Numerous studies have indicated that landcover plays an important role in determining water quality. We will determine influences of landcover on the Aquatic Biota in watersheds representing each of the ecoregions of Wisconsin.
A recent USGS study examined the relationship between watershed landcover on the water quality as indicated by Aquatic Biota in Eastern Wisconsin warmwater streams. This study used buffer zones along the riparian corridor to illustrate the landcover and water quality through digital orthophotos and precalculated biotic indices. The authors found a significant relationship between poor water quality and watersheds dominated by agricultural landcover.
Thirty watersheds defined by a 250-meter buffer along the riparian corridor representing each of the state's ecoregions: Western Corn Belt Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, North Central Hardwood Forests, Driftless Area, Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains, and Western Corn Belt Plains. The sites vary in landcover, dominated by grassland, agriculture, or forest making them appropriate for determining if similar correlations exist across the ecoregions as they do in the Eastern warmwater region.
Use digital orthophotos, Wisconsin hydrologic data, drainage basins and associated nutrient data to investigate if a correlation exists between water quality and landcover. Thirty watershed sites are chosen as a subsample based on availability of nutrient impact data and digital orthophotos. Define a new stream layer according to digital orthophotos and a DNR hydrolayer which will be used to create the 250-meter buffer. Use statistical analysis on digitized landcover polygons within this buffer.
Casey Hogan cvhogan@students.wisc.edu
Jim Kennedy jlkennedyjr@hotmail.com
Mandi Kornhoff mandi_78@hotmail.com