In CIR photographs such as these, vegetation appears in various shades of red and pink, depending mostly on the type and density of the vegetation. CIR photographs taken several years apart can be used to map land-use changes and the distribution of features such as wetlands. Note the changes that have occurred within the wetland areas next to the water as well as the increase in housing and commercial buildings. The photographs can also be used to map the differences in agricultural practices. Photographs like these are digitized and, along with digital satellite images, are used by USGS scientists to examine changes in the water and on land.
USGS studies are part of a long-term management strategy.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commissioned a strategy group to study and recommend suitable disposal sites for dredge materials from the Bay. The USGS participates in the group to advise on transportation and distribution of sediments. By 1994, a well-reasoned plan will begin to be implemented for the disposal of dredge materials. At the same time, USGS investigators work cooperatively with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to develop mitigation strategies for wetlands preservation. USGS researchers will also evaluate the buildup of toxic metals in Bay sediments.