HRE Ecological Assessment PHYSICAL HABITAT MODEL

Task 1: Physical Habitat Unit Model Goal: Implement a physical habitat unit (PHU) model of the HRE within a GIS framework using four inputs. ◦Bathymetry ◦Slope ◦Sediment Type ◦Sediment Environment Purpose: Foundation for Hudson River Estuary (HRE) Ecological Assessment which will help identify priority areas for preservation/restoration.

Bathymetry – Depth Zones CodeDepth range *Class Name 1MHHW to 1 meter elevationSupratidal (floodplain) 2MHHW to MLLWIntertidal 3MLLW to less than 2mShallow Subtidal 42m to 10mMiddle Subtidal 510m to 20mUpper Channel 6Greater than 20mLower Channel * Elevations greater than 1m excluded. Generate a seamless 1 meter bathymetry surface from multiple data sources – then aggregate to 10 meter

CodeSlope rangeClass Name 100<2 degFlat 2002 – 5 degGently sloping 300>5 degModerately to Steeply Sloping Slope Classes Generate slope surface from 10 m bathymetry

Sediment Type & Environment CodeClass Name 10Muddy 20Sandy 30Gravelly CodeClass Name 1000Depositional 2000Erosional 3000Dynamic Exclude “Unsurveyed” Sediment TypeSediment Environment

Physical Habitat Model Workflow Depth (6) Sediment Type (3) Sediment Environment (3) Union Merged features < 900 m 2 with neighbors 151 Unique Habitat Units (162 possible) Slope (3)

Habitat NDepthTypeSlopeEnvHabitat Unit Name Intertidal, flat, muddy, depositional environment Middle subtidal, flat, muddy, erosional environment Upper channel, flat, muddy, dynamic environment Shallow subtidal, flat, muddy, depositional environment Intertidal, flat, sandy, depositional environment Physical Habitat Units

Task 2: Ecological Assessment Goal: Characterize PHU patches to identify priority areas for preservation or restoration. Plan: Assess the current state of the PHU patches based on indicators of patch quality and exposure to current or potential threats.

Quality and Threat Indicators CIESIN will work with the various Target Ecosystem Characteristics (TEC) teams to identify quality and threat indicators based on each TEC team’s plan of action. Three types: ◦Biotic ◦Abiotic ◦Anthropogenic (human infrastructure & activities)

Possible Query: SAV Where are the PHUs with documented occurrence of submerged aquatic vegetation? Of these, what is the dominant PHU type? Where else does this PHU type occur? Which of these locations have the greatest potential for restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation? Determine which units are intact or degraded and which units are most in need of Target Ecosystem Characteristics (TEC) interventions.

Data Holdings and Data Needs Species inventories and significant habitats ◦Submerged aquatic vegetation ◦Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats ◦Fish distribution ◦Hudson River Tidal Wetlands ◦Breeding Bird Atlas/Survey

Threat Exposure ◦EPA-regulated sites, e.g., superfund, brownfields, oil and toxic release sites ◦Oil, gas, and other regulated wells ◦Toxic Release Inventory ◦SLOSH Model Storm Surge Zones Data Holdings and Data Needs

Do you have data you can share? ◦Species abundance and distribution ? ◦Aquatic species ◦Coastal marsh and floodplain species ◦Data specific to tributaries ? ◦Locations of pipeline and other infrastructure ? ◦Dredging and filling activities ? Data Holdings and Data Needs

Thank you! Linda Pistolesi CIESIN Team Malanding Jaiteh – Project Manager Linda Pistolesi Olena Borkovska John Squires Kytt Macmanus Alyssa Fico