Delaware Ecological Forecasting

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Likelihood of transition from wetland to other land cover by 2050, based on wetland loss patterns from 2010 Landsat 5 TM and 2020 Landsat 8 OLI imagery. Areas with highest likelihood of loss on the Eastern shore of Delaware are shown in red, with those likely to persist in light blue. A LiDAR Digital Elevation Model (2013-2014) indicates low elevation in dark blue. Predicting wetland trends allows local stakeholders to prioritize management of wetland areas. Keywords: Delaware, Landsat, wetlands, marsh

Assessing Land Cover and Soil to Identify Suitable Sites for Tidal Marsh Migration in Delaware

Tidal wetlands provide vital resources for the state of Delaware, crucial not only for maintaining important ecosystem functions, but also for providing human populations with substantial services. Healthy wetland networks offer protection from severe weather, reduce flooding, improve water quality, and provide opportunities for education and recreation. However, human activities in combination with natural events, continue to cause substantial loss of wetland cover and damage wetland health. Over the last thirty years, the state of Delaware has experienced a net loss of roughly 5,000 acres of wetland. In collaboration with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the team used NASA Earth observations including Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Global Precipitation Measurement Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals (GPM IMERG) to develop a methodology to monitor recent changes in wetland cover and forecast landward marsh migration due to sea-level rise, changes to climate, and human development. Trend analysis of current and past climate conditions in precipitation and temperature revealed an overall increase in both metrics. Using Land Change Modeler in TerrSet and Suitability Modeler in ArcGIS Pro, the team visualized landcover shifts over the last 20 years, indicating a general pattern of net wetland loss and identified locations where marsh migration could potentially occur in the future. These observations will enable better planning for restoration activities and inform decision-making to preserve wetland health and ecosystem functions.

Location
Alabama - Marshall
Term
Summer 2021
Partner(s)
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; Division of Climate, Coastal, and Energy
NASA Earth Observations
Landsat 5 TM
Landsat 8 OLI
GPM IMERG
Terra MODIS
Team
McKenna Brahler (Project Lead)
Amanda Bosserman
Eian Davis
Jacob Frankel
Rebecca Ohman
Advisor(s)
Dr. Robert Griffin (The University of Alabama in Huntsville)
Dr. Jeffrey Luvall (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)