• Technical Objectives
• Develop indicators and measurable environmental
  outcomes for tracking progress and guiding
  program implementation
• Develop geo-spatial assessment and targeting
  methods and tools for use within and across
  programs
• Use best available data at multiple scales
  (regional, state and local)

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Outcomes Workgroup Pilots
Chesapeake Bay Water Quality
Ozone and PM2.5
Wetlands
Childrens Blood Lead
Watershed Management
Elizabeth RiverSediment
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Example Pilot Wetland Restoration
Focusing Wetland Restoration to Improve Impaired
Streams
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Overall Goal
Strategically restore wetlands to enable
the greatest improvements to wetland
resources, stream quality, and watershed health.
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Examples of Expected Outcomes

• Reverse historic wetland loss with assistance
  from NPS Program

• Remove Impaired Streams from 303(d) List

• Reduce Nutrient Loads via Wetlands Restoration
  as a Water Quality BMP

• Other Habitat, Flood Control, Carbon
  Sequestration, etc.

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Restoration Targeting Factors

• Watershed-based Factors
• - Wetland Loss
• - Nutrient and Sediment Loads
• - Unbuffered Streams
• - Ag Runoff Potential
• - Land Cover Metrics

• Local Factors
• - Streams Impaired by Nutrients
• and Sediments
• - Non-wetland Hydric Soils
• - Presence or Absence of Buffers
• - Biological Information

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Methods Agriculture Runoff
Data Estimated nitrogen and phosphorus loads
from Ag lands using ATtILA Source Mid-Atlantic
Integrated Assessment Ranking High runoff
(kg/ha/yr) gt 400 3 Moderate runoff 320
400 2 Low runoff lt 320 1
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Initial Phase Targeting Results
Final Ranking High Restoration 11 14
Medium Restoration 8 10 Low Restoration
5 7
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Example Focus Area Monacacy Watershed
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Potential Wetland Restoration Site
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Program-Specific Spatial Tools Elizabeth River
Targeting Tool
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Program-Specific Spatial Tools MTBE Pilot
Project
Http//www.esri.com/events/uc/results/app_fair.htm
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• Regional Application Spatial Tools
• Emergency Response Mapping Application (ERMA)
• User-friendly interface, built on ArcView
• Allows users to drill down from large geographic
  areas to small areas
• Pulls data from a large
• variety of sources to show
• a variety of areas or points
• (drinking water
• intakes, sensitive areas
• and populations
• hospitals, nursing care
• facilities, road
• intersections, etc.)

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Other Regional Spatial Assessment Projects

• Watershed Strategy
• Comparative Risk and
• Future Vulnerability
• Assessment

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Existing Geo-Spatial Data Infrastructure (AS IS
Processes)
Software - ESRI ArcGIS, ArcView

• Data Sources
• Region 3 spatial data library (sdl)
• Other Agencies states, CDC, HUD, Census
• Initiatives
• Index of Watershed Indicators
• Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment
• -State Reports (Indicators, Risk, Condition)
• -State of the Environment - type Reports

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Future Geo-Spatial Data Infrastructure
Software be able to use web browser and web
services

• Data Sources
• Use up-to-date data streamed over internet thru
  ArcGIS from partners

• Already Underway
• NEPA Assist
• Enviromapper
• DC Maps uses web services for graphical display
• Testing of National Hydrography dataset via a
  web service

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Future Geo-Spatial Data Infrastructure

• Benefits
• Better access to current data
• Access to more high quality data from more
  sources
• Avoid duplication of data management efforts
• Improved efficiency and synergy agencies can
  focus on what they do best and determine who to
  work with