Lake Level Effects as Measured from Aerial Photos
Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 110, Issue 2
Abstract
Rising Lake Michigan water levels were found to negatively influence the amount of wetlands and beaches in the Straits of Mackinac area of Lake Michigan. The effects of long‐term fluctuation in water levels were determined from measurements of wetlands and beaches on seven sets of historical aerial photographs (1938–1980). Analysis of aerial photographs demonstrated a 380 acre (154 ha) difference in total wetland and beach areas at the highest lake level sampled, as compared to the total at the lowest lake level sampled, or a range of 4 ft (1.2 m). A linear model between total wetland and beach areas and water levels indicated an increase of 1 ft (0.3 m) would result in a decrease of 80 acre (32 ha) or 18% of the 439 acre (178 ha) of wetlands and beaches in the study area. This methodology, which includes measurements from historical aerial photographs, acquisition of small format aerial photographs, and determination of local hydrological conditions, was useful for quantifying change in these lacustrine wetlands.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Beeton, A., and Rosenberg, H., “Studies and Research Needs in Regulation of the Great Lakes,” Proceedings of the Toronto Water Regulation Conference, 1968, pp. 311–340.
2.
Carter, V., Garrett, M., Shima, L., and Gammon, R., “The Great Dismal Swamp: Management of a Hydrologic Resource with the Aid of Remote Sensing,” Water Resources Bulletin, Vol. 13, pp. 1–21.
3.
Carter, V., “Coastal Wetlands: Role of Remote Sensing,” Proceedings of Coastal Zone 1978 Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., Mar., 1978, pp. 1261–1283.
4.
Fox, D., and Guire, K., “Documentation for Michigan Interactive Digital Analysis System (MIDAS),” Statistical Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1976, 203 pp.
5.
Gosselink, J., and Turner, E., “The Role of Hydrology in Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems,” pp. 63–78, R. Good, D. Whigham, and R. Simpson, eds., Freshwater Wetlands: Ecological Processes and Management Potential, Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 1978, 378 pp.
6.
Great Lakes Basin Commission, “Water Levels and Flows,” Appendix 11, Great Lakes Basin Framework Study, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1975, 127 pp.
7.
Harris, H., Bosley, T., and Roznik, F., “Green Bay's Coastal Wetlands—a Picture of Dynamic Change,” Proceedings of the Wabesa Wetlands Conference, Wabesa, Wisc., pp. 340–351.
8.
International Great Lakes Levels Board, “Regulation of Great Lakes Water Levels,” Report to the International Joint Commission, Windsor, Ontario, 1973, 294 pp.
9.
Jaworski, E., Raphael, C., Mansfield, P., and Williamson, B., “Impact of Great Lakes Water Level Fluctuations on Coastal Wetlands,” Institute of Water Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., 1979, 351 pp.
10.
Klemas, V., Bartlett, D., and Philpot, W., “Remote Sensing of Coastal Environment and Resources,” Proceedings of the Coastal Mapping Symposium, American Society of Photogrammetry, Rockville, Md., Aug., 1978, pp. 1–12.
11.
Lyon, J., “An Analysis of Vegetation Communities in the Lower Columbia River Basin,” Proceedings of the Pecora Symposium on Applications of Remote Sensing to Wildlife Management, Sioux Falls, S.Dak., Oct., 1978, pp. 321–327.
12.
Lyon, J., “Remote Sensing of Coastal Wetlands and Habitat Quality of the St. Clair Flats, Michigan,” Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1979, pp. 1117–1129.
13.
Lyon, J., “Data Sources for Analysis of Great Lakes Wetlands,” Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Photogrammetry, St. Louis, Mo., 1980, pp. 512–525.
14.
Lyon, J., “The Influence of Lake Michigan Water Levels on Wetland Soils and Distribution of Plants in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan,” Doctoral Dissertation, the School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1981, 132 pp.
15.
McCarthy, J., Olson, C., and Witter, J., “Evaluation of Spruce‐Fir Forests Using Small‐Format Photographs,” Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Vol. 48, 1982, pp. 771–778.
16.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Great Lakes Water Levels, 1860–1975,” U.S. Department of Commerce, Riverdale, Md., 1978, 187 pp.
17.
Shima, L., Anderson, R., and Carter, V., “The Use of Aerial Color Infrared Photography in Mapping the Vegetation of Freshwater Marsh,” Chesapeake Science, Vol. 17, 1976, pp. 74–86.
18.
Smith, G., “Sampling Techniques to Monitor Forest Area Change.” Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1977, pp. 1409–1418.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 ASCE.
History
Published online: Aug 1, 1984
Published in print: Aug 1984
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.