Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

Program Report

95-P008-6

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

Standard Operating Procedures:

Aquatic Areas Database

Production

March 1996
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

Standard Operating Procedures:

Aquatic Areas Database Production

by 

Thomas Owens

National Biological Service

Environmental Management Technical Center

575 Lester Avenue

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650

and

Janis J. Ruhser

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

1725 State Street

La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601

March 1996
The Environmental Management Technical Center issues LTRMP Program Reports to

provide Long Term Resource Monitoring Program partners with programmatic documentation,

procedures manuals, training manuals, and geospatial applications.

National Biological Service

Environmental Management

Technical Center

CENTER DIRECTOR

Robert L. Delaney

SCIENCE ADVISOR

John W. Barko

INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

SERVICES DIRECTOR

Norman W. Hildrum

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS

DIRECTOR

Frank D'Erchia

INFORMATION TRANSFER AND MEDIA

SERVICES MANAGER

Terry D'Erchia 

REPORT EDITOR

Deborah K. Harris

Cover graphic by Mi Ae Lipe-Butterbrodt

Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation

for use by the National Biological Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

The National Biological Service . . . gathering, analyzing,

and sharing the biological information necessary to support the wise

stewardship of the Nation's natural resources.

 Printed on recycled paper 
iii

Contents

Page

Contents ........................................................... iii

Preface ........................................................... v

Introduction ........................................................ 1

Transfer Structures and Define the Main Channel ........................... 1

Digitize the Main Channel and the Structures .............................. 1

Prepare Coverage for Adding Attributes .................................. 2

Classify Coverages On-Screen .......................................... 2

Completing the Attribute Tables ........................................ 3

Put the Coverages in the Database ....................................... 4

References ......................................................... 4

Appendix ........................................................ A-1
v

Preface

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) was authorized under the Water Resources

Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-662) as an element of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'

Environmental Management Program. The LTRMP is being implemented by the Environmental

Management Technical Center, an office of the National Biological Service, in cooperation with the five

Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin,

with guidance and Program responsibility provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The UMRS

encompasses the commercially navigable reaches of the Upper Mississippi River, as well as the Illinois

River and navigable portions of the Kaskaskia, Black, St. Croix, and Minnesota Rivers.

The mission of the LTRMP is to provide decision makers with information for maintaining the

UMRS as a sustainable large river ecosystem given its multiple-use character. The long-term goals of the

Program are to understand the system, determine resource trends and effects, develop management

alternatives, manage information, and develop useful products.

The strategy of developing and adopting standard operating procedures is included in the LTRMP

Operating Plan as Strategy 4.1.1, Develop and Update Information Management Guidance Documents

under Objective 4.1, Provide Direction for Automation Activities. This report was developed with

funding provided by the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program.

Additional copies of this report may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service,

5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 (1-800-553-6847 or 703-487-4650).

This report may be cited:

Owens, T., and J. J. Ruhser. 1996. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating

procedures: Aquatic areas database production. National Biological Service, Environmental

Management Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, March 1996. LTRMP 95-P008-6. 4 pp. +

Appendix.
Introduction

The aquatic areas described by Wilcox (1993) are used to delineate major aquatic features within the

Upper Mississippi River System floodplain. A spatial database of these features is created by grouping

specific features in the land cover/use database and adding features such as main channel and side

channel delineation. This section of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) contains instructions on

how this is accomplished after the land cover/use database has been developed. We have focused on the

1989 land cover/use database, but any year may be used for which similar land cover/use databases exist.

Transfer Structures and Define the Main Channel

Identify the locations of buoys and lights marking the main channel on the 1:15,000 color-infrared

aerial photographs under a magnifying stereoscope. Using a drafting pen, mark these structures on a

registered clear plastic overlay. See the SOPs for Photointerpretation (Owens and Hop 1995b) for

information on preparing overlays if overlays do not exist.

Transfer the marked buoys to overlays registered to 7.5-minute quads using a Zoom Transfer Scope

(ZTS). See the SOPs for the Automated Zoom Transfer Scope (Robinson 1995, 1996) for instructions on

the use of the ZTS.

Transfer the locations of wing dams, revetments, and other structures from the most recent U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers navigation charts to the same overlay registered to the 7.5-minute quads using the

ZTS. Use the location of the buoys and wing dams and other structures on the map to determine the

location of the main navigation channel.

Under the guidance of a senior cartographer, delineate the location of the main navigation channel by

connecting the buoys or wing dams, whichever is farthest out into the main channel. The main

navigation channel is about 200 ft wide in straight reaches and 500 ft wide in bends. Have a senior

cartographer check the transferred data for quality. 

