IV-1. DATABASE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE MONITORING
87
IV-1. EAGLE RIVER FLATS DATABASE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE MONITORING
Charles Racine
U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
was transferred to the USARAK GIS, a large
INTRODUCTION
database used by the Ft. Richardson DPW en-
The objectives of this ongoing effort are to:
vironmental branch to manage contamination
and clean-up efforts on the U.S. Army facili-
Maintain and update the ERF GIS database
ties in Alaska. The Eagle River Flats portion
with all sediment samples obtained and
permits managers to obtain and view all white
analyzed for white phosphorus;
phosphorus concentration data for sediment
Input the telemetry data obtained by the
samples selected either by individual sample
NWRC (National Wildlife Research Cen-
number or by accessing all of the discreet or
ter), make maps, and conduct analyses;
composite samples from any of the mapped
Make these map-based GIS data available
ponds (Fig. IV-1-1). Ponds as identified and
to users;
mapped into the ERF GIS originally in 1993
Conduct a change assessment for ERF to
are the basic contamination and clean-up
evaluate the effects of treatments and natu-
units on Eagle River Flats.
ral processes on wetland habitats and gully
To identify ponds that require remediation,
erosion; and
M.E. Walsh has extended sampling for white
Obtain new imagery and integrate it into
phosphorus contamination to ponds where no
the ERF GIS.
samples were obtained in the past, where in-
sufficient samples were taken, or where there
has been significant mortality based on radio-
telemetry.
RESULTS
Sediment samples analyzed for white
Waterfowl studies
During 2000 we developed a CD that con-
phosphorus
We entered into the database the locations
tains all of the telemetry data from 1996 to
and white phosphorus concentrations for all
1999. In 2000 no telemetry took place. We
sediment samples obtained during 2000 so
worked with NWRC (John Cummins and
that the database now includes all samples
Patty Pochop) to develop metadata files and
analyzed for white phosphorus from the be-
summary tables for each year, as well as the
ginning of the project in 1991 to September
GIS coverages for each duck. Of particular
2000. This includes over 3000 point samples
importance was the development of a method
and 300 composite samples.
or model for quantifying mortality from one
During the past year the entire database
year to the next. Another priority use of this
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