| Salmon Resource - Sensitive Area Mapping |
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| About SR-SAM |
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The primary purpose of the Salmon Resources and Sensitive Area Mapping (SR-SAM) project is to provide accurate resource protection mapping that enables roadway maintenance crews to perform their required activities (e.g., mowing, pesticide applications, etc.) with minimized disturbance to sensitive areas and their threatened and endangered resources.
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Meeting this objective requires the development and maintenance of a comprehensive resource inventory over a very large geographical area. The design approach utilizes many technological features including:
- Ortho-rectified, color infrared digital imagery with 2-foot pixel resolution,
- On-screen digitizing of obvious sensitive resource features,
- Road-side capture of sensitive resources using laser rangefinders linked to vehicle-mounted real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) units, and
- Sophisticated GIS modeling. We were able to accurately determine the locations and attributes of twelve sensitive resource categories or “fields” with an error rate of less than one percent.
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Resource data gathered through this project were tied to ODOT’s Linear Referencing System (LRS) and prepared as corridor maps with thematic line data depicting resource features for use in ODOT’s maintenance and planning activities. A second series of corridor maps was produced identifying Restricted Activity Zones (RAZ). These RAZ Maps are used to facilitate better management of sensitive resources located within Oregon’s transportation corridors. |
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| Background |
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ODOT Salmon Plan
| In December 1995, Governor Kitzhaber directed State agencies to develop the Oregon Plan: Salmon Restoration Initiative, which commits State agencies to restore historical salmon runs. In March 1997, Governor Kitzhaber signed Senate Bill 924, which commits the State to implement the plan. In February 1997, Governor Kitzhaber directed ODOT to identify locations of potential slides that could impact roads. This directive complements an action item in the ODOT Salmon Restoration Initiative (OSRI) to identify and map slide areas. |
The recently prepared Roadside Maintenance Manual addresses water quality and salmon recovery issues. This document requires Acrobat Reader®.
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Following the commitments and directives above, several sections within ODOT, including Maintenance, Operations, Environment, and Geographic Information Services, have identified a need for:
- An inventory of selected environmental resources and sensitive areas, and
- A set of maps that describes those resources and sensitive areas and the restrictions maintenance activities that will minimize impact to these resources.
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History
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Oregon Governor Kitzhaber´s 1995 Executive Order to Oregon state agencies to protect and recover salmon and steelhead populations statewide in addition to the listing of many fish stocks as "threatened" under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) affirmed ODOT with both an obligation and an opportunity to contribute significantly to the protection and enhancement of aquatic ecosystems.
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ODOT understood that it must respond to these increased environmental concerns and regulations. The department also realized that a field-intensive natural resources inventory along the thousands of miles of highway under its jurisdiction would be overly expensive and time-consuming. ODOT publicized a Request For Proposals (RFP) to contract with partners in developing a feasible alternative to acquiring the much needed natural resource information.
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ODOT in cooperation with Mason, Bruce & Girard, Inc. (MB&G), Space Imaging, and UO InfoGraphics Lab developed a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based sensitive resource inventory along nearly 6,000 miles of state highway. The inventory was named the Salmon Resources and Sensitive Area Mapping (SR-SAM) project. ODOT´s Environmental Services, Operations, Maintenance and Geographic Information Services staff negotiated the design of the maps, conducted a prototype inventory of State Route 38, and developed a preliminary project schedule.
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Purpose
This project provides the information needed to plan and manage ODOT activities to ensure minimal impact on natural resources and sensitive areas.
This project enables ODOT to fulfill its commitment to the Oregon Plan by:
- maintaining and improving its structures to facilitate the passage of salmon, and
- ensuring that maintenance activities have minimal impact on salmon bearing streams.
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Objectives
- Provide information to enable ODOT in accomplishing its goal of providing an effective transportation system, while actively protecting the environment.
- Provide information to ODOT personnel that minimizes the potential for violations of the Federal Endangered Species Act or the Clean Water Act.
- Provide information that improves ODOT’s ability to work with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Funding
This project is funded by a Federal Grant with a biennial budget of approximately
$1 million.
