Spatial Risk Assessment of Farming on Wetland Habitats in Watershed System

Abstract

Natural resource habitats, which are isolated from the surface water bodies, are often unregulated and face a higher risk of degradation. Vernal pools, habitats for amphibians, are vulnerable to external stressors that often lead to decline in biodiversity. There is a need to protect these through conservation measures at a spatially targeted level. This study is conducted in the Middle Connecticut River Watershed of Massachusetts State. We evaluate the risk faced by isolated vernal pools at the subwatershed scale. The assessment involves the impact of agricultural intensity and vernal pool distribution in proximity to agriculture parcels. This is performed using geoprocessing techniques within a geographic information system (GIS). The spatial data are used in a nonlinear regression model to evaluate potential stressors to vernal pool existence. The model included land use, geographic features, and hydrographic factors. Agriculture and open land positively influence vernal pool existence, because of vernal pool association with low-lying areas. In addition, elevation showed a negative influence on the number of vernal pool habitats. The results of the spatial risk evaluation of habitat are helpful to target efforts on specific subwatersheds in conserving vernal pool habitats.