Application of the GRASS Geographic Information System in a Sensitive Environment of the Arkansas River Navigation System

by Manuel Barnes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Optimizing the Resources for Water Management

Abstract:

A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to assist the selection of environmentally sensitive dredge material disposal sites along the Arkansas River Navigation System. Maintenance of the lower navigation system requires dredging about 4,000,000 cubic yards of alluvial material annually. Finding environmentally acceptable disposal sites has become increasingly difficult since wetlands comprise more than 95 percent of the surrounding area. The Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) software provided state-of-the-art technology for planning an ecologically balanced water resource project. Examples of the digital data layers include: dredge disposal corridor, roads and railroads, hydrology, wetland areas, and oxbow lakes, endangered species habitat, riverine habitat, and elevation.

Subject Headings: Geographic information systems | Information systems | System analysis | Rivers and streams | Navigation (waterway) | Dredged materials | Wetlands (fresh water) | Arkansas

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