You have created two layers of information on the 7.5-minute quad overlay: (1) the main channel,

which is a polygon and will be merged with the polygonal aquatic area coverage derived from the land

cover/use coverage and (2) the structures, which are linear data and will be merged with the linear aquatic

area coverage derived from the land cover/use coverage. 

Digitize the Main Channel and the Structures

Create a workspace named "aquatic" in your directory using the ARC command "cw" and move into

the aquatic workspace. Following the digitizing procedures, digitize the structure data into an

ARC/INFO line coverage and the main channel into a polygon coverage. Have the digitizing supervisor

check the linework on plots for quality. Mapjoin the individual quad coverages for both the structure and

the main channel coverages into pool-wide coverages.
2

 Project both coverages into the Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 15. Name the final

main channel coverage "mcp#" and name the structure's linear coverage "strp#" (where # = pool number). 

Prepare Coverage for Adding Attributes

The following procedures describe commands in ARC/INFO that are used to group features in the

land cover/use coverage and to combine them with new digitized features.

Use the ARC "dissolve" command on the lcu89p# coverage:

Arc: dissolve lcu89p# dis89p# LW 

where lcu89p# is the in_cover, dis89p# is the dissolve cover, and LW is the dissolve item. This

command creates a cover with two types: LW type 1 = land and LW type 2 = water. 

Perform the union command with mcp# and dis89p#:

Arc: union dis89p# mcp# aqa89p# 

This creates one polygon coverage with both the main channel and the dissolved land cover areas. 

Use the dropitem command to eliminate the "-id" and "#" attributes left over from the in_cover and

the union_cover in the aqa89p#.pat. 

The next step is to add an item to the aqa89p# attribute table with the "additem" command. This item

will be called "AQUATIC_AREAS" and have a width of 4, an output width of 4, and a type = C.

Arc: additem aqa89p#.pat aqa89p#.pat AQUATIC_AREAS 4 4 C 

Then invoke tables, select the aqa89p#.pat file, reselect LW = 1, and move UNU to AQUATIC_AREAS. 

This assigns the class N (Nonaquatic) to all nonaquatic areas. 

Return to ARC and perform the dropitem command to eliminate the LW attribute in the aqa89p#.pat. 

The aqa89p# is ready to be attributed in ARCEDIT. Add the same item to the strp# attribute table. It is

not necessary to assign classes to this coverage now.

Classify Coverages On-Screen

In ARCEDIT, set the edit cover as aqa89p#, with the draw environment as arcs. With a different line

color, bring in as a background cover strp#, set the background draw environment as arcs, and draw. The

polygons will be reclassified by the technician according to Wilcox's classification (1993). The classes

will be added to the AQUATIC_AREA attribute; the codes are listed in the Appendix. Add arcs and

labels as necessary, and use the "moveitem" command to classify the labels. Select several of the same

class and use the "moveitem" to classify many at a time.
3

This work must be done by someone with experience in the classification system, or under the close

guidance of such a person.

Once the reclassification is complete, exit out of ARCEDIT, clean aqa89p#, and check for label and

node errors. Run the "statistics" command with "AQUATIC_AREAS" as the item, and list the resulting

INFO table (the "AREA" Arc Macro Language or "frequency" report will also work). Check to make

sure all attributes are legal. 

This process must also be completed for the linear structure coverage strp#. In ARCEDIT, set the edit

cover as strp#, with the draw environment as arcs. With a different line color, bring in as a background

cover aqa89p#, set the background draw environment as arcs, and draw. The arcs will be classified

according to Wilcox's classification (1993). The classes will be added to the AQUATIC_AREA

attribute; the codes are listed in the Appendix. Use the "moveitem" command to classify the arcs. Select

several arcs of the same class and use the "moveitem" to classify many at a time.

When the classification is complete, exit out of ARCEDIT and clean strp# as a line coverage. Run the

"statistics" command with "AQUATIC_AREAS" as the item and list the resulting INFO table. Check to

make sure all attributes are legal. Rename the coverage to aqa89p#l (1 = line features coverage).

Completing the Attribute Tables

The attribute tables for both coverages need to be expanded to include all attributes. Fortunately, a

lookup table exists that makes this operation easy. Use the "joinitem" command to add the new attributes

to the existing tables. 

For the polygon attribute table (PAT) of the aqa89p7 coverage, use the command: 

joinitem aqa89p#.pat /net/sun06/usr3/arc_work/dao0/attribute_database/aqa.lkp aqa89p#.pat

AQUATIC_AREAS AQUATIC_AREAS

where

aqa89p#.pat is the in_info_file,

 /net/.../aqa.lkp is the join_info_file, 

aqa89p#.pat is the out_info_file, AQUATIC_AREAS is the relate item, and 

AQUATIC_AREAS is the start item.