For additional information, contact Phil Smith, Sr. GIS Analyst at (503) 986-3733, or by e-mail at: philip.l.smith@odot.state.or.us
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| Additional Program Information |
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Program Highlights
- 2007: EDMS Program hosts FHWA Peer Exchange "Planning & Env. Linkages": View
- 2007: SR-SAM Project receives FHWA Best Practices recognition: View
- 2006: SR-SAM Project presented to TRB Summer Workshop (ADC10, ADC30): View
- 2004: SR-SAM Project participates in NCHRP 25-22(2): View
- 2002: SR-SAM Project receives FHWA Exemplary Ecosystems Initiative Recognition: View
- 2001: SR-SAM Project presented to International Conference of Ecology and Transportation: View Paper View Presentation
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| Habitat Inventory |
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Sensitive Area Mapping
| Sensitive Area Mapping begins with the information intensive process of field inventory. The inventory collection focuses on areas adjacent to the highway within approximately 500 feet. Information such as distance to water, stream and bank characteristics, known as Threatened and Endangered Species locations, and the overall condition of the adjacent habitat is collected. After the first year of field inventory, the method of data collection has moved high-tech in order to broaden the utility of the information gathered. |
| Aerial Imagery |
| Aerial imagery, computer modeling using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and GPS laser technology are just some of the improvements made to the research methods. |
| Field Inventory |
| The inventory crew brings the compiled resource GIS data into the field on laptops featuring a direct Global Positioning System (GPS) connection to their GIS data, the GPS receiver coupled with a laser Electronic Distance Measuring (EDM) devise allows the direct updating to GIS data during the field survey. |
| In the photo below, field staff take a GPS reading at the base of an Eagle´s nest perched atop an electrical service line. This measurement is added to the GIS inventory seen on the laptop in real-time. |
| Once the information is collected it is tied to ODOT’s linear Referencing System. The data is then incorporated into a series of Resource Maps developed by ODOT´s Geographic Information Services Unit. |
| In addition to the development of maps, the inventory data is accessible to ODOT planners and project development staff electronically. This will increase awareness and efficiency in future ODOT projects. |
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| Maintenance |
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Activities
In an effort to minimize impacts to natural resources adjacent to state highways, ODOT has worked with several state and federal agencies to develop a Routine Road Maintenance Guide that describes Best Management Practices for roadside water quality and habitat conservation. This guide was completed in July 1999.
ODOT´s maintenance activities can be divided into six areas:
- Surfacing and Shoulder Work
- Drainage Work
- Vegetation Control
- Bridge Work
- Snow and Ice Removal
- Guardrail and Grindout
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| Surfacing and Shoulder Work |
Photo by ODOT
Culvert repair near Wilson River Highway, photo by ODOT
Spraying vegetation on Hwy 20 east of Lincoln City, photo by ODOT
Replacing Roaring River Bridge on Hwy 224 near Estacada, photo by ODOT
Snow removal on McKenzie Scenic Hwy, photo by ODOT
Guardrail Installation, photo by ODOT
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| Resource Maps |
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The Resource Map data is comprised of 14 fields:
- Dominant Land Cover Type
- Fill slope Toe = Functional Riparian
- Functional Overstory Value
- Late Successional Stage
- Riparian Area Contiguous
- Riparian Management Area
- Salmonids Present
- Sensitive Resource Areas
- Spawning/Rearing/Off-Channel Areas
- Tributaries
- Wetlands
- Wildlife/Trees Snags
- Archaeology Probability
- Slide Probability
* Resource Map Legend
These fields have associated values which are inventoried in relationship to the transportation corridor (defined here as +/- 500 feet of centerline). In addition, resource-critical fields are also captured in the active "clear zone" or area of immediate impact by highway maintenance operations.
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| This information is used by specific resource specialists such as Wetland and Terrestrial Biologists, Archaeologists, and Project Managers to determine areas that need special management attention. The team of Environmental Specialists meets with representatives from each Maintenance District to discuss every mile of road shown on the RES maps. The District folks bring a high level of "on the ground" knowledge to the process which is critical to the overall project. |
These talks culminate in the creation of three new fields of information for every mile of highway, in six maintenance categories.
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The three fields are:
- No Restrictions - Proceed as normal
- Caution - Proceed according to Routine Road Maintenance Guidelines.
- Restricted - Contact Regional Environmental Coordinator (REC) prior to proceeding.
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The six maintenance categories are:
- Surfacing and Shoulder Work
- Drainage Work
- Vegetation Control
- Bridge Work
- Snow and Ice Removal
- Guardrail and Grindouts
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| This information is then displayed on a new series of maps called the Restricted Activity Zone (RAZ) Maps. Both the RES and RAZ maps are distributed to the District Maintenance Crews and Region Project Development Staff. |
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| Restricted Activity Zone Maps |
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| Restricted Activity Zone (RAZ) Maps are maintenance-level maps derived from the Resource (RES) Maps and input from maintenance personnel. The RAZ Maps show areas of critical habitat and associated restrictions on road maintenance activities. Specific restrictions are negotiated and referenced to each mile of highway. |
The maps are used by maintenance crews to provide three levels of potential restrictions among six different maintenance activities.
The three levels of potential restrictions are:
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| No Restrictions: |
Proceed as normal |
| Caution: |
Proceed according to Routine Road Maintenance Guidelines |
| Restricted: |
Contact Regional Environmental Coordinator (REC) prior to proceeding |
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The six maintenance categories are:
- Surfacing and Shoulder Work
- Drainage Work
- Vegetation Control
- Bridge Work
- Snow and Ice Removal
- Guardrail and Grindouts
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To view a copy of the legend used for the RAZ map series, click here: RAZ Map Legend |
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| Project Contacts |
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| Links to Partners |
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Oregon Department of Transportation
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