What Impact have Conservation Policies and Beavers had On Wetlands in Federal, State, and Private Lands?

Cannon, Thomas

What Impact have Conservation Policies and Beavers had On Wetlands in Federal, State, and Private Lands?

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/48615

Author(s)

Cannon, Thomas

Date Issued

April 30, 2019

Abstract

Geographic information systems (GIS), were used to analyze the conservation policies of federally and state managed lands compared to privately managed areas within northwestern Pennsylvania. This study was conducted to assess how wetland and beaver protection has impacted the amount of wetlands within the landscape. The study region encompasses the Sugar Lake Division (SLD) of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge (ENWR), Pennsylvania Game Lands #69 (PGL #69), and private lands in close proximity to the previously stated areas. Time series aerial photography were gathered for the region from 1939, 1959, 1993, and 2017. Soil horizon and existing National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps were used to help aid in the identification and delineation of wetland boundaries. The results show total area of wetlands (in acres) present per time series. Wetland area decreased from 1939 to 1959, which was primarily attributed to agriculture practices and declining beaver populations. A gain in acres of wetlands is observed from 1959 to both 1993 and 2017 which coincides with wetland conservation policies that began in the 1970s and 1980s.

Major

Environmental Science

First Reader(s)

Shaffer, Chris