PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 90: Urban Ecology: Management
Wednesday, August 10, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Room 524 C, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Land cover classification of an urban storm drain watershed using a high categorical resolution system.
Holland, Amanda*,1, Pickett, Steward1, Cadenasso, Mary2, 1 Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY2 Yale University, New Haven
ABSTRACT- An urbanized watershed in Baltimore, Maryland presents an opportunity to examine the ecological results of community-based greening and forestry. The watershed covers 367 hectares drained by a single storm sewer. We classified the spatial structure of the watershed, using a new urban land cover classification system. The heirarchical classification system integrates biological, physical, and socially derived structural features to discriminate patches in the urban landscape. The watershed comprises 132 distinct patches, representing 39 types including, at the highest level, open canopy vegetation, built structures and miscellaneous. There are no closed canopy patches in this urbanized watershed. The majority of the watershed is covered by connected structures of medium to high density. Patches classified as having high tree cover only occur in public properties, such as small parks. Bare soil is present in 13% of the watershed area and occurs almost solely within patches of connected structures. Vacant lots are found in six different patch classes, although 93% are associated with connected structures. Patches having greater than 10% pavement are concentrated in the connected structures patches and in large patches of mixed footprint structures representing industrial and commercial zones. The complex distribution of patch types and their cover attributes identify biological and physical features that can be seen as opportunities for community greening, community development, and novel designs for reinvigorated housing.
Key words: urban watershed, land cover