Electronic Field Data Collection and Data Entry for Physical Habitat Assessment on the Cheyenne River, South Dakota

A Phase I total maximum daily load (TMDL) assessment project for the Cheyenne River Watershed in western South Dakota was initiated in the spring of 2005. A key component of this project was a physical habitat assessment of 48 sites distributed throughout the watershed. The vast amount of field work associated with this project presented an opportunity to refine field data collection methods to work toward a goal of collecting all data electronically in the field in a spatially referenced format for use with a Geographic Information System (GIS). A survey grade Trimble Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver was integrated into the field sampling procedure for sites on the main stem of the Cheyenne River, where data collection is difficult due to the size of the river and the amount of visual obstructions. GPS equipment was used to survey all pertinent stream topography data; e.g., measurements for transect spacing and cross-sectional and longitudinal profiles. This procedure for data collection required slightly less time for postprocessing of data, converting it into a format compatible with other habitat data measurements. Significant gains were made in overall accuracy of the data and the field collection quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). Total manhours required for data collection and data processing were reduced by up to 50 percent of those required using tape measurers and surveying levels. Additional qualitative estimates were made in the field related to habitat and vegetation as part of the sampling protocols. An ongoing effort, which began at the initiation of this project, involves developing a GIS geodatabase, linked to data entry forms, where the remaining qualitative field data can be entered. This would increase QA/QC of data collection by reducing data entry mistakes while cutting down on time spent on data entry. Once developed, metric calculations will be programmed into the geodatabase allowing for the metrics to be viewed while on location. The current goal is to have this system in place by the 2007 sampling season.