IOWA STATEWIDE WETLAND MAPPING
GSS developed a cooperative relationship with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and FWS Region 3 Wetland Coordinator to update the State's NWI using 2002 false color infrared photography. GSS began the update mapping project during the summer of 2003 and is approximately seventy percent complete by the winter of 2006. This project challenged GSS given standards defined by the Iowa DNR. Unlike other major NWI mapping project, the DNR defined their mapping standars based on the needs of their field biologists. This resulted in a much higher resolution mapping standard. For example all line edits and modifications are done at the 1:3500 scale, linear features become polygons when their actual width exceeds 9 meters. In addition, GSS is also mapping farmed wetlands, or wetlands that are drained with no residual wetland vegetation present. These areas typically have a darker gray signature on the aerial photography when compared to the soil in the surrounding fields. This project also presented the challenge of deloping workflow processes that integrated; professional photo interpretation, precise feature delineation, integration and edge-matching of datasets, and the efficient use of collateral data (soils information, precipitation history and topography).
The Iowa DNR uses this project as a hallmark of interagency cooperation for developing statewide surface hydrology. It is receiving attention nationwide with the state biologist providing development consultations to other states like Montana and the National Association of State Wetland Managers.
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Updated Iowa NWI data |
