Geographic Information System Analysis
The Mississippi River is the largest floodplain river ecosystem in North America and the world’s third largest, draining nearly 2/3 of the continental United States. The Upper Mississippi River Basin is a major sub-watershed of the Mississippi, draining approximately 189,000 square miles in portions of 6 Midwest states.
A GIS analysis of this huge area was undertaken for several reasons:
- To help identify high priority areas for riparian reforestation.
- Establishing forest land to improve watershed health by reducing erosion and water yield.
- To promote water quality protection by identifying existing forest lands of particular importance in maintaining water quality.
- To help the Partnership identify potential focus areas for bird conservation efforts.
The analysis was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), under guidance from the Upper Mississippi Forest Partnership steering committee.
Final Report
Identification of Priority Forests in the Upper Mississippi River System produced by the UMESC
Identification of Priority Forests in the Upper Mississippi River System: A Summary, produced by NA S&PF.
The full report covers these topics:
- Spatial datasets used in selected analyses
- Existing bottomland forests and priority areas for bottomland forest restoration
Riparian corridor – reforestation and forest conservation priority analyses
- Important migratory bird habitat
- Priority forests for conservation
- Next steps
Maps
To download maps, click on the format and resolution of your choice.
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| Bottomland Forest Restoration |
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| ~ Existing Bottomland Forests and Priority Areas for Bottomland Forest Restoration |
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| Migratory Bird Habitat |
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| ~ Important Migratory Bird Habitat - Upland Forest Birds |
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| ~ Important Migratory Bird Habitat - Bottomland Forest Birds |
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| ~ Important Migratory Bird Habitat - Grassland Birds |
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| ~ Important Migratory Bird Habitat - Shrubland Birds |
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| Riparian Buffer Priority Analysis |
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| ~ Preservation of Riparian Corridor Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat, South Fork Salt River Watershed Analysis |
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| ~ Preservation of Riparian Corridor Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat, Watonwan River Watershed Analysis |
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| Priority Forests for Conservation |
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| ~ Priority Forests for Conservation |
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