Then list and carefully inspect the resultant PAT to ensure that the joinitem worked properly.
4

Repeat the process for the arc attribute table (AAT) of the linear coverage aqa89p#l, substituting

aqa89p#l.aat for aqa89p#.pat for the in_info_file and out_info_file.

Again list and carefully inspect the resultant AAT to ensure that the joinitem worked properly.

Once you have thoroughly checked the coverage, notify your supervisor that the coverage is complete

and indicate where it exists on the system.

Put the Coverages in the Database

Once the automation process is complete, the digitizing supervisor, in coordination with an

experienced interpreter, performs quality control checks on the coverage. Afterwards, the coverages are

placed in the online directories and the necessary metadata documentation is completed.

References

Owens, T., and K. D. Hop. 1995a. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating

procedures: Photointerpretation. National Biological Service, Environmental Management

Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, July 1995. LTRMP 95-P008-1. 7 pp. + Appendixes A and

B.

Owens, T., and K. D. Hop. 1995b. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating

procedures: Field station photointerpretation. National Biological Service, Environmental

Management Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, August 1995. LTRMP 95-P008-2. 13 pp. +

Appendixes A-E.

Robinson, L. 1995. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating procedures: 

Automated stereo zoom transfer scope. National Biological Service, Environmental Management

Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, November 1995. LTRMP P008-4. 16 pp.

Robinson, L. 1996. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating procedures: Manual

zoom transfer scope. National Biological Service, Environmental Management Technical Center,

Onalaska, Wisconsin. LTRMP 95-P008-5. (In press)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Operating Plan for the Upper Mississippi River System Long

Term Resource Monitoring Program. Environmental Management Technical Center, Onalaska,

Wisconsin, Revised September 1993. EMTC 91-P002. 179 pp. (NTIS #PB94-160199)

Wilcox, D. B. 1993. An aquatic habitat classification system for the Upper Mississippi River System. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Management Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin,

May 1993. EMTC 93-T003. 9 pp. + Appendix A. (NTIS # PB93-208981)
A-1

Appendix

UMRS Aquatic Area Classes

Type Code

Channel

Main channel

! Navigation Channel MNC

! Channel Border MCB

! Secondary Channel SC

! Tertiary Channel TC

! Tributary Channel TRC

! Excavated Channel EC

! Sandbar SB

Backwater

Contiguous

! Abandoned Channel Lake CACL

! Tributary Delta Lake CTDL

! Floodplain Depression Lake CFDL

! Lateral Levee Lake CLLL

! Scour Channel Lake CSCL

! Human-Made Lake CMML

! Borrow Pit CBP

! Floodplain Shallow Aquatic CFSA

! Impounded CIMP

Isolated

! Abandoned Channel Lake IACL

! Tributary Delta Lake ITDL

! Floodplain Depression Lake IFDL

 ! Lateral Levee Lake ILLL

! Scour Channel Lake ISCL

! Man Made Lake IMML

! Borrow Pit IBP

 ! Floodplain Shallow Aquatic IFSA

Channel Features

! Closing Dam (Linear) CD

! Wing Dam (Linear) WD

! Revetted Bank RB

Nonaquatic N

No Photo Coverage NOPH
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1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

March 1996

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program Standard Operating Procedures: Aquatic areas database production

6. AUTHOR(S)

Thomas Owens and Janis J. Ruhser 1 2

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

National Biological Service 1

Environmental Technical Center

575 Lester Avenue

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 2

1725 State Street

La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601

 REPORT NUMBER

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING

National Biological Service 

Environmental Management Technical Center 95-P008-6

575 Lester Avenue

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650

 AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

Release unlimited. Available from National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 

(1-800-553-6847 or 703-487-4650)

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

This chapter describes specific procedures that are to be followed by Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) staff when creating aquatic areas coverages. 

This procedure uses data already created for the land cover/use coverage for the pool. The procedures are divided into several steps: (1) delineation of the main channel,

(2) digitizing the main channel and structures, (3) dissolving the land cover data into aquatic and nonaquatic classes, (4) on-screen digitizing and classification, (5)

completing the attribute tables photointerpretation, and (6) placing the coverages in the database. The aquatic areas classification is appended.

14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES

Aquatic areas, aquatic habitat, river geomorphology, Upper Mississippi River 4 pp.+ Appendix

16. PRICE CODE

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

 OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT

Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) for the Upper

Mississippi River System was authorized under the Water Resources

Development Act of 1986 as an element of the Environmental Management

Program. The mission of the LTRMP is to provide river managers with

information for maintaining the Upper Mississippi River System as a sustainable

large river ecosystem given its multiple-use character. The LTRMP is a

cooperative effort by the National Biological Service, the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, and the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.