During 2018, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs or 'drones') were used to collect spatially referenced aerial imagery from 20 management units (sites) enrolled in the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework, a collective learning program developed by the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative. Management units were located in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin (USA). Invasive Phragmites australis (hereafter "Phragmites") had been managed at each management units some time previously by the landowner or land manager, and aerial imagery was then collected to create cover classifications distinguishing live and dead Phragmites from the surrounding landscape using object-based image analysis with training based on ground-truth field data and photos. Standard color (RGB) imagery was collected at all 20 management units, and near-infrared (NIR) imagery was collected at 2 of the 20 management units. Accuracy for the classifications was assessed by comparing cover classifications to ground truth data via confusion matrices. The accuracy associated with generating cover classifications by RGB and NIR imagery were also compared.

The first basin-wide map of large stands of invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) in the coastal zone was created through a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan Tech Research Institute (Bourgeau-Chavez et al 2013). This data set represents a revised version of that map and was created using multi-temporal PALSAR data and Landsat images from 2016-2017. In addition to Phragmites distribution, the data sets shows several land cover types including urban, agriculture, forest, shrub, emergent wetland, forested wetland, and some based on the dominant plant species (e.g., Schoenoplectus, Typha). The classified map was validated using over 400 field visits.This map covers the coastal regions of Michgan along the southern portion Lake Huron including Saginaw Bay, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, and northeastern Ohio.

In lieu of a uniform mapping of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park corridor at very high-resolution using UAS, this study developed a multi-scale workflow, where (1) geospatial modeling methods and (2) historic image analysis were used to constrain the areal extent of (3) detailed field and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) observation. 1_Geospatial Modeling Methods: Harperella habitat characteristics reported by literature sources and corroborated by extremely limited harperella occurrence data (in the form of GPS locations), were compiled into a geospatial prediction model (GPM) to characterize the extent of harperella habitat for the region between Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area and Harper’s Ferry National Park. 2_Historical Image Analysis: Analysis consisted of visual examination and manual delineation of in-channel bars within the Potomac River and its larger tributaries, including the Cacapon River, lower Tonoloway Creek, Sleepy Creek, lower Lick Run, and Back Creek. This manual delineation was conducted for several dates of historic aerial imagery, including 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Persistence of different parts of the in-channel bars over time was mapped by intersecting the 5 years of interpretations. 3_UAS image acqusition of AOIs: UAS imagery was collected to facilitate detailed observation, terrain modeling, and documentation of 10 AOIs (shown in figure). National Park Service regulations restrict the take-off and landing of UAS on park property, so the edge of in-channel bars within the Potomac River was used to enable line-of-sight UAS image acquisition covering the entire AOI. The USGS and the Aerial Vision Group, LLC sought permission to fly a small UAS from both the Maryland and West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DEM and Orthophoto datasets are available by request - please email jdewitt@usgs.gov

In lieu of a uniform mapping of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park corridor at very high-resolution using UAS, this study developed a multi-scale workflow, where (1) geospatial modeling methods and (2) historic image analysis were used to constrain the areal extent of (3) detailed field and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) observation. 1_Geospatial Modeling Methods: Harperella habitat characteristics reported by literature sources and corroborated by extremely limited harperella occurrence data (in the form of GPS locations), were compiled into a geospatial prediction model (GPM) to characterize the extent of harperella habitat for the region between Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area and Harper’s Ferry National Park. 2_Historical Image Analysis: Analysis consisted of visual examination and manual delineation of in-channel bars within the Potomac River and its larger tributaries, including the Cacapon River, lower Tonoloway Creek, Sleepy Creek, lower Lick Run, and Back Creek. This manual delineation was conducted for several dates of historic aerial imagery, including 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Persistence of different parts of the in-channel bars over time was mapped by intersecting the 5 years of interpretations. 3_UAS image acqusition of AOIs: UAS imagery was collected to facilitate detailed observation, terrain modeling, and documentation of 10 AOIs (shown in figure). National Park Service regulations restrict the take-off and landing of UAS on park property, so the edge of in-channel bars within the Potomac River was used to enable line-of-sight UAS image acquisition covering the entire AOI. The USGS and the Aerial Vision Group, LLC sought permission to fly a small UAS from both the Maryland and West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DEM and Orthophoto datasets are available by request - please email jdewitt@usgs.gov

The first basin-wide map of large stands of invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) in the coastal zone was created through a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan Tech Research Institute (Bourgeau-Chavez et al 2013). This data set represents a revised version of that map and was created using multi-temporal PALSAR data and Landsat images from 2016-2017. In addition to Phragmites distribution, the data sets shows several land cover types including urban, agriculture, forest, shrub, emergent wetland, forested wetland, and some based on the dominant plant species (e.g., Schoenoplectus, Typha). The classified map was validated using over 400 field visits.This map covers the southern portion of Lake Michigan.

The first basin-wide map of large stands of invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) in the coastal zone was created through a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan Tech Research Institute (Bourgeau-Chavez et al 2013). This data set represents a revised version of that map and was created using multi-temporal PALSAR data and Landsat images from 2016-2017. In addition to Phragmites distribution, the data sets shows several land cover types including urban, agriculture, forest, shrub, emergent wetland, forested wetland, and some based on the dominant plant species (e.g., Schoenoplectus, Typha). The classified map was validated using over 400 field visits.This map covers the southern portion of Lake Michigan.

These datasets represent USGS-led coastal wetland vegetation survey and mapping efforts at Metzger Marsh, part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Ohio, USA) along the coast of western Lake Erie between 1994 and 2022. Vegetation quadrat data provide percent cover estimates per sampling quadrat and overall mean percent cover (MPC) values per species by vegetation type from 1994, and 1996-2010. Vegetation mapping (a.k.a., "photointerpretation") geospatial datasets provide full site cover visualizations and feature class information by vegetation type from 1994,1996-2002, and 2022.

These datasets represent USGS-led coastal wetland vegetation survey and mapping efforts at Metzger Marsh, part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Ohio, USA) along the coast of western Lake Erie between 1994 and 2022. Vegetation quadrat data provide percent cover estimates per sampling quadrat and overall mean percent cover (MPC) values per species by vegetation type from 1994, and 1996-2010. Vegetation mapping (a.k.a., "photointerpretation") geospatial datasets provide full site cover visualizations and feature class information by vegetation type from 1994,1996-2002, and 2022.

The first basin-wide map of large stands of invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) in the coastal zone was created through a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan Tech Research Institute (Bourgeau-Chavez et al 2013). This data set represents a revised version of that map and was created using multi-temporal PALSAR data and Landsat images from 2016-2017. In addition to Phragmites distribution, the data sets shows several land cover types including urban, agriculture, forest, shrub, emergent wetland, forested wetland, and some based on the dominant plant species (e.g., Schoenoplectus, Typha). The classified map was validated using over 400 field visits.This map covers the Southern portion of central Lake Erie.

The first basin-wide map of large stands of invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) in the coastal zone was created through a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan Tech Research Institute (Bourgeau-Chavez et al 2013). This data set represents a revised version of that map and was created using multi-temporal PALSAR data and Landsat images from 2016-2017. In addition to Phragmites distribution, the data sets shows several land cover types including urban, agriculture, forest, shrub, emergent wetland, forested wetland, and some based on the dominant plant species (e.g., Schoenoplectus, Typha). The classified map was validated using over 400 field visits.This map covers the Southern portion of central Lake Erie.