Geodesy and Restoration at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Site:

Blackwater, MD

Purpose(s):

(1) Determine precise elevations of water level recorders to derive accurate geodetic and tidal datums
(2) Demonstrate the importance of accurate elevations to ecosystem restoration projects.

Summary:

Established in 1933 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge plays a crucial habitat and ecosystem role in the Chesapeake Bay. Over time, Blackwater has been subjected to sea level change, land subsidence, invasive species, and changing land uses. USACE and FWS initiated a project to restore lost habitat. NGS' ECO team was asked to use GPS to determine accurate positions for five water level monitoring stations, so that long term monitoring of the restoration process would be accurate and consistent. Using a GPS rover stick, hand held GPS, and an airboat (pictured here), ECO was able to maneuver around the marsh with minimal ecosystem disturbance to fulfill the USACE needs. With the information collected by NGS, the planners at Blackwater were able to tie their data to a common spatial infrastructure. This project demonstrated both the use of accurate elevations for restoration projects and the benefits of inter-governmental projects; many different federal agencies came together to make this project successful.

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