Hardware to collect infrared digital imagery during periods of peak vegetative growth to develop a cover map for the Mississippi River floodplain from Minneapolis, Minn. to the Ohio River confluence. This information is being used to identify changes within the basin over the past 10 years, strategically guide biological programs in support of natural resource conservation, and assist decision makers from federal, state, and non-governmental organizations in making science-based decisions within the Mississippi River basin. Images are currently being processed by U.S. Geological Survey. This information will be used to identify changes within the basin over the past 10 years (time since the last systemic imagery was collected and analyzed by the Service and USGS), strategically guide biological programs in support of natural resource conservation, and assist decision makers from the FWS, COE, USGS, states, and NGO’s in making science-based decisions for collaborative management of the resources within the Mississippi River Basin.
