PNNL

Abstract

Abstract An increased focus on ecosystem restoration in the Columbia River Estuary has driven the development of a restoration prioritization framework for use by regional planning organizations. The first step in the prioritization framework is assessing current conditions in the study area. This assessment is GIS-based, relies on pre-existing datasets, and uses multiple spatial scales to place sites in a landscape and geomorphic context, increasing the potential for successful restoration. A variety of geospatial datasets feed into a science-based scoring matrix, which determines restoration options based on the relative quality of a suite of baseline ecosystem parameters. Examples of datasets used include historic conditions (e.g., floodplain, shoreline, habitats), current shoreline morphology and modification, aerial photography and other remotely-sensed data, and biological survey information.