KAWS performs various levels of GIS analysis relating to the riparian area and the associated land in the watershed. The level of assessment and detail are listed below:

Level I Assessment

A. Fecal Coliform Bacteria (FCB) Source Assessment
• Identification of potential animal feeding operations (AFOs) or “cattle-in-the-creek” sites using aerial photography and visual analysis of potential indicators scalable to the stream reach (less than a quarter section). Analysis of indicators focuses on sources in close proximity to streams and rivers, which are operationally defined by the assessor or are within 100 feet of streams or rivers.

• Identification of waste stabilization ponds and lagoons (municipal lagoons and those associated with AFOs).

• Identification of grassland/ pasture land use located within drainages and in close proximity to streams and rivers, as defined by the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Analyses of the 2001 National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) using a GIS buffer operation to document the co-occurrence of grassland/ pasture located within a defined buffer distance of drainages, streams and rivers.

B. Land Use/ Cover Buffer Analysis
• Assessment of all land use/ cover located in close proximity to all drainages, streams and rivers, as defined by the NHD. Analyses of the 2001 NLCD using a buffer operation to document and evaluate all land use/ cover located within a defined buffer distance of drainages, streams and rivers.
• Analysis allows for derivation of the following products for end-user:
o Breakdown of all watershed land use/ cover and comparison to buffer land use/ cover
o Area calculation for riparian restoration sites (i.e., cultivated and developed land within a defined buffer distance of drainages, streams and rivers)
o Area calculation for potential AFO sites (i.e., grassland/ pasture within defined buffer distance of drainages, streams and rivers)

C. Stream Bank Stabilization Sites
• Analysis of major stream bank stabilization sites using aerial photography. Sites exhibiting distinctive characteristics (e.g., steep slopes, sharp cut banks, lack of riparian buffer, etc.) are used to identify stream bank stabilization sites greater than 500 feet in linear extent. More detailed analyses are possible, but cost adjustments may be necessary.

D. Basic Land Ownership Analysis
• Provides a basic map of land ownership throughout watershed, but only if land ownership data is available as GIS data at the county level.

E. Information and Education – will be done in conjunction with A-D
• Provide the assessment data to the WRAPS group, conservation districts and other interested agencies and organizations. Help provide workshops in the watershed to relay the assessment findings and provide potential solutions. Provide the assessment info to others at meetings, workshops and tours. Place the assessment on a website and make it usable for anyone with a relatively new computer and internet service, including provision of training on its use.

Level II Assessment
 

A. Terrain Surface Analysis
• GIS processing of 10 m resolution digital elevation models (DEM) to evaluate slope characteristics of landscape.
• Identification of terraced and non-terraced cropland.
• GIS analysis of watershed sinks or topographical depressions.
• Location of outlets to waterways and terraces identified in cultivated lands.
• Map co-occurrence of hydric soils and watershed sinks for potential constructed wetland/ retention cell sites.

B. RUSLE Soil Erosion Potential Analysis
• Watershed scale analysis of soil erosion potential using the U.S. Department of Agriculture RUSLE calculation and GIS.
• Analysis can be adjusted to emphasize proximity to drainages, streams and rivers using a GIS map overlay procedure (e.g., land use/ cover located within 100 m of stream weighted more heavily to simulate importance of delivery potential)
• Output is a map product that identifies target areas for no-till or other BMP implementation (e.g., terraces).

C. Ephemeral Gully Identification
• Identification of ephemeral gullies (i.e., gullies that form in cropland annually, but are cultivated) using aerial photography; will examine several scenes (e.g., 2004-2006 NAIP or orthophoto imagery) due to seasonal nature.
• Ephemeral gullies are lesser known contributors to sedimentation in streams, rivers, ponds and lakes (essentially tributaries or drainages to streams in cultivated lands), and represent areas where grassed waterways should likely be installed; may coincide with watershed or terrace outlets or watershed sink analysis.

D. Land Ownership Analysis for Identified Projects
• Links basic land ownership information to identified projects (e.g., waste water stabilization ponds or lagoons, potential wetland project).
• Output of results in cumulative table of land owners linked to all identified projects completed for assessment.

E. Identification of Riparian Areas in Need of Protection
• GIS analysis of the 2001 NLCD to evaluate buffer areas along drainages, streams and rivers, as defined by the NHD.
• Visual analysis of aerial photographs to evaluate stream bank stability and extent of riparian area.
• Output of results in both map and table format to identify land parcels of riparian land cover that are in need of protection.